Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-01
Eastlake and Miss Knox
Accused of Crime at
Colonial Beach
RATCHET WAS USED
Blood-Stained Pistol Also Found
Under Doorstep of House. nus-
band is iett: U<:ceT II Navy.

Colonial Beach, Va, Oct. 1.-One
OF the most sensational murders IN
The history of this section occurred
here this morning when Mrs. K. D.
/ Eastlake came to her death, accord,
ng to the verdict of a cOroner's
| jury. at the hands of her husband, L..
d. Eastlake, and woman who gives
Ter name as Sarah +. konx, and who
claims Baltimore as her home TIE
body was discovered early this morn
ing when Miss Knox aroused the
ncighborhood and informed people
that Mrs. Eastlake had been nurd,
eled. She declares she spent the
night in a small house about &c
yards from Eastlake's house, in or
der that she might see him early
this morning when he left for his
work and accompany him to the
Va, where Eastlake IS serving Il
term as q petty officer in the nav.
She says she saw a man run from
the house about 6 o'clock this morn
ing and that she ran in the house
and found Mrs. Eastlake's body.
Word was sent TO EastlaiIe That
his wife had been murdered. When
informed Of this fact he showed No
emotion. His indifferent demeaEoY
he maintained on his return TO the
house and throughout the inquest.
He says he arose this morning at
) O'Clock, left at $50 and went di
rect to the wharf where the boa,
was to leave for the naval prov.
ing grounds. He also says his wife
prepared breakfast for him and she
was alive when he left the house
Mrs. Eastake's body and head
were badly mutilated. When sh"
was found on the floor of the dim
ing room severe wounds had beer
inflicted with Ratchet which was
found later near the scene. twenty
nine scalp wounds were counted By
the doctor and her head was almost
severed from the body. 4 pistCr
was found marked with blood stains
under the step Of the house in which
Miss Knox says she spent the ni&!.t.
A rain coat was found in some IN.
dergrowth nearby. It had blood
spots on it and is believed to belong
to Miss Knox.
Evidence showed that the hatchct
ahd evidently been washed, as the
kitchen sink contained clots OF blood
Blood spots were also found on tire
clothes OF Miss Knox. Two children
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Eastlake, s and Is
years of age, were asleep IN an adj
Joining room when their mother vas
murdered They say they came oct
Of their room in the earl morn
ing. when they were awakened NJ
s noise. They say they rushed
back into the room by their father.
who told them that their mothc:'
had been hurt and was being taken
to the hospital.
Eastlake and his family came to
Colonial Beach to live about two
years ago when he was stationed at
The naval proving grounds at Dahl
preu, which is near Colonial Bcacl.
It is stated that Miss Knox came
with them to the beach and lived II
The same house for seveTa da's,
when her presence became obnoxious
to Mrs. Eastlake and she lott:
Since that time she has returned
several times To the Eastlake home,
but only for short periods. Upon
her first appearance at Colonial
Beach with Eastlake she said that
she was his aunt. Mrs. Eastlake has
made the statement to her neighbors
that she lived in terror Of Miss
Knox and the very sight of her ur-
nerved her for several days. slrS.
Eastlakc was held in the highes,f
esteem by persons at Colonial Beach
Eastlake and Miss Knox have been
taken to Montross, the county seat
OF Westmoreland county, where they
were placed in the county jail 10
! await the action Of the grand jury.