The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-12-15
MOB SOUGHT TO
LYNCH EASTLAkE
Armed Men Dispersed by Deputy
Sheritts at MOntrOsS, Va.
INFLkMEO WITH WHISKY
"We'II Give Him Justice on Court
Houee Steps" Shouted Angry Farm
ers-Cuard is Increased.

M0gtrrSe, Va. Dee. 15.-Threats to
by ahoat fifty armed farmers from
the Virginia hills. intIamed with rcd
hot m0unshinc corn liquor, nearly
broke up EaS,:i-c rial here for the
murder nf = ~.
Sheriff Walker &id fifteen heavily
armed dcpHt'eS !nnl. god at the court
house in fear of i,:~t such an elnpr-
gency rnuted tn" bearded hill
billies," VIII" shouted, To - with
the law. No'n e "a him Justice. on
the cnurtE,ausc steps
The sheriff routed the proposed
lynchil.G party without interrupting
the trial. ard hi> men now guard the
doors of the courtroom.
The demonstration occurred late in
the aft moon. after much testimony
had been heard which tends to refute
Eastlake's assertion h" had left his
cottage at Colonial Beach, thirty
miles from here, before his wife was
Killed with a hatchet on September
30. Miss Sara Euphonia Knox, a
nurse, is Jointly accused with him Of
the murder.
So unanimously has the sparse pop
ulation of this section Of Virginia
thronged to the trial in the frame
courthouse here, that only fraction
of the farmers and fishermen who
flock here in buggies. ox-carts and
motors can jam themselves into the
courtroom.
Those who are kept out for lack Of
space cOngregate on the courthouse
lawn in the alternate driZZle and
snow. II was among a group which
had taken possession of the broad
wooden steps leading to the court
room on the second floor that the
trouble bagan.
To this spot, 1t seemed all the Wild
er spirits OF the countryside were
drawn. Spirits" In double meaning,
for TASKS Of raw corn whisky, We're
passed around freely.
The combination Of whisky and In
dignation over the fragments Of evi-
dence against Eastlake which leaked
ont. worked on the small throng Nut
A<Ss of the group drifted through
W corridors to the sheriff's deputies.
Sbme expressions heard were:
}"We'll give 'em justicer' Don't
need no law to settle this casew "A
hemp necklace is what he wants!'
Somebody get a rope-we'll do the
rest
The portent of these remarks was
not lost on the deputies, for those
who uttered them were equipped to
carry out their threats. Here and
there a sawed-off shotgun showed it's
ugly muzzle under a rough coat. From
hip pockets peeped the handles of re-
yOlvers.
Word was carried to the sheriff In
the sizzling hot courtroom of the men,
ace. which lurked outside. He quietly
passed message among his deputies,
who congregated about the steps and
moved on the group in a determined
mass
Few words were exchanged, only a
curt "get out ~ here and there The
group on the steps growled, but 1t
moved. Out doors and into the murky
gray drizzle it struggled, impelled by
the brisk tread of the deputies behind
1t is likely Sheriff Walker will see
that arms are kept out of the court
house here for the rest Of the ses-
sions, and those who enter will be
searched at the door.
1t is possible, too, that this local
move toward limitation Of armaments
will be carried a step forward, and
interior Notifications in the shape Of
TASKS. will be banned.