Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, September 14, 1911, Image 6
J* 4*
h HENRY BEATTIE GUILTY. *
f* 4*
*r* Virginia Murderer Senteuced
r> to be Electrocuted Nov.
24th, 1911. *
A *
*
* + ?? ?j? ?J? ?? * .V
Chesterfield Court House, V. ..
ept, 8.?Twelve Yr.^inia fun-;ers
knelt at dusk t< ni^ot in i"<
obscurity of the env:!l jury room
of Chesterfield Court House,
praying fervently that they
niijrht pass judgtm nt ai ight on
Henry Iry Beatt \ Jr., i..ui at
eiJ for the u u*der of his wife.
Grimly d too-mined they rose a
or ment lute.1 ; nd silently, ore
by 0:10, r-s ordid the unanimous
w ?!ict <f guilty''
Pauvrg in <c!cmn cont^mRation
for fftv-oight minutes,
weighing c?',e,,ully the meaning
of 11 eir (lo<-isi ?n and once more
on endocl knees bereeching Div
ne arista oca that they might
u ?t eer, Jhey tiled into the hushed
stil>ss ?-f a cr wdel <oort
r ?orrj an;< o bh startling sadden
ness twelve voices.instead of the
u>u il o -e of toe foreman, spoke
the ?.ij gle wed 'Guilty:
It Has almost a shout. The
speeler of iloath which stalked
Midlothian turnpike on July 18th
last who ' ho life of Mrs. Louise
Owmij 13-'u.tie vvas taken away
vi h th s nirle report of a shot
gut. s'- d hard at the young
husban :. ?eid.v toclaim its vietm
h.v el-'-r? cation on Friday,
Novem .or 21. But the prisoner
r turned ! *? gaze, unswerving
and un-frnid.
Tlie : ??!rt of anneals, to be
Sire will be asked to grant a
writ of error and a new trial.
Young Be ittie cognizant of the
legal?weap ms yet at his d spnsal,
did not surrender. Instead, he
cousoledbis brokendown father,
white-hared and wrinkled, and ,
c'mforted him as Le whispered:
'4I haven't lost yet, father."
TTnncnol oc had hoon thp t.raCP
UIIUOUUl UW UWU WVVM VM-W ?n
dy, and tbe gruesome stage
where it occured,the twelve jury- ;
mail did not hpsitate to admit to
^^their friends that tbey stood in
not onfyover tho cold
I po'dfil murder, but up>n his
m iriti 1 infidelity as well. It was
t ie drainntic climax of Virginia
ju-tioe which iD the last half-.'entity
his swiftly sent to death
such famous murderers as Cluvei
ius, Philips and McCue.
At th. close of a powerful ad- ,
dress by L. 0. Wendenburg, the ,
voluntary assistant of the Comm
mwealth in the case, the sus- ;
pease aus feit not alone in the
courtroom but in Richmond
wh^re thousands of people waited
tbe outcome.
rr" * 1 1
hip j'ir.v uuu iui
heard evilecice, for two days
s >epches t~>n' 'he words "f ^oo- 1
denburg into their tars as they
1'ft the courtroom to find their
verdict.
"Let 'hat, man go free*" he
cried, "What, let that man go
f P'! Whv the mo'herhood <tf
Virgiuin, th*? womanhood of this
n? ion, will shudd'T in tenor as
t ? sec. riy of its life is threatt
eop'1. 1 et this man go free!
Tht lino who basked in the depraoe
l s o s* inp of ; no her worn
m, vh lo at home a y uug wife
un.se i his clii.tl! Geutleinan, I (
iiier.lv a.s,< you in the name of
justi-e to '1 your duty."
