The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-10-04
NEW LINK
ADDED To
CHAIN Of
EVIDENCE
River Gives Up Bundle Of
Clothes --clinches Case Against
Eastlake, Police Hold.
BY KIRK G. MILLER,
(Times Staff Correspondept.)


FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Oct. 4.
Surely as the sea washes up its
dead, SO the waters of the Potomac
river have given up the final link Of
evidence sought by the prosecution
in its effort to send Roger, D. East
lake, a chief petty officer in the
navy, and Miss Sarah E. Knox, grad
uate nurse, to the electric chair for
the joint murder of Eastlake's wife,
Margaret Katherine Eastlake, at
Colonial Beach, forty-eight miles
from here, at dawn last Friday morn
ing.
Articles Of masculine undercloth-
ing Of the navy issue type, two mems
handkerchiefs, a pair Of woman,s
stockings and a pair of child's cotton
bloomers, all bearing irremovable
stains Of blood and tied in q bundle,
were. washed ashore not far from
the Eastlake home ut 5 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, the turbulent surf
following severe thunder and cleo
tric storm being responsible.
- blood On Nurses Clothes.
These mute pieces Of circumstantial
evidence. placed In the hands Of the
authorities by nature herself, com
plete the cycle Of events which point
to Eastlake's alleged part in the kill
ing. despite the fact that when he
started for work last Friday morning
he was dreSsed Immediately and
claimed that when he last saw his wife
she was alive and we'll and had kissed
him good.by.
Blood on the clothing OF Miss Knox
has implicated her. The finding OF
crimson-stained masculine apparel ap-
parently breaks Eastlake's story that
ne was not present and did not help
IN committing or concealing the crime,
IL had been known all along that he
had other clothing than that which he
wore and that which was found In his
home.
When cast upon the shore OF the
Potomac, where II is eight miles wide.
Just sixty miles below Washington.
the CHASTITY bundle of clothing was
tied In knot, hut the innermost, tight.
est portions OF the wad OF apparel had
not been so churned about by the
waves to obliterate the blood stains.
More Clothing Sought.
Still more outer clothing is being
sought and watched for, as It is be.
lieVed Eastlake threw some mechanics
jumpers and exterior garments into
the river when the other things were
cast there. II these are not found IL
viii not be fatal to the prosecution, but
dredging will be resorted to along a
two-mile river front in order to bring
anything else to the surface which the
rollers have not already brought in.
Meanwhile both prisoners have en-.
e..
them at their trial, which will occur
the last week Of this month. Whether
legal talent will be imported from
Philadelphia, Eastlakes home, or from
Baltimore, formerly the domicile OF
Miss Knox. Is questionable.
Two Lawyers Engaged.
Attorney William w. Butzner, for
merly commonwealth attorney for
Spotsylvania county, and Thomas
Hunter. Of King George county, viii
defend the prisoners at the trial, Butz-
ner acting In his capacity for both
parties and Hunter being especially
retained by Eastlake.
Butzner was unable to give out any
statement as to the lines along which
he will operate. He does not claim
that his clients are innocent partially
or in toto. He frankly said that one or
the other Of them is responsible, and
that he thought the innocence Of one
will predicate the built Of the other or
vice versa.
1T is the most horrible crime that
ever swayed the northern neck OF
Virginia" Mr.. Butzner said today,
and the proud people of this grand
old dominion want and will tolerate
only Justice"
Poised dejectedly on his ron cot
in the Spotsylvania county iail here
this morning, Eastlake reiterated his
innocence.
II will devote every ounce OF blood
in my body to avenEe the foul play
by which my dear wife was taken
from me-" Eastlake said today.
Husband Swears Vengeance.
"1 have promised God she will be
avenged, and know my vow viii
be fulfilled. AS sure as He is In
heaven. the murderer of the mother
of my children will suffer earthly
punishment for tho outrage on my
household"
"Eow deeply is Miss Knox involved
I'm your domestic undoing7"
"I can't make any statement as 10