Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-25
BeuIa @inford Is Said to Have
Made a Confession.
PLANNED LIFE TOGETHER
Says Accused Man Had Tired of His
Murdered Wife.
GOING TO ANOTHER PRISON
Police Determined to Prevent COM
municatio nBetween Beattie and
the "Other Woman"

Specisl Dispatch 10 The Star.
RICHMOND, Va. July 25.-"Of course.
have got to live with Louise while my
father Ia alive. but after he is dead-say.
Kid, We will go away from here together.
ano' whether We can get married or not,
We will taNe Q chance
This is the beginning OF a complete
confession that Beulah Binford, the WON
an In the Beattie case, has made to De-
tective Scherer. and which he has in his
possession at this time.
Ihls confession 10 the one thing needed
II Is declared, to make the story comple,e
IN every way. and furnishes the motive
ior the murder OF Mrs. Louise Owen
beattie q week ago tonight. while she
was out riding along tho Midlothian pike
Detective Sherer has other features
which he has men running down. but
these have not developed
II Is understood that the Binford WON
an Is soon to be removed from the Hen
tico county Jail and placed in q prison
In some other part Of the state to pre-
vent any sort OF communication with
Beattie. ~
Mother Feared Tragedy.
Probably the most interesting feature
OF new testimony I'm the Beattie case is
that which will be given by Mrs. Rober,
vernon Owen. mother of Mrs. Henry CLAY
Besttie. jr. Robert Vernon Owen and
his wife left for Newport News Saturday
morning to visit relatives, hoping to es-
cape the turmoil and excitement Incl
oentai 10 the startling revelations made
Before leaving for the city on the
roads the mother of the murdered bride
talked with detectives and told them
many facts which will aid in the prose-
cution. Mrs. Owen told OF a grave pre-
sentiment. strong fear which came over
her several weeks ago. warning her. IL
seemed to the mother, that her daughter
was coming to harm. Probably this
fear was born OF condolences which the
bride Of less than a year intrusted TO her
mother. Mrs. Owen did not say. She
was asked If her daughter had told her
OF threats made by Beattie. but declined
to answer. probably reluctant because
young wife.
This fear Of Mrs. Owen was strongest
on the night Of the crime. che said. and
she experienced q strange sensation when
Beattie and his wife decided to drive TO
South Richmond to hav q prescription
oiled. The mother requested that she be
allowed to 90 In the automobile with the
young couple. but Beattie. while not fiat
ly refusing to carry his mother-in-law,
showed plainly that he desired to be
alone with his wife.
Wanted His Wife Alone.
Other members OF the owen family
limited that they would like to go. and
would enjoy the cool ride in the night
air. but Beattie was so plain in his in
tention to take only his wife that thev
desisted Further, members Of the
family had guessed that the young hus-
band and wife were not on the best
terms. and 1t was hoped that on TIE
ride they might regain that state OF
happiness with each other which is eN-
pected in all newly married couples
Therefore the Owen family was glad 70
allow Beattie the undisturbed compan-
ionship Of the mother OF his five-week-
old son.
But Mrs Owen fingered beside the
automobile when her daughter and her
husband were about to drive from the
lawn. Finally Mrs. Owen said: Lean
over. dearie' And when the girl
leaned from the machine the mother
put her arms about her daughter
neck and Rugged her tightly. kissing
her on the cheek. In an effort to cheer
said: Don't worry about me. mother.
for this 10 to be our honeymoon ride.
isn't it?" turning to the husband.
Beattie remained silent. Then the
other members of the family seated in
chairs on the lawn before the front
porch.
Proved Ride of Death.
Beattie cranked the machine and en-
tered the car. In another minute the
automobile rolled over the gravel path
to the road and disappeared in the dark
ness The mother recalled a few hours
later as she stood looking at the BODY
OF the daughter the words our none.-
ly II had happened that the ride had been
one Of death. The mother also remem-
bered that Beattie had demurred when
his wife suggested carrying their infant
with them as had been their custom on
previous evenings.
Emanating from source not learned
report that Beattie had committed suicide
in his cell at Henrico county Jail spread
like wildfire over Richmond last night. II
proved TO be without foundation.
Paul D. Beattie is in cell separated
from his cousin SO that they cannot com
municate. Rest. quiet and solitude have
done much toward restoring Paul Beattfs
to a normal state of mind. and he has
apparently recovered from the hysterical
weakness which seized him short while
after he made the confession to Chief OF
arrest of Henry Clay Beattie. jr.
The most pitiful OF the three prisoners
is Bulah Binford. who Ii only seventeen
years old. though she appears seversl
years past that ago. Confinement within
the Jail has completely unnerved her. She
Is in a. room known as the "hosp,ta'
room," where Ill prisoners are confined
The windows OF tho room. as well rs the
door, are barred, the floor IL concrete
and the apartment has all the appear
ances OF q place Of detention. but II In far
preferable to a cell. chiefly because there
IL ample space TO exercise and a COM
forta bic bed.
Merely Working Beating.
1t was learned that the girl I'm talking
with q friend the Saturday before the
crime discussed freely the relations or
Beattie and his wife, as well as herself
with Beattie. AS well as Bulah Binford's
friend recalls she said: Mrs. Beattie only
married him (Henry Clay Bsattie, jrJ
because he's got money, and they don't
love each other. I'm not at ali crazy
about him myself. but I'm working him
for furniture to fix up a nice little fiat
for myself. He's a good sport and q fair
ly decent sort OF chap"
The girl. who was apparently talking
with perfect candor. indicated by infer
ence that there was not much love on
either side, so far as she and Beattie were
This is where the prosecu-
ton intends to surprise the defense. it IL
stated, by producing another girl who
was deeply infatuated with Beattie and
who was loved by the man. The identity