In vi? i I d 'tails, the prosecutor
p rt ?y d li e w fe as she s'art-l
ed on lvr i? nocent journey in'o
th'ioh.i of a summ?r n g it. \
Tie jury saw again in tueir,
mi nis the .iiitomooi.'c in which (
s if r< do i>esi<ie nor nusomci,:
h ?w Jh a t o stop'orl into the1
da <f tlie thic :ot, found
t'i- >i ?' mm which he had oarl.v i
cui-valni iis;;| deliberately .slow;
hi* \> if
Tt < it. y.| ?:at" rido home with
a h'o !;: ?jt and lileess body
cr s.,i .. ;?ii ?llio small spac?? in
the lri'i-t j.a t of the m; c line,
th" husband eollly siting
against tl:e l.lood-oovered head
of his wif". wm'i <p,nr.?iiioally do-}
tailed to Mm jury. Oily passing
attention was^ivonby Wooden-,
hurt; to the purchase of tlie mm !
ty Paul lienitie, a cousin of thoj
accused. The dof? r.sa had'
claimed, ho said, that, on Paul's
story alone was huilt the case of
the prosecution but he held aloft'
;
' he blood-stained chothingof the)
prisoner "as 1 ha mute evidence
of the crime," and asked:
"Do vou want any olher evi
dance V'
B.ood fleeted the lower fringe
of the skirt in deep black blois;
i.t ?: ni-rl: ves on either sleeve
f liis ?o.t. The prisoner had
-aid ho held his wife with onei
!i .. ,s'eor< d his car with!
i ;>, oh i, but the absence of j
blood './,i ;he arms, the prosecuor
ii\ cm red, gave the lie to the
s my. 2\ot alone with the cloth::
g oid the prosecutor disentangle
what, he termed "The cheapest
fabrication of the ,cheap* st
murder," hut he shouted shame
shame at the prisoner for his relations
with a mere siip of a girl,
t'f.. r>-> tho acrn n f 13 until within :
I f VlftJ VliV ?'fev t
his own marriage life, and held
her forth as the motive for the
crime.
"And the prisoner admits that
it was his passion," said Mr.
Wendenburg. "Yes it was pas
sion born of the devil, aud passion
that sent, to death his wife
so that he might continue his
vicious pleasure.''
Mr. Wendenburg concluded
his address a few minutes after
5 p. m. A brief respite was given
the jury and at 5:28 o'clock it
began consideration of the case.
For fifty-eight minutes, they
were together in deep consultation,
a jury of simple farmers
who each morning sang hymns
ai d strove to forget the story of
dissipation with its filthy chapters
as related day after day ou
the witness stand. What had
been generally predicted was
true?their minds were well
made up before they left the
court 100m. W. T. Burgess, a
square-jawed man, with au earn- ;
est face, was elected foreman.
Tliey balloted and it was no
surprise, they afterwards decla ed,
that all voted alike. They
prayed that they might not take
a life in vain and they opeutd
their consciences to ooe another
for nearly an hour, so that they
might go back to the court room
firmly convinced of their duty;
and of one mind.
And in the court room sa'. Heury
Clay Beattie, Jr., the sporting
pago of a newspaper spread be-,
fore him. But he did uot read I
long. He folded the paper and j
concealed his face in it. Those |
who s; t uear the boy with iron
nerve observed a move in twitch-!
in? of his lips as though mur-'
meriug a prayer as he sat with i
closed eyes awaitiug the return j
of the jury.- He raised his head <
or a moment, d ropped the paper j
again and began reading. Then:
he whispered a few word!., to his j
father and brbther. It was for'
them he felt and to them hecoun- i
selled cheerfullness.
It was nearly dark in the court
mom when the jury returned.!
Three oil lamps gave meager lus-j
ler 10 the scene. Sunset's red j
rays still streaked through the I
windows. On every sill rested a
telegraph ns rume it and operators
tensely waited for the announcement
?f t',e verdict. A
thick ma>s of faces lising in au
incline to tii? shabby ceiling
si a red at the jurymen. Famous
i.i rists lo iked down. too. from!
