The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-25
EVIDENCE TAKEN
ON OPENING DAY
IS UN|MPORTANT
Prosecutions Witnesses Are
Merely to Establish Crime
Committed
EVIDENCE IS KNOWN
TO READING PUBLIC
Many Spectators of Opinion
That Defense Scored in
Days Battle-Much
Yet to Come
Yet to Come

"h Yet 10 lone
rgh until before dusk nSurped
bamy brightness of yesterday with but pary OF
the Commonwealth and the defense batted
valiany life of Henry Clay Beaie r in the Circuit Court
county the largest gathering which has yet
assembled to witness the famous day
combating retired for both sides claim
victory.
Spectators who viewed the mparay watching the legal
claiming be unbiased IN their
opinion unanimously awarded the palm Of victory the
after the prosecution had failed to create single sesa
spring surprise and conented itself with proving facts
long the public facts which must be founda-
ton for the testimony yet to come
Beattie Defense.
Obviously not connt to SIT idle and leave ms fate entirely IN
others the assumed direction of his
proceedings day throughout the long
hours Of eium unbarab heat when witnesses
monotonously drawing knowledge the he pointed
the the defense noting weak points testimony with
ouckne and calling attention srong points
defense.
Gazing straight the of witness for five without
cessation the of yed then quickly shifting his
testimony produced the prisoner Beat turned frequently for
whispered conferences with his defender Attorney Harry NJ Smith
tapping pencil the of his chair emphasize point
and speaking with which revealed his knowledge
of the vital Importance of word heard by the jury
Striving pick flaw the legal working the
charging the prisoner wife murder
Of echnea which comforting
whispers between themselves before any
neys harry NJ Smith and Hill Garter fought for of
ground unwilling trying
damage the testimony witnesses by quick
aes
its effect the jury.
Calling witnesses the stand in all and drawing from
them the testimony which the foundation
but Attorneys L. O. Wendenburg and NJ Gregory broadsde
after broasde of preliminary defense kiy
outlining the plan
monwah to by evidence be adducd before the
trial is ended
Both Claim Victory
After last witness examined crossexamned
and Judge Walter Watson had announced adjournment
day the Commonwealth claimed victory big
declaring had been proved that Mrs
tie had been killed that she had not been killed the
described by her husband that would impossible
her to have been murdered her husband explained
prisoner has told several conflicting stories
Admitting that the Commonwealth had laid
for its and the had succeeded in
proving Mrs Beattie murdered none
OF the seven witnesses for the had
by their testimony that all failed 70 make
an impression on the and that the evidence revealed bore lit
tie import because all of the facts known
to the public through the newspapers.
Nothing Sensational.
Despite magnitude crime and It's tributary points 81
interest the proceedings of yesterday strangely lacking
those sensational developments expected
awaited by the public only being revealed TO the
large hrong of spectators and these i'm
portance and very little interest.
Probably the strongest developed the
fact that the dark red spot in Midlothian road the
murder could have been by blood dripping
bottom of the automobile occupied by his
planned by Beattie the prosecution
expects show that Mrs auto
mobile her husband said but the
shot fired.
Court Opens
When Judge Watson announced convened shortly
10 O'Clock the morning Gill called for order
with his peculiar pronunciation of the sterotyped formula
yea, available of
the tiny courtroom occupied damp perspr
ton and red with the heat from the
the of the the ases jammed window and
crowded the steps platform supporting filed
with spectators, messengers and reporters.
Beae calm but cool and apparently after hong nQtb
sleep IN the GOODNESS and quiet Of Chesterfield clad gray 80