Son of Henry Clay Beattie, Sr & his wife Mattie Fowler Belote. He married Louise Wellford Owen, August 24, 1910 in Manchester, Chesterfield County, Virginia. A month & a half after the birth of their first child, Henry brutally murdered Louise on a late night car ride. He shot her with an old shotgun and attempted to blame a "highwayman". His story was quickly discredited and shortly after Louise was laid to rest in his family's plot, Henry was brought to trial for her murder. He was rapidly convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution. Barely 4 months after the trial, Henry was executed, having apparently finally confessed his guilt to clergymen just prior to his death. Much was made of the fact that Henry had carried on an affair with a young woman, Beulah Binford, who had a very questionable reputation. The affair began before his marriage to Louise and continued sporadically after his marriage. Eventually Beulah had a child with Henry. The child was adopted by a Richmond family but only lived a bit over 11 months. It has never been clear as to whether Beulah was Henry's motivation to murder Louise or if it was simply his desire to be free of the responsibilities of married life and fatherhood. Ironically, Henry was buried next to his victim and wife, Louise, in the Beattie family plot and poor Louise was forced to spend eternity resting next to her murderer.
Son of Henry Clay Beattie, Sr & his wife Mattie Fowler Belote. He married Louise Wellford Owen, August 24, 1910 in Manchester, Chesterfield County, Virginia. A month & a half after the birth of their first child, Henry brutally murdered Louise on a late night car ride. He shot her with an old shotgun and attempted to blame a "highwayman". His story was quickly discredited and shortly after Louise was laid to rest in his family's plot, Henry was brought to trial for her murder. He was rapidly convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution. Barely 4 months after the trial, Henry was executed, having apparently finally confessed his guilt to clergymen just prior to his death. Much was made of the fact that Henry had carried on an affair with a young woman, Beulah Binford, who had a very questionable reputation. The affair began before his marriage to Louise and continued sporadically after his marriage. Eventually Beulah had a child with Henry. The child was adopted by a Richmond family but only lived a bit over 11 months. It has never been clear as to whether Beulah was Henry's motivation to murder Louise or if it was simply his desire to be free of the responsibilities of married life and fatherhood. Ironically, Henry was buried next to his victim and wife, Louise, in the Beattie family plot and poor Louise was forced to spend eternity resting next to her murderer.
Inscription
"Beyond the River"
Gravesite Details
Buried in Beattie family plot (Division 1, Sections 55, 56 & 57, Cir./Range 5, Part A - purchased 8/3/1884 by D.D. Beattie)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