4 w ...... -
rly-specked paintings. In tl e
minds of the gaping crowd remained
the thought of the power
of speech of the proseculor and
his denunciations of the man
"u h<> exchanged lite glow of virtue
for passio j's feeble tapers "
The court asked tin* prisoner
to rise. He drew himself up
calmly an I waited.
"Have you gentlemen agreed
on a verdict':" Ask? d Judge
Watson.
' We have, said T >rt 111: n Burgess.
The prisoner had confidently
expectly a "hung jury,'' n< t acquit
al nor < onviction. 'j'he
court r? !!i1 ;t u%?.crco not i
to inii*iit* >t any approval or ni.-.approval
whao-w r 111? verdiei.
"And wh it is your Vt roicty"
asked .Judge WuImiii, *u ruing
again to P noni in IInrv'ss.
"(iuMt.y." iinsw?'r?M| 1 largess,
but his v. i C w is swelled by the
shout of oi' ven others.
The prisoner <- nod erect and
motionless. His face, in snlor a
yellowish i reeu throughout the
day. was immovable. The light
of a lamp cast a dreary shadow
on his upturned chin as lie faced
^ ^ ? V > v < t
I
X This is the f
*
V WHAT SEEMED TO
V SUCCESS-IT P
V
Since we fiirst announced Ilia
J Piano to some one of our cus
f crease in every department. (
V to make this increase and Ave s
y Attractive Offerings from the
A lines regardless of the daily
WITH EVERY PURCHASE.
i Ladd's D
V
the jury. His eyelids sagged,
but did not blink. In steady
gaze he fastened his eyes <>u the
faces of twelve men who had pronounced
his punishment as if to
penetrate their min Is and determine
the reason why. It was
not a resentful expression,, however,
and when -he court asked
if the prisoner had anything to
say, he answered:- . \
"I have nothing to say," and
sat down.
Judge Watson delivered an impressive
speech ?o the prisoner.
He told how the young man had
stained his own life and that of
his communi'1'- in whi u he uvea
b; his sordid acs. "When the
trial first began, said Judpe Watson,
he had h?ped 'ha4- Vi-ginia
might be cleared of tic o^me for
which not only th? State felt
shame, but the entire country
depricated. He had hopeu toad
counsel wnu'd prove t>-e defendant
innocent, bub the evidence
he regreted to note, was all convincing
and overwhelming.
"The court in this trial." said
Judge Watson, "has endeavored
in all its decisions to lean toward
the side of of the prisoner and iu
its charge to the jury as well attempted
to give him the benefit
of every doubt arid every op
portuuitv to establish his innocence.
The ruiiugs mostly have
not been ou mailers of I<r,v out
on small questions of fact.
"You have had a fair and im
partial trial, Mr. Beattie, and the
jury has done what it considers
its duty. Therefore, you haw
been convicted of murder in the
first degree and on November
24, between the hours of sunrise
and sunset, you must forfeit
your life to the community. May
- - ..,i "
God have mercy "n your
A moin"n' later, by th * side of
his father and lbs b r ntlie r,
Douglas, their heads ho\ved in
gri?*f, walked young Beattie {i
'he darkness to Ids c l! a himdred
yards a way
But ihe d'"hm*i "f t!ie day was
no' over. on. ami a
uu.^n reLi. ?. .. j.v /lac., iiess
outside.
"My God!" exclaime 1 Judge
Watson as through li s mind tin
ted ihe the same ihiugh. that
start l ei 'on nii e lar. und iii:n.
But it was not a no her trago
dy. The prisn.:e< was s n walkins
calmly o . Tije tie on i'ion
was an utui- n 1.' oeavy e i.srge
of a photo# aph o *s 1 i-;j jg'??.
