The Washington herald., 1921-10-03
REMOVE EASTLAKE
and WOMAN FROM
MONTROSS JAIL
Couple Secrete d Away
After Mob Threat
ems Violence.

. DINiShobOfSSIt va, OCI- &
Fearing mob violence, Sheriff P.
F. Griffith, of westmoreland County,
today brought Roger D. Eastlske
and Miss Sarah E. Knox, who are
accused of the brutal murder of
Eastlake's wife at Colonial Beach
last Friday. from Montross, where
a mob OF 20 are said to have gath
ered around the Jail late last night
shouting threats of 'lynchinG."
Few people of Montross knew the
accused couple were taken away to-
day. as Sheriff Griffith kept his
plans secret for fear an attempt
would be made to attack the auto
on the road to Fredericksburg. Grif-
nth was accompanied by E. S.
Walker. deputy sheriff. Both were
heavily armed.
The trip was made in a closed
car over an out-of-the-way route.
Instead of coming by the way of the
Northern Neck highway. the Jour
ney was made over the Tidewater
trail.
Woman Protests Innocence.
Griffith arrived here shortly be-
| fore o'clock with his prisoners.
They were Immediately taken to the
Fredericksburg jail, where extra
precautions are being taken to pre-
vent any attempt of a mob to cheat
justice. A special guard has been
assigned to duty at the jail.
On the trip here. Miss Knox. who
is a graduate nurse. protested her
iinnocence to Sheriff Grinfth East
lake remained silent.
Mayo Disperses Mob.
COLONIAL BEACH. Va. Oct. a.
Intervention by w. T. Mayo, COM
monwealth attorney. last night
halted a mob of 20 men. which was
moving toward Montross with the
expressed intention of Iynching
| Roger D. Eastlake and Miss Sarah
E. Knox.
| Five automobiles driven in close
formation approached the little jail
and upon reaching a point several
hundred feet distant, the attackers
| leaped from the cars shouting
| threats upon the lives of the pris-
| oners.
Each carried a revolver or a
| gun. 1t was at this point that
Attorney Mayo. who had been in
waiting under cover of shadows in
| front of the jail, flashed on the
| headlights of his automobile and
| steppel into the glare, demanding
| to know what they intended to do.
! Stunned by the suddenness of the
appearance of an opposing force.
the attackers halted, but only for
| a short time when they again
threatened to attack the Jail, the
leaders declaring that they were
going to see~that Justice was done
in this case"
Mayo, still holding his position
near the door of the Jail, did not
retreat, but informed the men that
| "justice would be done" but that
it would be meted out in the way
that they seemed to desire it.
Citizens Guard Jail.
Seeing that Mayo was deter
mined in his effort to prevent the
again halted and after deliberating
among themselves and with the aid
of pleas for sanity from Mayo. they
re-entered the automobiles nearly
an hour later and departed.
"dSO anu ndSIllS gdlHeIcu
guard consisting of about a dozen
armed citizens remained at posi-
tions surrounding the Jail until
daybreak.
Feeling ran high throughout this
region when the coroner's Jury held
the two on a charge of murder
They were accused of having
hacked their victim with a .hatchet
stabbing her, and shooting her
Men and women collected on the
streets, and threats of lynching
were made. The prisoners were
moved to Montross as a result OF
this.
Eastlake is 80. and a petty officer
In the navy. Miss Knox; As, is q
graduate nurse.
Say Woman Plotted Murder.
Mayo and police officers said they
would try to prove at the trial OF
the two, that Miss Knox was jeal-
Gus of Mrs. Eastlake and that she
plotted the murder Mayo said that
his men had found evidence to
support that contention. -
Sergt. William T. Hall, of the
police department, said a ribbon
bracelet had been found in the dis.
heveled hair of the victim and thai
handkerchief and a woman's rub.
Der SHOES were picked up within a
snort distance of the bungalow
where Mrs. Eastlake met hel
death. These articles are the
property of the nurse, Hall said hs
had been told.
Mayo says that Miss Knox ad.
mitted having been in the vicinity
OF the Eastland bungalow Thursda,
night, the day before the murder
was discovered,
Evidence. said Mayo, points to tn,
time OF the killing as around
o'clock Friday morning. Eastlak,
left the house about an hour ans
a half later. A few moments latel
Miss Knox ran from the bungalow
to the house and told neighbour
that Mrs. Eastlake had been mur
dered. Eastlake was but shor
distance from his home when wore
of the killing Was hrauohS - hgv.