The Washington herald., 1921-12-20
EASTLAKE'S FATE
MAY Be IN HANDS
OF JURORS TODAY
Attorneys Will Present
Final Arguments in
Murder Trial.
By J. HAROLD KEEN.


MONTRoSS. Va. Dec. ls.-At-
tacks on the defense set up for
| Roger ID. Eastlake. charged with
the murder of his wife. were con-
tinued today by the prosecution. as
the trial. which began here last
Thursday, neared an end.
Tomorrow Judge Joseph w.
Chinn, trial judge. IS expected to
instruct the jury. and :he fate of
the accused man may be in the
hands. of the jury late In the after
noon.
The first witness against East
lake today was Mrs. C. A. Heineken,
of Colonial Beach, confidant OF
Mrs. Eastlake, who was was killed
at Colonial Beach September 80.
The witness said Mrs, Eastlake
suffered "a living death" as the re-
suit of her husbands friendship
| with Miss Sarah E. Knox. a nurse.
| Jointly accused of the crime, and
his promises to lend the affair"
The witness testified Eastlake's
| resignation as vestryman and a
| Sunday school superintendent were
demanded because of his acquaint-
ance with the nurse.
Letters Are lntreauced.
Though the defense has claimed
Eastlake discouraged alleged ad-
yances by the nurse after his prom
ise to his wife. several letters were
introduced written by him to Miss
Knox as late as May % IN which he
spoke of coming meetings.
| Miss Amelia Caruthers and z.
| mi 81 CnlnNiol o,h
during the rebuttal, testified that
they noticed a rather heavy beard
on Eastlake's chin shortly after the
discovery of the murder" The de-
Tense in it's presentation declared it
would prove that on the morning of
the murder their client had shaved
himself as usual
| After a reces sof one hour this
afternoon, to enable the attorneys
of the prosecution and defense to
prepare their arguments. Judge
Chinn asked whether both sides
were prepared to continue the trial
tonight. Attorney William w. Butz-
ner. chief counsel for the defense,
was ready, but COMMONWEALTH At
torney Mayo asked that the argu-
ments be postponed until tomorrow.
as he was physically unable to con-
tinue." Mayo's request was granted.
Doctors on Stand.
Charles w. Moss, of Richmond, will
open the arguments for the prose-
cution. He will be followed by At
torney Thomas L. Hunter, prosecu-
tor retained by the citizens of Colo
nial Beach.
1t is impossible to determine ac-
curately the time. of death by the
development of rigor mortis. accord
ing to Coroner ]. Ramsay Nevltt and
former Deputy Coroner Joseph r.
| Rogers, both of Washington, d. C.
who were called today by the prose
cution. Both physicians declared
they could not time the death within
four or six hours.
Eas:lake, for the first time
since :he opening of the trial. ap-
pearSl to be nervous. He moved
restlessly in his seat. His sister
Mrs. Mabel Chambers. of Philadel-
phia, frequently comforted him. Al
the close of the session he said he
was confident his innocence would
be proven.
Judge Chinn announced last night
that he would not sustain the OBJ
/ JcCltOnS W NhC ucICHse dkdnlS1
admission of the bloody revolver
found under the clubhouse on East.
lakes property.
Mrs. EastIake's Anguish. o..
Torn between shame and the fear
that her home was imperilled. Mrs
Eastlake suffered much heart an
guish before she was murdered
testified Mrs. Heineken. Her story
of Mrs. Eastlake's unhappiness was
frequently interrupted by Attorney
Butzmer on the grounds that 1t was
hearsay evidence.
II intend to show through this
witness that the accused man who
has been depicted by the defense as
a model man and a model husband
| was a hypocrite and an untrue hus-
band" retorted the commonwealth
attorney.
Mrs. Heineken. told how Mrs
Eastlake had prevailed upon hei
to accompany her to a lawyer t.
determine what she could do <
keep Miss Knox away from Colo.
nial Beach"
The lawyer told Mrs. Eastlak,
that only her husband could dc
this.
Then Mrs. Eastlake informed her
husband that unless he ceased hi.
affair with Miss Knox she would
sue her for alienation Of his af.
fections." the witness testified
Eastlake. Mrs. Heineken said, then
promised he would never again
meet the nurse.
His Letter to Nurse.
However, the prosecution intro.
duced letter alleged to have been
written by Eastiake to Miss Knox
on May %. It follows.
Ny Dear Es: Lots of things have
happened since you left which made
1t necessary for me to write you,
Costissed on Page Three.