The crowd li.ig-r.'d at toe j?i 1
and peered into the re 1 illuiniu<?.
led by a single lamp. Ou ihe oed
^ A^A J A4
^y T^f f^f ?^y T^T T^jf U
iano We Gi
\ 'M ?}';r :*l:'- / '-," v
. '* ? - . ' * ?^ * .N| <+'..'y ; > ~
US TO BE A QUESTION IS I
AYS TO BE TIBERAL WITE
t we should give away this Beaut
toiners on March 1st, 1012, our hi
3f course the unusual values which \
shall continue along these lines.We
Fashion Centres and von will fir
demand. BE SURE AND ASK ]
rug Store, c
with tiis head in his hands sat
Baattie, his father and brother
beside him. Jailer Cogbillsent
the curious away. Only a few
saw the prisoner break down and
weep iu the solitude of the! cell.
An hour later the hamlet was
deserted. A few hundred yards
away from the stone jail in a
small hotel twelve men gathered
their belongings iu silence, and i
one by one they drove away into \
thedarkoessto the simple homes |
from which f? r a for night they
had been absent.
Beulah Bioford, the girl of the
underworld, the woman in the
case whose relations with young
Beattie furnished ia d >mi 1a ing
feature of the prosecution's case,
did not figure as a witness during
the trial. Neither side was willing
to call her. Immediately upon
her release from the jail
where she had been held for possible
icstimony she disappeared
from Richmond, hurried to New
York andalmost at the hour when
|thejury was registering its verjdict
that carried the penalty of
I alai.tmw>ntirm fr?r lipr ril'inndam !
companion she was posing for |
motion pictures at Sfaten Islaud;
and nursing theatrical ambitions.
WHAT HE WANTED.
"a
tfc??*; 3B5SS >
Her Father?And so you want to
take tny ^daughter from me in my old
age? r
Her Suitor?Well. I?or?er?don't
think I'd want to take her in her old
age.
Two Beautiful Systems.
! lie?Where are my collars, dear?
She ?i don't really know. ' He?Well,
I yesterday I couldn't find my shirts;
l this morning my tFs w re mining;
now I can't find my collars. The only
; : i know rf worse than my bureau
lo lay ea.d iuucX system!
'w'
? . ":4 *{*
" r " ' / " '%
hJKJmJP
?
ve Away |
X1
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MARCH |
?r
1& I
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Value f
i $400 |
I - ??
F X
T
sow A GRATIFYING >
I YOUR TRADE
iful Upton Parlor Qrand V
usiness has shown a Big in- V
ve are offering have helped to ?
are daily receiving New and A
id our stocks complete in all JL
FOR YOUR PIANO VOTES X
|
heraw, C. |>
L A A
~^4^4^%^/VVVVVVV
III.
.
J.L TOD BAO
First Antelope?My brother la try*
Ing to originate a way by which w?
can overcome our natural timidity.
Second Antelope?What success?
First Antelope?Not much. Every
time he starts to work out the method
he usually hears a noise and It gets
him rattled.
Urcompn'.r^ntery Comparison.
A Philadelphia r-hool director Is
mostly bald, and one of his eons took
advantage of the fact to make plain
(6 his .eacher his understanding of
geography. The teacher had defined
a desert as a barren tract, and in order
to impress the pupils with It she had
asked them to define it 'end give an
example. When the school director's
boy was questioned be answered
promptly and correctly, and bv way of
illustration said: "A desert is a great
big tract that's barren, like pa's brad
*n inch above his ears."
A Fuller Insight.
A young nnu who had Just married
suggested to his wife that they should
err.ue some question fully and frankly
every morning. This, he thought,
v e::'d help them to gain a fuller insight
into each other's nature, thus
making for Increased happiness. The
first question happened to be. "Can a
woman dress c*i J75 a year?" fe
took the affirmative, and when la^t
seen he bed e ltrl,<sd Into a hay loft
" 'Hi was pulling the ladder up after
? ,u.
Forgiveness of Children.
II is me sweet airi enure iuif,iicness
of children, who ask pity for
their sorrows from those who have
caused theni, who do not perceive
rhat they are wronged, who never
dream that they are forgiving, and
who make no bargain for apologies?
it is thi3 that men and women ore
| urged to learn of a chiid,?Alice Muy
I nell.