Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-02
YOUNG BEATTIE
Will Close Own Defence
Today on the Stand.
Evidently breads Cross-examl.
nation He Must Undergo,
Expected Ne Will Flatly Contradict
Cousin PauI's Evidence.

| 1neSlerleIu court Rouse, Nd., sept
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.. indicted
| for the murder of his wife, did not
take the stand today in his own behalf
as was expected. but the assertion
| was made just before court adjourned
that the defence would conclude its
| case tomorrow with the prisoners tes-
| timony. An argument ensued between
counsel for both sides as to whether
| the cross examination Of the accused
also could be finished tomorrow and it
was obvious that the defence wished
to have the prisoner rest over Sunday
before the attack upon him by the
prosecution could be begun.
Thomas Hancock, one of the jurors.
| however. spoke up in plainlve voice TO
the court, saying:
PLEASE consider us. Judge" and the
court Immediately asked II. NJ. Smith,
Jr, counsel for the defence, how many
more witnesses he would introduce.
Just few more" said Mr.. Smith
But we will surely close our case to-
morrow by placing the prisoner on the
stand"
Judge Watson announced that he would
hold court later than usual tomorrow eve
N-AN
an agreement was reached to suspend
Judgment as to holding the night session
until the testimony of the accused had
been presented.
Testimony today was perfunctory in
it's character. Several women friends
of the accused and his dead wife test-
fled that the couple lived happily to-
gether. Except for the impromptu ad-
mission of Douglass Beattie, brother
of the accused, that he would have de-
stroyed evidences of the murder had
he known his brother was to be
charged with the crime. the most IN
terestng development OF the day was
the discovery of a witness by the de-
fence, Joseph Casselberg of Richmond
Casselberg it has been rumored tor
some time has had mysterious kno@l-
edge of the case. He is reported 10
have been on the Midlothian turnpike
with another person about the same
time that the murder occurred, ana Is
supposed to be the. man who stopped TO
crank his machine and was seen by
the group of boys on their way from
the dance at Bonair. 1t was rumored
tonight. however, that the defence may
not call Casselberg, because of con-
aieting reports concerning his prob
able testimony.
The question of whether Mrs. Beat
tic was shot while standing on the
| runninghoard or in the road, or as her
husband insists, while she sat IN the
front seat to the left of him, again
| was raised today when several auto
mobile experts testified that a large
| pool of blood, such as was found at
| the scene of the crime. could nave
trickled through the machinery of the
car and flowed from the drip pan un-
derneath to the ground. The testimony
| of the automobile experts was in line
with the contention also that blood
drinred from the machine in many
| nlsces from the scene of the crime to
| The owen home in Richmond. where
| tho vo,,ng husband took his dead wife.
| The defence introduced score OF
witnesses 20 attack various other de
| tails i'm the evidence of the prosecu-
| ton and tomorrow it is expected a''e
prisoner will make emphatic cohtfauic-
| ton of his cousin Paufs entire testl-
mony, clinging to his story at the cor
oners inquest that bearded iiieh-
| wavman murdered his wife anu tlla1 lie
| took no part in a transaction CONFER II
! inc the purchase of the shotgun
The prisoner was more cheerful at
tho end of today's discussion than ne
lhas been for some time. AS eaeh u
his five women friends who testified
Iontered the court room, he smiled anu
,yreeted them warmly. His gray mar
OF father who sat beside him escort
oil each TO the witness chair and Wnen
Hazel Reattie. his daughter, took tue
etana 10 testify 20 Henry's pleasant
lbo,e life. the ageG parent bent over
land kissed the young girl as she STEP
nod IN the witness stand. Miss Bessie
wells and Miss Louise Reams, fnaid
of honor at Mrs. BettieS %edai,s'
Testified that the husband ana VIE
lwere HAPPY. .,.,a,. :,
Mrs. Ella J. Howman a sls'ef-hl-
law and housekeeper I" ltehrE =,
Beattie, Sr. for many years uet'lii u
lthat the Eeatties We're Iiie happies'
married pair l ever saw
Douglass lseattie. an older brother OIL
1.-The prisoner took the stand.
"Will YOU explain the relations OF
Henry and his wife," queried MI
Ismith fer the defence. from the TIME
lthey were married since they lived II
Iyour home"
Perfectly happy.
What was your first intImatioh o
the MURDER"
. "A phone message from DR.. Mercer
saying Henry had been held up alit
shot. / told other people in the hous'
and my father, sister and went
oMr. Tom OWENS house. Henry wa
in room to the right of the hall. III
was lying on a reclining chair ana M
father kneeling by his side. Henr.
was moaning and fondling his wlfe'
slipper"
. did you examine the carr
when l got into II to go up tn