The Washington times., 1921-12-17
'PR0D|CAl.'
PICTURED
As sLEADER
] IN PRAYER
Woman Testifies for Defense Of
Touching instruction Given
To. Children.
By KIRK c. MILLER,
TlmAa Staff Carraanondeut.

Times Staff Correspondent.
MONTROSS, Va, Dec. 17.-Roger
D. Eastlake, in seeming repentance
for his past, according to Mrs. Helen
Miller, defense witness, turned to
the protecting and consoling radiance
Of the altar of st. Mary's Episcopal
Church ut Colonial Beach during the
darkened days Of his intrigue with
Miss Sara e. Knox. AT the time Of
his clandsstine affair with the nurse
he was superintendent in the Sunday
school in that church.
Pie1uzx = ''ProdIgal."
The dsfesass jssaocently enough cast
the spot light on the ''prodigafs out.
reached arms seeking religious COM
fort when he know that conditions
were rapidly reaching a climax. 1t
called Mrs. Helen Miller, of Colonial
Beach, also q church worker, to the
stand late yesterday, just when the
long purple shadows of winters
evening were stretching across the
Westmoreland county courthouse. She
was the best character witness pro-
duced by the defense.
THE most touching sight ever saw
In my life" related Mrs. Miller, as she
was deftly led through her testimony
by the legal promptings Of Attorney
w. w. Butzner, twas Mr.. Eastlake on
Sunday mornings last summer with a
group OF little children about his
knees, teaching them the Lords
According to Mrs. Miller the de-
fendant wrote and produced a play
which was given at Colonial Beach
for the Joint benefit of the church and
the school.
Thomas Hunter, for the prosecu-
ton. questioned Mrs, Miller as to
whether the Sunday school had any
difficulty in getting Eastlake to turn
over the proceeds Of the play to the
church, to which she replied that 1t
did not Hunter, however, got her
to admit that the school did encounter
some trouble about getting its share
| Of the benefit.
" Eastlake is elated over the stride
made m his defense, brought out
vividly and dramatically, as compared
to the weak presentation Of the Com
monwealth's side by Commonwealth
Attorney Watt Mayo.
The prisoner said, while en- route
this morning from the Jail to the
court house that the turning point
In his favor was testimony that cries
his house at about $50 o'clock and
] subsequent statements by q. man who
heard the screams, who, arriving at
the dock, found Eastlaks already
aboard ship for the morning trip to
Dahlgren naval station.
Confident Of Acquittal.
'f never felt SO confident of ac-
quittal as I am today" he said.
''The testimony offered. I believe.
had a deep impression on the Jurors.
II regret that mud has been
thrown at my wife's name. DIR.
Mason II. Knox was but friend
about my domestic relations, As a
matter Of truth they were most
happy. I loved Margaret and my
statements on the stand will prove
clearly ! had no part in the crime.
1T am eternaily grateful to Judge
Chinn for his generous decision in
not bringing my little girl on to the
stand. can never thank him
enough for his humanity in inter-
viewing them in private. / dearly
love Roger and Tab the nickname
for my daughter. I do not know
what my emotions would have been
had they been brought into the court
room. I prayed for my kiddies every
night end am counting the hours
when the Jury will tell me to tofn
them and provide a merry Christ
mas"
The Eastlake case is not expected
| to 20 to the Jury before Tuesday Of
next week. according to estimates
which Judge Chinn received from the
| Commonwealth and defense. Asked
late yesterday evening II they thought
they could get through by midnight
tonight, Mayo and Butzner said they
did not think II was possible.
Twenty-Five more witnesses are to
be called in direct examination, and
how many will be called in rebuttal
In problematical. The arguments and
instructions to the Jury are sure to
take a day by themselves. no none Of
those identified directly with the case
can hope for an earlier verdict than
lsts Tuesday night or wednesday,
Z