The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-09-01
WON'T RESORT 10
PLEA OF INSANITY
BRAlNSTORM CLAIM WILL NOT
BE USED FOR eEATTiE.
WAS MAN WITH GUN A HUNTER7
Defense Brings on Witnesses to Tes-
tify to Having Seen Bearded Man
With Gun Near Scene of Murder.
State May Claim He Was Hunter.

31.-Continued attack as to the verac-
ity of Paul Beattie in his story of the
purchase of shotgun for his cousin
Henry Clay Beattie, jr, brought out
at the trial today statement from
e. H. Neblitt, superintendent of
paper mill, that he saw Paul with a
shotgun day after he claimed to have
delivered the weapon to Henry.
On cross examination Neblitt said
that he had only yesterday given this
information to counsel for the defense,
because he did not think it was of
much Importance until Paul Beattie de-
MED it on the stand.
Several other witnesses told of
Henry Clay Beattie, jr.'s good reputa-
ton in his community.
Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Aug.
31.-A thick fog hung like pail over
the little brick courthouse where Hen
ry Clay Beattie, jr., on trial for wife
murder, is fighting for his life today.
The prisoner, after restless night,
gazed YEARLY from the barred win
dow of the Jail in the rear of the court
house at the flooded roads and rain
soaked fields stretching away for miles
around.
The defense was prepared to re-
sumo its attack on the evidence pre-
scented for the commonwealth and
many witnesses were summoned to
appear today to give testimony on
points of the case which the prosecu-
ton had built up to support its
charges that Henry Clay Beattie kill
ed his wife with the shotgun purchas-
ed for him by his cousin Paul.
Won't Use Insanity Plea.
Harry M. Smith, jr, counsel for Be.
attic, today put an end to the rumors
that ultimately insanity will be Of
fered as a defense for the prisoner by
making a definite announcement that
under no circumstances would such a
plea be entered. 1t was the announced
intention of the defense to ask that
the court have the jury visit the scene
of the crime, but the muddy roads
may cause a postponement Of this for
several days.
David Weinstein, son of a pawn
broker, from whom Paul Beattie pur-
chased the shotgun, was the first wit.
ness for the defense today.
"The commonwealth knew you were
the boy who sold the gun to Paul Be.
attie?" asked Harry M. Smith, jr.,
counsel for the defense.
Eyes"
Not Summoned by State.
"You were not summoned by the
prosecution"
mo"
Paul Beattie testified that you took
the gun apart into three pieces and
wrapped it up in paper and put his
name on it. What do you say about
it?"
81 did not take it apart. 1t was a
very old fashioned gun and / did moi
know how"
The gun was produced at this point
What time of the day?" continued
Mr.. Smith, "did you sell the gun tc
Paul Beattie?"
Saturday morning between 10 and
12."
when you sold the gun to Paul Be
attic, did he say he was a watchmar
and wanted the gun to be used or
Mayo'S bridge, where he worked?"
"He did"
Refute Paul Beattie's Story.
did you know Paul Beattie before
that Saturday."
Eyes, little more than a week."
"How did you become acquainted
with him."
"He worked for Mr.. Stegler nearby
and came in one day to buy pistol
l told him we did not have any"
Paul Beattie had previously testified
that the only time he had entered the
pawn shop before was to borrow {
dollar and got it. The witness denied
having loaned him a dollar and added
that Paul had been in the pawn shol
. four or five times.
Tells of Bearded Man With Gun.
Testimony corroborative of tn,
> story told by Henry Clay Beattie, jr
that bearded highway man killed hi
; wife with a shotgun, was introduced
by the defense in the Beattie trial yes
terday, when W. R. Holland, who live
= in the vicinity Of the Midlothian turn
pike, where the murder occurred, dc
clared that he had seen bearded maj
, with a shotgun about five hours be
: fore the tragedy.
- 1t was the first move of the defens
9 after the prosecution rested it's case a
:, noon to establish the veracity of tn
> prisoner and besides Hollands state
- ment concerning a man with a sho
gun, Eugene Henshaw, farmer VIII
travels the Midlothian turnpike dali!
testified that he saw strange lookin
c. man proving around on three diffe,
ent days before the murder.
e, Only a Squirrel Hunter?
v. 1t is reported that the prosecute
d is ready when it's time for rebuttal a
TT rives to put on the stand the man VIII
1t passed along the railroad tracks wheI
H. Holland said he saw a man with
n. shotgun, and that the new witnes