Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1911 — EYE WITNESS’S TALE BELIEVED [ARTICLE]

EYE WITNESS’S TALE BELIEVED

Beattie Trial Wilt Not Be Delayed for Him. STATE EXPECTS CONVICTION Witness, Who Is Said to Be in Ch|» eago, Is Being Held by Police for Use In Case Jury Does „ Not Agree. ( V 0 •' • i' ■ Chesterfield Court House, Va., Sept. 8. —The belief of Louis O. Wendenburg, commonwealth’s prosecutor In the trial of Henry Clay Beattie, now nearly completed, in the credibility of the twelfth hour witness who wrote to him confessing that he had seen the murder of Mrs. Beattie on Midlothian turfiplke, is confirmed by word received from Chicago. It is believed that Wendenburg has sent orders to the chief of police of o icaero directing him to hold this witness until he receives further orders. In a long conversation over the telephone Luther Scherer, chief of the prosecution’s detectives, received from a lawyer in Chicago who had examined the volunteer witness sufficient verification of the truth of the man’s story to cause Wendenburg to act immedk tely. Wendenburg says that he will make no move to reopen the case of the prosecution and put this new witness cn the stand. He believes that his case Is strong enough to secure a conviction without this dramatic introduction of an eye witness’ story at the last minute. But he is preparing to have the man in Chicago who so minutely described the incidents of the killing on the black Midlothian turnpike brought on here to be used against Beattie in case the jury in the present trial falls to reach an agreement. The prosecutor does not feel that the chance of an acquittal is serious enough to warrant him delaying the trial for the added number of days necesary to bring the witness on from Chicago and put him on the witness stand.

It was learned indirectly that the r>an whom Wendenburg wants is at the Great Northern hotel in Chicago, but whether in the capacity of an employe or as a guest could not be learned. His name Wendenburg and his detectives are keeping secret. There fs every indication that Beattie’s case will go to the jury tonight. Two of the lawyers finished their summing up Thursday after the little brick court house had 1 bulged for seven hours with oratory. Today Harry Smfth said the last word for the accused and Wendenburg will round off the case for the commonwealth. Since Judge Watson charged the jury ft will be able to retire as soon as Wendenburg finishes his summing up. That will probably be some time late this afternoon. Beulah Binferd would mot leave the Jail after the order for her release came until almost time for the departure of the noon train for Washington and New York. Then she hurried down to the station by taxicab in the company of a New York vaudeville booking agent. She expects to turn her unsavory notoriety into cash as a vaudeville attraction in New York unless Mayor Gaynor should forbid her appearance.