Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 276, Decatur, Adams County, 24 November 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 276.

BEATTIE CONFESSED Young Murderer Confessed to Killing of Wife Just Before Electrocuted. DEAD AT 7:23 A.' M. Walked to Death Chamber Unassisted, Havng Made Peace With His Gnd (United tress Service.) st******* * * * * * * i. July, 18, 1911—Mrs. Henry Clay * * Beattie, Jr., Murdered. * * July 21, 1911—Henry Clay Beat- * * tie, Jr., Arrested. * * August 21, 1911—Trial Begun at * * Chesterfield Court House. * September 8, 1911—Verdict of * Guilty, Beattie Sentenced to * Death. * i: November 24, 1911 —Death Sen- * tence' Executed. * * * * * * * * * *****!■ Riehraohd. Va., Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat! —The Rev. J. J. Fix today announced that Henry Clay Beattie, jr., before dying in the electric chair today confessed to the murder of his wife. His statement was as follows. “I, Henry Clay Beattie, jr., desirous of standing right before God and man, do, this 24th day of November, 1911, confess my guilt of the crime charged against me. Much of what has been published was not true about the awful act without the circumstances remaining. For this action I am truly sorry, and believing that I am at peace with God, and am soon to pass into his presence." This is the statement made and signed. "Henry Clay Beattie, jr.” Richmond, Va., Nov. 24—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Henry Clay Beattie, jr., was executed this morning without a hitch in the proceeding and was pronounced dead at 7:23 a. m. He walked through the death hall into the death chamber without faltering, and though the shadow of his father was still maintained, his first composure was kept. The execution took place three minutes after Jdeattie stepped into the death chamber and he was pronounced dead by Dr. W. C. Oppenheimer, prisin surgeon. y The condemned wife-murderer retired early last night and slept well. When he arose this morning it was raining and his spiritual advisers were soon admitted and received warmly. Together with the two guards he was escorted to the death chamber. Four months ago, on a dark July night, Henry Clay Beattie, jr., returned from a joy-ride on the lonely Midlothian turnpike, with the blood-stained body of his wife held close to hi.: side in his aulo. But an hour before the couple had left the home of the girl's uncle, Thomas Owen. There he body of the dead woman v. as taken, and there Beattie told a story of a bearded highwayman, who held up bis machine in the road, after the aute had nearly run him down. Beattie said that when ho started his auto to run away from the bearded stranger, who was armed with a shot-gun, the man fired at the machine, kilim,, Mrs, Beattie. On August 14th, the grand jury re turned an indictment against Beattie for murder in the first dpgree, and on August 21st he was placed cn tr til. Then ensued one of the strange:-!, bitterest legui battles that Virginia has ever known. An appeal to the higher courts fanad, and Beattie fixed itis hope on an application for pardon, reprieve or commutation of sentence to Governor Mann. After a short consideration, however. Governor Mann, in a sealing statement declined to grant the Pardon, and expressed the opinion that Beattie was attempting to escape the penalty of a crime of which he knew he was guilty —>> , " OYSTER SUPPER POSTPONED. The Loyal Woman's class of the Uhrigtian Sunday school has postpon ed the oyster supper which it arrange i to give Saturday evening at the (■ A. B- hall. The supper will be given next Tuesday evening at the K. of P. Home.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

