The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-17
DEFENSE ENDEAVORS
TO ESTABLISH ALIBI
Witnesses Testify That EastIake Was
at Work at Time Murder
Was Committed.
leY The AssoeLsteo Pressl

(By The Associated PFessD
MONT ROSS, Va, Dec. 16.-The
prosecution rested its case late today
and the defense began the presenta-
ton OF evidence in the trial of Roger
ID. Eastlake, former naval petty Off
Ger, who IS charged Jointly with Miss
sarah e. Knox. Baltimore nurse, with
the murder Of his wife, Margaret, Sep
ter1ber 80, at Colonial Beach, Va. Be-
fore adjournment, several defense wit
nesses had testified as to Eastlake's
habits and home life.
After the prosecution had rested its
case, Judge i. w. Chinn, accompanied
by counsel for both sides, visited a
nearby hotel and Intercepted East
lakes two children. Roger, Jr, 9, and
Margaret, 5. The trial had reached
the stage where the children were the
only two remaining witnesses to tes-
tify for the prosecution. Judge Chinn,
after questioning the little ones for an
hour, announced from the bench that
he considered Margaret incompetent
to testify, and that he was convinced
the child's evidence would throw no
substantial light on the case. But the
boy, he announced, was in his opinion,
competent, and should neither the
prosecution nor defense placed him on
the stand he very likely would exer-
else his legal prerogative and cali the
child himself. This action would not
be resorted to, however, the judge ex-
planned, unless he felt the boys testi-
mony necessary.
Defense attorneys, through wit
nesses, sought to break down the con-
tention of the prosecution that East
lake was in his home at the hour his
wife met death, and through Franklin
Carrothers, fellow worker with
Eastlake at the Dahl Green proving
grounds, succeeded in getting into the
record uncontested carrothers' state
ment that Eastlake was at work about
the time the murder is alleged to have
been committed.
a. r. Crowthers, of Ocean City, n.
r., in testifying for the defense, identi-
fled the hatchet found in the East
lake home the morning of the murder
as the one given him by Miss Knox at
his home in Ocean City to sharpen,
when the nurse was at that place.
Crowthers' wife, also witness, cor
roiborated her husbands testimony.
What was described as "a love let
ter" from Eastlake to Miss Knox, which
was said to have been found in the
of thS nurse the morning
of the crime by Private Detective Tom
Boulter of Colonial Beach, who testi-
fled for the prosecution that the wom-
an tore the letter in bits when he at
tempted to wrest 1t from her, was read
to the court. The epistle was worded
in such q manner, it was contended, as
to show that Eastlake desired Miss
Knox to visit him at Colonial Beach.
Boulwer also identified a note which
IL is alleged was signed by Eastlake
for $500 held by Miss Knox.
Thomas Howe identified blood
stained pistol containing shreds of
human hair found at the Eastlake
place the morning of the murder, and
a bloodstained handkerchief and two
empty shells.
George Mason Of Colonial Beach cor
roborated Howe's testimony, having
been present when the articles were
found.
Franklin Carrothers, who was the
third defense witness to take the stand,
said that when he was on his way to
work about $3.50 on the morning Of the
murder he heard an object fall in the
Eastlake house, followed by child's
scream. When he arrived at the boat
which took him to work, he added,
Eastlake was already there.
Mrs. w. e. Corrothers, sister-in-law
81 the witness, testified she had heard
1 child's scream before her brother
n-law left the house and that it was
more distinct after he had opened the
loor. She stated further that she met
Eastlake on his way back to his home
With her husband and told him of hav-
ng heard a child scream. She said
hat Eastlake replied, II heard one
.oo."
Robert Boardman Of Colonial Beach,
Lieutenant Green, Eastlake's superior
officer at the proving grounds, Cap
tain E. d. Robey and Pilot CuInber-
and OF the boat that conveyed East
AXE to his work, Miss Grace Ashton,
Miss Mary Griffin and Miss Helen
Miller also testified for the defense,
The defense. in opening its case,
called DR.. w. l.. Brent of Colonial
Beach. The physicians testimony was
sonfined almost entirely to the lapse
II time after death for rigor morris to
develop. He cncluded his testimony
oy stating that his personal opinion
vas that Mrs. Eastlake had been killed |
1t $3.50 o'clock in the morning. DIR. |
James whitfield, of Richmond, testi- |