Evening star., 1921-12-21
EASTLAKEFREED;;
BEGINS LIFE ANEW
Jury Brings In Verdict in AZ
Minutes-Refused Visit
to Children.
From, a Stan Correspondent.


Roger ID. Eastlake, chief Navy
petty Omcer, acquitted late yes
terday afternoon by a jury Mt the
"esfm0reland county courthouse
mt MOntross, Va, of a charge OF
first degree murder, arrived in
Warrington this afternoon, and
went Immediately to the Navy De-
partment. 1t In understoOd that he
applied to the 0fncinls in charge
of the bureau of aeronautics for "a
furl0ugh and for = transfer to some
station other than Dahlgren, Va,
where he was stationed at the time
Of his arrest in connection with
the staying Of his wife mt Colo
nial Beach, September 30.
AfONTROSS. Va, December 2I.--
Roger D. Eastlake, chief naval petty
officer. was acquitted Of the charge OF
completely in the staying of his wiie
at Colonial Beach September 80, by Il
jury in the little Westmoreland county
courthouse here late yesterday after
noon, after deliberation OF forty
seven minutes. The case was given
to the jury at 4:22 pm, and at So.
~
hands his fate had been placed re
turned a verdict OF mot guilty"
II intend to start life anew Eas
lake declared after his mother anu
sister had rushed 10 his side ANA
showered him with kisses. and the az
quilted man had smiled his relief ~
the pronouncement of the jury for
man, L. w. English. Il felt certain.
he said, that those twelve men could
not believe that L murdered my wife.
Feels .Justice Cheated"
William W. Butzner. chief couns"l
for the defense, declared, after IN"
verdict that the question involved
was wholly one of the prosecution
presenting legal proof of my clients
guilt. and this we felt confident was
impossible. as he was innocent
Commemorative Attorney Watt I.
Mayo said he believed he proved
that Eastlake was present on the
morning of the crime" and he felt
Justice had been cheated" Il felt
confident" he said, "a verdict OF
second degree murder would be rem
dered, and that would have sufficed
the ends of justice. OF course, l VIII
bow to decision of the jury, and will
give my best efforts to convict Miss
Sarah E. Knox when she comes up for
trial in February"
Immediately after his acquittal.
Eastlake requested that he be permit
ted to see his children, Roger, jr.,
nine years old, and Margaret, five.
who were staying at the home of
Commonwealth's Attorney Mayo. at
Hague, fifteen miles from Montross.
The request was refused by Mr.. Mayo.
who pointed out the children Were
still in the custody of the court.
Leaves for Fredericksburg.
Eastlake and his relatives then left
Montross for Fredericksburg, Va, and
for the first time since September 80,
slept outside of a cell. He and his
brother, Donald Eastlake, occupied Il
room in the Princess Anne Hotel. The
freed man today held conference
with his attorneys in Fredericksburg,
making preparations for a legal bat
tie, II necessary. to get possession of
his children.
Eastlake, it was said, is still a petty
oficer in good standing in the Navy.
Under the construction of the rules, 1t
is understood that he is obliged 10 re-
port for duty at the Dahlgren naval
proving grounds for duty. Lieut..
Commander ]. II. Green, his superior
officer, however, at the request of the
defense attorneys, granted him a
leave of absence for three days.
Stood Ordeal Well.
From the time he was arrested with
Miss Knox and charged Jointly with
Eastlake maintained that he was in
nocent, and repeatedly said that he
would be acquitted. Throughout the
trial, which lasted a week, he stood
the ordeal well. and today shows but
little effects from the strain.
Eastlake was arrested with Miss
Knox soon after his wife's body,
bearing twenty-nine deep gashes in
tho skull. was discovered in their cot
tage at Colonial Beach on the morn
ing of September 80. He and the
woman were charged jointly with
the crime and indicted separately on
a charge Of f1rst-degree murder by Il
Westmoreland county grand jury oc-
tober "a.
No Direct Evidence.
No direct evidence was submitted
against the naval officer during the
trial, and it was pointed out by Judge
Joseph w. Chinn, who tried the SEN
sational case. that a verdict of guilty
would not be justified on the cir
cumstantial evidence presented by
the commonwealth In fact, Judge
Chinn complimented the jury on the
not-guilty verdict. assuring them
that the evidence justified the finding
There has been no fact proved in
this court" said Judge Chinn. 'to
connect Eastlake with the killing of
his wife. and l congratulate him as
well as you gentlemen" w. H. C.