HOME FROM INDIANAPOLIS. Balter Johnson, who has been at .Indianapolis since Tuesday attending the sessions of the I. 0. O. F. lodge, I which were held there Wednesday and Thursday, returned home this morning, he reporting a very interesting and profitable meeting. Various [ busineßs sessions were attended by Mr. Johnson, he going as a delegate I'om the local lodge, and his report of the meeting will be of great inter est to the home members. The elction of ofilers which took place Thursda\ was numbered among the most m-io-'ant event of the two days’ meet in the election of ibfc grand lodge all records were broken when A. M. Natter of Vernon was elected grand warden on the first ballot, and the first time in the history of Odd fellowship that a candidate for this office v. as elected on less than two ; ballots. BROTHER BETTER K! It i ■” ' Mrs. Wm. Ward Returns From Ft. Wayne After it Calling on Brother. ;i — WAS BADLY INJURED !?: Brick Falling Forty Feet Struck Him on the Head Fracturing Skull. 3 1 Mrs. William Ward, who Thursday noon was called to Fort Wayne on ac- { i j count of an accident which had befal- i , len her brother, Charles Sautbine, a ; - carpenter, has returned. Mr. Saut- j - l?ine was hit with a brick while en- ’ gaged at work on the new additions j | being annexed to the St. Joseph's hospital, fracturing the Bkull, and cutting a deep gash just over Lis right eye. Mrs. Ward returned last evening and t reported her hrother as being somewhat better. Be with other workmen were lifting bricks to the fourth story, , when in some way one was released I by a man above and fell to the first , floor where Mr. Sautbine was work- ! ing, striking him on the head. He I was at once rushed to the Hope hos- . pital, where medical treatment was , rendered and it is believed he will re- ( cover. .Mrs. Ward returned on the I six o’clock car last evening. His wife, of Craigville. who was summoned, is still at his bedside, and laffet evening he was reported as being better. The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette sac's: "Charles Sautbine, a carpenter, liv- » , ing near Bluff ton, suffered a comI pound fracture of the skull Thursday afternoon when he was struck on the | top of the head by a brick accidentally dropped by a workman from (he fourth floor of the new addition io Sacred Heart academy. "Sautbine, who is employed by Contractor Paul Kinder, was at work on [ the first floor of the new structure, when struck by the heavy projectile. He was picked up unconscious and , hurried to Hope hospital, where an op- ’ eration. trepanning the skull, was performed by Dr. J. Prank Dinnen. The r surgeon stated last evening that Saut,bine was resting a3 well as could be 5 expected and that he will probably re- . cover.” i CAVE TO SEE UNCLE. W. M. Woy of Fresno, Cal., Arrived Today and Told He Was Dead. , \y m. Woy of Fresno, Cal , was in , the city today for a abort while, arriving here from Chicago to pay a visit to late John Woy, who passed ; away on last Friday, of which he was,unaware. He had come as far as Chi- - cago on business and being so near i here, and not having seen his uncle for r more than twenty-two years, made the r tr ip to this city, and it was not until. told by a citizen here that he learned ' of the uncle's death. He remained , o nly a short while, returning this aftt Phipatro Mr. Vtoy st&t6d t ernoon to tnicago. * , th at It was only last December that » Uit wife died suddenly, death coming while in the best of health. Mr. Woy is an oil broker, and is also in the real estate business. - —fr " OPERATION FOR CANCER. , Mrs. William Drake, living six miles east of this city, submitted to an oper- ; ation for cancer, which was very sucI cessful. Her many friends hope for '' hel a speedy recovery,

COUNTY WEDDINGS Miss Mabel Allen of Berne Wedded to Art McAdam of Wells County. ON LAST EVENING Grace Lindsay, Also of This County, Weds Young Man of Bluffton. A pretty wedding took place Thursday evening at Bluffton, when Miss Mabel Allen of Berne was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Arthur McAdam of Liberty township, Wells county. Immediately following the ceremony, which was solemnized by tho Rev. Diefenbach at 7 o’clock at the German Reformed parsonage, the young couple left for the homo of the groom’s parents, where they will make their home for the coming winter. The young couple are prominent, and for some time the happy occasion has been looked for, but their friends were unable to ascertain the date, as it was kept quiet. Miss Grace Lindsay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lindsay, living near the Wells county line, and Herman Breininger of Bluffton, a son of Mrs. Marie Breininger, surprised thenfriends when on Wednesday afternoon they went to Bluffton and were wedded by the Rev. Diefenbach at the parsonage The beautiful and impressive ring ceremony was used, showing j their love for one another, and which | bound them together for life. Following the ceremony they went to the home of the bride's parents, where they will remain for several days, aftt er which they will be at home with the groom's mother, where he will care for the home place. a rougiTriding Was Given O. K. Hilty by Fellow Students of Indiana Dental College. WEDS A BERNE GIRL Miss Ada Witwer—He and Another Newly Wed Given a Hazing. When U. K. Hilly of Bluffton, Ohio, wedded Miss Ada Witwer of Berne-he furjiished the excuse \\ eduesday to a number of fellow students of the In ! diana Dental College to enjoy a huge frolic at the expense cif himself and a classmate who had also recently become a benedict, says an .exchange ! Clyce Briggs of Sheridan, Ind., was the other newlywed, and when the two appeared Wednesday to attend Chas. Pfalllin's lecture on oral surgery they were taken duly in charge. Piratically ridden upon a ladder they were ingloriously ridden about the principal streets. Enroutc at various places they were compelled to buy drinks and cigars lor the entire crowd of fifty. 'Mien they were boosted into a wagon and taken on another embarassing excursion. The initiation occupied practically the ontiro morning, while the faculty of the dental school looked on helplessly. Twice the two victims escaped, only to be recaptured after a chase through the down town streets. | o SAY IT IS WOLF. — There seems to be quite a bit of dispute over what was thought to be a prairie wolf and which here of late has been terrorizing on the Studabaker farm, just east of the city, and causing a great deal of disturbance with the stealing of Chickens and other fowl 3. Several of the party who accompanied the crowd on Tuesday! and captured the wild prowler, claim- 1 ed it to be not a wolf, as stated, but j a dog, which had become almost craz- j ed, and fed on the food of such game as was stated. Others of the patty now come to the front and say that it was a real prairie wolf, what was revealed upon examination of the an- j ' imal after being caught.

