ad info




CNN.com
 MAIN PAGE
 WORLD
 U.S.
 LOCAL
 POLITICS
 WEATHER
 BUSINESS
 SPORTS
 TECHNOLOGY
 SPACE
 HEALTH
 ENTERTAINMENT
 BOOKS
 TRAVEL
 FOOD
 ARTS & STYLE
 NATURE
 IN-DEPTH
 ANALYSIS
 myCNN

 Headline News brief
 news quiz
 daily almanac

  MULTIMEDIA:
 video
 video archive
 audio
 multimedia showcase
 more services

  E-MAIL:
Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists.
Enter your address:
Or:
Get a free e-mail account

 DISCUSSION:
 message boards
 chat
 feedback

  CNN WEB SITES:
CNN Websites
 AsiaNow
 En Español
 Em Português
 Svenska
 Norge
 Danmark
 Italian

 FASTER ACCESS:
 europe
 japan

 TIME INC. SITES:
 CNN NETWORKS:
Networks image
 more networks
 transcripts

 SITE INFO:
 help
 contents
 search
 ad info
 jobs

 WEB SERVICES:

  Transcripts

Morning News

Clock Ticking for Betty Lou Beets on Texas' Death Row

Aired February 24, 2000 - 10:00 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is ticking on Texas' death row. In less than nine hours time, Betty Lou Beets scheduled to die by lethal injection.

CNN's Charles Zewe has a look now at the woman who's been dubbed "the black widow."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY LOU BEETS, DEATH ROW INMATE: And he dragged me by my feet.

CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Betty Lou Beets was sentenced to die for the 1983 murder of her fifth husband, Jimmy Don Beets, a Dallas firefighter killed, the prosecutors argued, for his life insurance and pension money. She was also accused, but not tried, for killing her fourth husband in 1981. The bodies of both men were found buried in the yard of Beets' mobile home, both shot in the head.

Beets says she doesn't know how her husband was killed.

BEETS: I wouldn't willingly do that, but I don't remember what happened then. I just don't remember what all happened then. It's just a blank to me.

ZEWE: The 62-year-old great grandmother asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for clemency, contending she had been abused by all five of her husbands.

BEETS: It's humiliating to have no defense.

ZEWE: On Tuesday, the parole board denied her clemency request.

Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush can grant Beets a one-time 30-day reprieve. During Governor Bush's tenure, there have been 120 executions in Texas, and he has never gone against the advice of his parole board, which he appoints.

FAYE LANE, BETTY LOU BEETS' DAUGHTER: I'm not saying that my mother should go free but to be allowed to live throughout her remaining years in prison.

ZEWE: Only one other woman has been executed in Texas since the Civil War. In 1988, repentant pick-axe murderer Karla Faye Tucker received world-wide media attention when she was put to death.

This time, death penalty opponents say Bush's decision on whether to delay Beets' execution will help define what he calls "compassionate conservatism." Governor Bush says what's at stake his upholding the law of the land.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZEWE: At this hour, Beets is being held in a unit not far from the Walls unit where we're located, where the death house is located. She will be brought here in early afternoon, the execution set for 6:00 p.m. Central time tonight. Her Lawyer describes her as scared, as frightened of what is about to happen to her. The prison says that she is calm and subdued -- Bill.

HEMMER: Charles, as governor, what options does George W. Bush have in front of him on this case at this time prior to 6:00 p.m. later tonight your time?

ZEWE: Bill, he has only one. He can grant a one-time 30-day reprieve if he believes that there are some unanswered questions here, if there has been some problem with the case. Of course, Beets' lawyers contend that the whole issue of spousal abuse was never considered as a mitigating factor by the jury in the case; factor wasn't even introduced. And it is that, upon that basis, that they're taking their appeal today to the U.S. Supreme court. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, however, this execution will go ahead and Bush's spokesperson is saying that he will consider the case later in the day today after returning from the campaign trail in California. But in the past, he has yet to overrule or stop any execution here.

HEMMER: Charles Zewe, thanks -- live in Huntsville.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

  ArrowCLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S TOPICS AND GUESTS
ArrowCLICK HERE FOR CNN PROGRAM SCHEDULES
SEARCH CNN.com
Enter keyword(s)   go    help

Back to the top   © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.