Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-15
Copyright by Buck.)

RICHMOND. Va. November 15.LThe
last hope of Henry Clay Beattie. jr-. the
young wife murderer Of escaping the
electric chair on Friday, November -.
was swept away today, when Gov. Mann
declined to interfere in the case.
The governor would neither commute
the prisoners sentence to life imprison-
ment nor allow him a days respite, de-
claring he believed him guilty and that
he should die at the time fixed by the
lower court when ii pronounced SEN
tence.
Beattie was this afternoon informed by
his aged father of the decision OF the
governor. Only the guard I'm front OF
the cell was present and ne Is forbidden
by law to say word of what took place.
Attorneys for the condemned man held
their last conference with the governor
during the morning and just before noon
the latter announced his decision not TO
interfere In any way with the decree or
the Chesterfield county court. which was
sustained by the supreme court of ap-
peals of the state. petition has been
presented to the governor praying for
respite of at least thirty days for spiritual
preparation.
Statement of Governor
In a signed statement to Beattie's law
yers and the public Gov. Mann said:
while l sympathize very profoundly
with the father OF III. C. Beattie, jr and
would be glad to help him If | could do
SO with. proper regard for the public in
terests, l cannot with any consideration
for those interests interfere with due
execution of the sentence of the court IN
the Beattie case.
II followed that case during the trial,
and as its horrible facts We're developed
regretted that a crime so cruel ana
malicious should have occurred within
the confines OF this state. In the decision
Of every question which was presented
TO the able and impartial judge who pre-
sided at the trial he was careful to give
the benefit OF every reasona bic doubt 10
the prisoner; his Instructions Were az
favorable as counsel for the prisoner
could have expected. That lie did not
err in the admission OF exclusion oil evi-
dence or in his instructions gwen to the
jury liz shown In the refusal OF the su-
preme court OF appeals to grant a writ VI
error.
Thinks Jury Fair.
There is no question of the honesty
and fairness OF the jurors trying the
case, nor is there any question that the
defense made by lawyers of character and
ability obtained for II. c. Beattie, il,
every advantage guaranteed by law to
persons charged with crime
That Beatt.e is guilty. of the willful,
deliberate and cruel murder Of his young
wife ] have not the sllgn Iest doubt nor is
ii insisted that there shall be any greater
relief offered tnan the commutatIon of his
sentence to Imprisonment for life.
Il do not think the aftidavits of Paul
Beatue printed in the papers, or ans
other evidence or consideration brought
to my attention, sufficient for that Pur-
pose. Nor DO 1 question the WISDOM, !
might add the necessity, of capital pun
ishment IN cases where human lIfe has
been wickedly and deliberately taken
On the contrary, 1 believe that this pun
ishment is necessary for the pro.e~ ton
of society. and If on a jury would not
hesitate IN a proper case to agree TO q
verdict requiring life for life.
Would Be Precedent.
TO grant a respite in so plain a case
would be TO set a precedent, would be to
temporize with the law and to encourage
appeals to the supreme court with the
sole purpose of gaining time. | believe
the best way to prevent such crimes as
this is to punish them adequately. Ger
tainly, speedily. Therefore, the judgment
of the circuit court of Chesterfield will be
carried into effect without interference
from me-
Paul Beattie, principal witness i'm the
case declares today that he made no
affidavits in Washington that he gave
no photograph TO any one. and that while
in Washington ne was ropDed or some OF
his clothing.
The arfidavits in question were those
said to have been taken before Walter
G Balderston October "a, q notary and
htsah tod th..