Decatur, Ind. Friday Evening, November 24, 1911.

FORTY HOURS’ DEVOTION. Beautiful Services to Open Sunday at the St. Mary’s Church. ; Commencing on Sunday the forty hours of devotion will! begin at the St. Mary's church, the first service of the day to be held at. 6i o’clock, when the opening service will take place, followed with the exposition of the blessed sacrament. Other masses will follow at 8 and 10 o’clock. Father Erasmus, C. P., a missionary of the passionist order, of Normandy, Mo., ar- ; rived this afternoon atjd will be in charge of the' three days' services. I Other fathers of nearby parishes w ill j also be in attendance lo assist in various ways, and to attend the solemn closing exercises to be held on Tue day evening. CONTEST IN ON J ’■ . i Forty-three Little Girls Are x j Working for Doll to be »i X Given Away by i i i THE PYTHIAN SISTERS » ! j Can be Seen in Boston Store l . i Window—Doll is a Great « I Beauty. — i 1 Forty-three pairs of eyfes belonging to little girls of this city are not only turned in anxious desire upon the large doll-beauty placed in the Boston store window by the Pythian Sisters, but forty-three little girls are putting forth their best efforts to win this beauty, all for their very own. The Pythian Sisters will give the doll to the girl having the most at the close of the contest, and each one of the contestants is soliciting your vote, which will cost you just ten cents. Thy Pythian Sisters request that the candidates deposit all money collected by Saturday evening in the box at the Boston store. The following little girls are working for the doll: Margaret Jane Hoffman, Margaret Rademaker, Lee Anna Eloise Lewton, Doris Erwin, Marcia Helm. Alice Lenhart, Gretchen Graham. 1 Eleanore Ellis, Helen Lower, Mildred Yager, Martha Sellemeyer, Catherine Peck, Opal Robinson, Fay Fritzlnger, Romaine Henneford. Leah Colter, Germaine Christen, Mary Louise Gottemoller, Jeanette Beery, Mary Louise Vail, Dora Marie Magley, Jeanette Clark, Fay Stults, Vivian Burk, Naomi Cramer. Fanny Heller, Gladys Tanvas, : Virginia Hite, Oracle Drague, Naomi ! Durkin, Mary Fuhrman, Ruth Meyer,! Ireta Beavers, Geraldine Brandyberry, Ixtis Peterson, Margaret Niblick. Flor- . ine Michaud, Grace Shroll, Corine Walters. Hazel Metz, Rotnain Murray, Gladys Flanders. THE HYPNOTIST WINS AGAIN. Prof. Hemstreet Gives Another of His Wonderful Entertainments. -\ good audience greeted Professor Hemstreet, as he stepped upon the stage at the opera house Thursday night, and after the usual lecture, which is very instructive, he invited a committee to come upon the stage to be hypnotized. A number of our bpst. young men responded, and the fun from that time until the close of the show was fast and furious. Professor Hemstreet did not. fail on a man last night, but hypnotized every one of them. Some thought they were speelers for the Ringling Bros.’ side show, some were loving their best girl out in the pant, some imagined they were adorned with a rubber nose, and ( were playing a tune upon it and danc- , ing to the accompaniment. It is the best entertainment of the kind that has ev«r been given here. Professor I Hemstreet is a royal enter Joiner as the shouts of merriment from his au-! dience gave ample proof, and as a hyp-; notist he is an artist supreme. The exhibition last night was a decided 1 success and it is expected another capacity house will witness the per- j formance tonight. Popular prices will j prevail. SHOE SCORES TO CLOSE. ! We, the undersigned, agree to close ' our places of business Thanksgiving, all day: CHARLIE VOGT.,EWEDE. PEOPLES & GEtRKE. ELZEY & FALK. ' 276t3 WTNNES SHOE STORE.

