The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-21
Out Only 36 Minutes Aft
{ er Day Spent Listen
ing to Arguments. >
FREED MAN ASKS
FOR CHILDREN
Will Go Away, for Rest,
Then Seek Transfer to
New Naval Post.
By j. HAROLD KEEN.

y
MoNTRoSS. Va. Dec. 2O.-Roger
d. Eastlske did not aid in the mur-
der of his wife.
This was the verdict returned at
sos o'clock this afternoon by the
jury, thirty-six minutes after the
case. which began last Tuesday. was
placed in their hands for delibera-
rtion.
wild Burst of Happiness.
A few tense moments while the
jury's findings were being read.
then wild burst of happiness. and
the man. who. a few minutes before
had been a prisoner charged with
murder. walked from the court
house free citizen and was whisked
away to Fredericksburg where he
will rest for a few days.
The verdict, which required only
two ballots, came as a surprise to
the hundreds crowded in the small
court room and who during the
greater part of the afternoon had
listened to Attorney Watt T. Mayo.
chief counsel for the prosecution.
refer to the accused man as "a liar.
a yellow cur. and a slayer of his
wife,"
Il am happy. very happy" said
Eastlake. after he had been released
from the embrace of his mother
-
tedious recounting of the staying
of his wife. Mrs. Margaret L. East
lake. of Colonial Beach, during the
early morning hours Of Septem-
Der 30.
Il Rave maintained from the be-
ginning that was innocent of any
part in the Staying Of my dear
twife." he continued his voice chok-
ing with emotion. "and I am glad
that my innocence has been proven
TO aU who may have doubted me"
HeIpIe.. to Refute.
There were. of course. some
thiE,s brought out in this trial that
/ do not like. but I was helpless to
refute them in view of the fact that
] did not take the witness stand in
nv own behalf"
As her son was ordered to arise
while the verdict was being read.
Mrs. s. NJ E Eastlake. leaning on
the arm of her daughter, Mrs Mabel
Chambers, of Philadelphia, also
stood up. Her face was Redeemed
with weeping. the result of hearing
her boy scathingly denounced as
"devilish hypocrite" and other
things Her eyes were closed. and
as toars coursed down her cheeks,
her Inns moved in silent prayer.
The words Not Guilty" left her
spellbound for a moment. then she
rushed toward the acquitted man.
ard, throwing her arms about his
neck. cried: God has answered me,
/ am glad
The scene was one which viii
long be remembered. for II por-
trayed vividly the love of a mother
which cannot be shaken dc spite the
haranxuine of the mob or the CEN
sure of prosecutors.
Eastlake who is still a chief
p.tty officer in the United States
Navy, has secured a leave OF alb
serce for three more days, after
! which he will return to his former
| position at the Dahlgren Proving
I Grounds, with the understanding g
that he will be Immediately trans
ferred to some other post.
Asks to See Children
Immediately after the scquittal
he requested that he be permitted
m see his two small children. Roger,
A. wears old, and Margaret,
Years old. He has xot seen them
since his arrest on the day OF the
murder.
The request was placed before
Judge Joseph w. Chinn, trial Judge
ana he replied that, as the children
bad not been officially under the
nrotection of the court. he could
see no reason why the former pris-
oner should not be granted the re-
quest
since the opening of the trial the
children have been living in tht
home of Commonwealth Attorney
Mayo, at Hague, in the custody OF
the Rev. Thomas P. Yardley, of Ca
louisville, Md, brother-in-law to the
murdered woman.
It is believed that a fight for the
custody of the children will be con-
Quoted, in view OF the fact that the
: Rev. Mr.. Yardley has been quotad
as having said he would never sur
render them to the man accused oi
the crime.
u Immediately after retiring the ju-
rors asked that the letters sent to
Eastlake by Miss Sarah E. Knox
Jointly accused of the murder, who
will be called for trial on Febru-
sry 81 along with blood stained
garments a naval hat and a rair
cape alleged to have been the prop
erty of Eastlake be given them for
use in their deliberations.
Two Ballots Taken.
The nrst ballot cast showed a
vote of IL to 1 for acquittal, ac-
cordinx to T. B. Mayo, foreman OF
the jury, and cousin of Common
wealth Attorney Mayo and chief
prosecutor. After the letters had
been considered the second and
unanimous ballot was cast
Donald Eastlake. his brother. and
the acquitted man both passed
among the jurors, the attorneys for
the defense and the trial judge.
thanking them for the courtesies
shown them during the trial.
The entire session of the court
today was given over to arguments
OF the attorneys. begun by Attorney
Thomas l. Hunter, OF King George
County, retained for the prosecution
- Hnlnufal RAaoh