The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-09-08
A FARMER SAYS
HE SAW BEATTIE
KILL HIS WIFE
PROSECUTION HURLs BOMB
Z SHELL BY PRESENTING LET
i TER OF AN EYE. WITNESS.
Wendenberg Credits the Story, But
Did Not Ask for Reopenine of the
Case-Writer Says 5eatte First
Felled Wife With Gun.

Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Sept.
Prosecutor L. 0. Wendenburg de-
clared today that he had decided not
TO request for the reopening CT the
Beattie case on account of the dis
covery OF an alleged witness.
I'VE have a strong enough case
without it, he said 1--WE could not
get the man here for a couple of
days at least, as he lives out West.
But We have asked him to come here
just the same TO see what there is to
his story. OF course We have received
as is usual in murder cases. many
letters from alleged ye-witnesses.
This one, however, signed his name
and we find that he did once work
as a farm hand at place near the
scene OF the murder. We are going
to investigate further but you can
take the story now for what it is
worth
Prosecution Bombshell.
With evidence closed and prosecu-
tors and defense confident of giving
the case of Henry Beattie, Jr., to the
jury tonight, ali calculations as to to-
days developments in the sensational
trial We're temporarily upset by Spe-
cial Prosecutor Wendenburg's an
nouncement that he might ask the
court to reopen the case and admit
the testimony of a man who claims
to have been an eyewitness to the
tragedy. The alleged eyewitness,
whose name is withheld, is now in a
city a day and half distant by rail
from here. H11
Actually Saw Killing.
Mr.. Wendenburg received the in
formation which may change the
whole aspect Of the case in yester-
days mail. The writer, who, until
a few days after the murder of Mrs.
Beattie was a farm hand employed on
a place near the scene of the crime,
said that he actually saw young Beat
tie kill his wife-saw him knock her
from the automobile with the butt Of
a shotgun and then shoot her as she
lay insensible on the ground He
wrote that Beattie threatened him
when he found that he had witnessed
the deed. and the following day gave
him a suit Of clothes and money
with which to 90 away, Though he
kept quiet at first because he was
afraid, the man says now he does
not want Beattie to escape punish
ment and is willing to testify.
Believe His Story
At the outset the prosecutors were
inclined to think that this was just
another crank's letter, of which many
have been received by both sides since
the trial began. An investigation was
started, however, and several of the
writer's statements were soon corrob-
grated. The Chesterfield farmer, men
toned in the letter, acknowledged a
man Of the name used by the writer
was employed by him until a few days
after the murder, and further declared
it was fact that the farm hand was
chasing a runaway COW on the night
the crime was committed. In telling
his story the alleged witness said he
was looking for a COW when he came
upon the man and woman in an auto
mobile on the Midlothian turnpike
some time after 10 o'clock.
Woman's Skull Was Broken.
The declaration that Beattie club
bed his wife with the gun before
shooting her is considered by the law
yers and detectives for the prosecu-
ton with peculiar interest. It is said
that physicians who examined Mrs.
Beattie's body reported that the from
tai bone on the right side of the skull
probably was broken, though the
charge Of shot had entered the left
side and penetrated to the back of
the head. On account of this. it is
understood. Mr.. Wendenburg thought
seriously Of referring to wound on
the right side of the forehead in the
Indictment drawn for the grand jury.
If the new witness is used, the mur-
dered wopan's BODY verv probably
will be evhumed and re-examined.
Will Hold Witness.
The authorities of the city in which
the ALLEGED eyewitness has taken