JOINT CONVENTION Os the Union-Root Townships’ Sunday School Association. WILL BE HELD Sunday Afternoon and Evening. Dec. 4, at the Mt. Victory Church, | The Union and Root township Sunday school associations will hold a joint convention Sunday afternoon and ■ t evening, December 4th, at the Mt. Vie- , tory church, the following program having been arranged for the occa- ; sion, and which all are invited to hear: Afternoon Session —1:30. | Song—Congregation, i Devotional —Rev. E. B. Jones, pastor Salem Church. ; Song—Cictory School, j Round Table- Conducted by J. L. Chronister. | Song—Salem Male Choir. Address —Rev. E. B. Jones. I Song—Salem Male Choir, j Collection, Announcements. Benediction. ; Adjournment. Evening Session —7:oo. j Song—Congregation. Opening Service —Rev, Row', pastor Victory Church. I Song—Congregation. . “Sunday School Finances" —George Cramer. Discussion opened by John Shiffcriy. Song—Victory School. Recitation —Bernice Miller. Solo —Mary Stevens. Recitation —Cleo Roop. "Standards —C. S. Mumma. Subject discussed by convention. Closing Song. Benediction —Rev. Row. TO INSPECT HOMES Orphans’ Homes Over the State to be Examined by W. S. Pevnolds. OF CHILDREN’S DEPT. As to Condition of Each Home and Report of Same to be Made. The orphans’ homes throughout In-1 diana are to be investigated. Gov ! ernor Marshall as president ex-officio j of the board ot state charities, has di-! rected W. S. Reynolds, head of the: children’s department of the hoard, j to make a thorough inspection of all; homes maintained in tho state, where | orphan children are detained until; suitable homes can be found for them , and to report the conditions to the i next meoting of tho state board. The j instructions from the governor follow- 1 ed the revelations concerning the Bad-; ley home, maintained by the Chil dren’s Home society of Indiana, whose ; license the board revoked last v/eek. The governor said in explanation that \ he wished to know if there were any j other homes in the state in a bad con-' dition, as that at Hadley, and ii so, the licenses would be revoked. There are numerous homes in the state maintained by different organizations that are termed detention homes for nr phans. Those in charge of the homes solicit orphans from tho boards of county commissioners, with the under standing that the children are to be i placed in suitable private homes as rapidly as such homes can be found, While the children are in the orphans' homes, the county commit" oners pay a per diem for their maintenance. ELKS MEET TONIGHT. | All members of the Elks are requested to be on hand for the meeting of this evening, when another of their : social gatherings in connection with their business problems will be carried out. “Leather” France, numbered among the home members, Is here bom Muskogee, Okla., and will be a guest, this evening. A good time is announced and they are looking to a good attendance.

i OPERATE FOR TUMOR. Mrs. Harry Fritzinger Underwent Ordeal at St. Joseph Hospital. Mrs. Harry Fritzinger, who on Wednesday, accompanied by her husband, went to. Fort Wayne, Thursday under wehit an operation at St. Joseph hospital for removal of a tumor of the j bowels. She was reported last even-1 ing by Mr. Fritzinger, who returned, as resting quite well, and the operation was considered most successful. ■ She came out from under the influence of the anaesthetic all right, the open: : Bon being performed hr Dr. Porter j assisted by a local physician. Mi .. | Rose Conter, a sister of Mrs. Frii j | zinger, who was also at her bedside \ j returned home today and stated that , she was resting much easier, and hope ! ' for a speedy recovery is now extend-! i , ” a ' . 1 1 A SCHOOL CONTEST Decatur Will Enter the Red Cross Seal Contest for a School Prize. VACUUM CLEANERS Offered to Six Indiana Cities Having Largest Per Capita Sale of Seals. i * Prizes, valued at $5,275, to be awarded to six cities and towns in Indiana, making the largest per capita sales of 1911 Red Cross Christmas seals, were announced today by the Red Cross Christmas Seals commission at Indianapolis. The prizes are a stationary vacuum cleaning plant and five electric or I hand suction cleaners. The first will j be installed complete in any school building designated by the city or | town having the highest per capita j sales, the value depending upon the ! size of the building. The five other [ prizes will be given to the school buildings receiving the largest vote in , the five cities ranking frqni second to 1 sixth for per capita sales of Red Cross Christmas seals. j Through the use of vacuum and stic- : tion cleaners, dust is removed abso- ' | lately, when a room is cleaned, and, , inasmuch as dust carries the get ins lof tuberculosis and disease, the vaci uum system is highly conducive to 1 sanitary conditions. The McCrum- | Howell company of New York has offered these prizes to the National As- , sociation for the Study and Preveu- | tion of Tuberculosis, and the assoeia- ; tion has in turn offered them in Indijana through the Red Cross Christmas j ! Seals commission. This city will be included in the I competitive seals sale and the agent | | will organize a committee on schools | I to direct the contest here. I The plan, which is new in Indiana, ; has been tried successfully in other | | states and greal records have been j ! made for tho sale the seals. Wis--1 consin and Illinois have both been | successful in selling several million ! j seals with the aid of the school ronI testa. In each city ballots will be dis- | tributed on w'hich any person buying ten seals is entitled to one vote for a I school building in his locality. And i the school having the largest vote by j January Ist will be a winner provid;ed the city ranks as high as sixth i j in the Indiana per capita sales. The first prize, which varies in valttne from five hundred dollars to fiive thousand, according to size of the school building in which it is installed, will be awarded to the city having the largest per capita sales in Indiana, providing 10,000 seals are sold in that community. The other five prizes will be awarded in five towns or cities having the largest 1 per capita sales without regard to gross sales. The school buildings receiving the highest number of votes in these five cities will be the winners. The Red Cross Christmas seals agency in this city has been accepted by Miss Pansy Beil, of the Kappa, Kappa. Kappa sorority, and an active selling organization is being formed for tho campaign. o Mr. Mertz arrived yesterday afternoon trom Saginaw, Mich., to Join his wife, who has been here for some time w’ith her sister, Mrs. Tanvis.

Price, Two Cents

HORRIBLE MURDER William Walker, Ft. Wayne Lineman, Confesses to Choking Wife to Death. AND BURYING BODY | In Lot at Rear of Home Sepj tember 24—Taken Into Custody Thursday. (United Press Service.' Fort Wayne, Ind., Nov. 24—(Special i to Daily Democrat) —Whether William ! Walker, aged twenty-seven, really j choked his wile to death, alter she i had threatened to kill him with a hatchet, as he confessed to the police, probably will never be known. The | body, which was today taken from its I grave in the famiiy backyard, was so ■ badly decomposed that it was imposj sible to tell what caused her death. The police asserted that they believe the murder was more dastardly than Walker has confessed. He is being questioned in an effort, to obtain a fuller confession. Walker pleaded not guilty when arraigned in court totUy. Fort Wayne, lud., Nov. 24 —Tafceii into custody at 4:so o clock Thursday afternoon as he was preparing to leave the city for Columbia City, William "BusU»" Walker, twenty-seven, of 152 Spring street, for five years employed as a lineman by the Home Telephone and Telegraph company, confessed to the police that he brutally murdered Ills wife, Katie Walker, on the morning of Sunday, September 24th, and buried her body in the rear of the little home, where it remained undisj turbed ever since. For several weeks Walker had been under police surveilianve as evidence pointing to the crime had been in the hands of the authorities since the finding of a bundle of bloody clothes in the woods north of the city, which were identified as belonging to Mrs. Walker. When the woman’s disappearance was reported a close watch was placed on the man and three times he was subjected to severe examination by Sergeant-Detective Pappert and Chief of Police Dayton Abbott, but each time the man kept up his nerve and bluffed the matter through. Thursday afternoon at 1 o’clock Sergeant Pappert was informed that Walker had quit his job with the telephone company and he was immediately taken into custody. He was taken to the jjolice station, and in emotionless language described one of the most cold-blooded, deliberate murders that have ever occured in the annals of the city. According to Walker’s confession, he killed his wife, Katie Walker, to save his own life. | “On Saturday night, September 23, 1 my wife accompanied my father, J. L. j Walker, to the Pennsylvania railroad station, where he was to take a train | for his home at Columbia Ctiy. At the i station she met two men, and later I found her on Columbia street with them. I told her to come home with me, and wo boarded the last Huffman street car at 11:30 o’clock. When we got to the corner of Franklin and Spring streets we had a fight about her going out with tho men. She threatened to shoot me. I left her and went to my home and went to bed at midnight. “My wife came at 2 o’clock Sunday : morning and came in the house with a hatchet and started at me, saying she would kill me. I was in bed, and reaching up, struck her in the head. She fell to the floor and 1 got out of bed and choked her until she was unconscious. “After she fell from my arms I went to the door and was going to call the officers, but changed my mind and came back and choked her again, and she died on my hands. “This was about 3 o’clock Sunday morning, and an hour later 1 went out in the back yard and dug a hole In the ground on the east side of the grape vines. The hole was about three feet deep, and I carried Katie out and dumped her into it. She had . on all of her clothes and i never took ■ off a stitch. Just dumped her in and I covered her up with the loose earth. “I went back to the house and as soon as daylight came I went out and - j took a pick and worked all around the ?; place w'here I put the body. , j "i did not want to kill her. I asked CONTINUE!* ON PAGE FOUR