The Washington herald., 1921-10-05
EXPERTS WILL
PROBE MURDER
FOR GOVERNOR
Richmond Investigators
Assigned to Colonial
Beach Case.
by J. HAROLD KEEN.
tstan Correspondent Of w.shin,ton H.ralt


FREDERICKSBURG. Va. Oct: a.
Expert oSiminal Investigators. act
ing for the prosecution, under the
direction of Gov. Westmoreland
Davis, today began a collection of
evidence in the fiendish murder of
Mrs. Margaret Eastlake, whose
mutilated body was found in her
home at Colonial Beach last Friday,
which, IL is believed. will definitely
ascerta n the perpetrators within
the next few days.
One of the first moves taken by
the states Investigators was the
taking of the fingerprints of Miss
Sarah Z. Knox and Roger D. East
Like, the alleged slsyers who are
being held in the city jail here.
Both of the prisoners still main
tanning their innocence OF COM
plicity in the crime, readily agreed
to comply with all of the orders is
sued by the Investigators.
Go to Scene of Crime.
After completing the taking of
the fingerprints and asking a few
questions of the prisoners, the in
vestigators motored to the scene of
the crime. William A. Toler. of the
Richmond bureau of Identification,
conducted the Investigation here.
Today's activities were the first
of a modern nature which have
been injected into the case and
come as Il direct result of the loud
Clamorings of the residents of West
moreland county against the meth
DDS used by county authorities.
While no fear Is felt of a reoccur-
renee of the attempted lynching
which occurred at Montross, where
the prisoners were being held last
Saturday, the feeling that too little
progress was made by the prose-
cution continued to run high in the
section surrounding the place where
the murder was committed.
The collection of expert evidence
is expected to be a slow process,
however, owing to the fact that IT
has not been made in an orderly
manner in the past.
Defense Is Active.
While the prosecution began a re-
newal of activity in the case the
defense was busily engaged ir
setting up machinery by which they
hope to disregard the greater portion
of the evidence which has already
been uncovered regarding the mur.
der.
william W. Butzner. attorney TO,
| the prisoners, spent the day in con
| ference with his clients and DonalC
Eastlake of Philadelphia, a brother
of Roger Eastlake, who arrived
,here this afternoon. -....
After a chat with his brother II
the city jail, Donald Eastlake de-
clined to make any formal state
ment other than to say:
My presence here proves exact
ly what / think in this case. NJ.
brother is in excellent spirits and /!
confident that he will be cleared o.
all of the charges against him. ant
that he win soon be given freedom.
When asked whether his mothei
would come to this city, he respond
ed Il cannot say at this time"
Tomorrow, Butzner will go t,
Montross and Colonial Beach for tn,
purpose of collecting evidence b.
which he hopes to be able to fore
preliminary hearing as a mean
Of securing the majer portion of tn,
prosecutions evidence, before tn,
case is brought before the grant
jury on Oct. "a.
VIII Fight Removal.
Butzner announced that h
| would fight any attempt to remov'
the prisoners from this city I,
Richmond, this having been rum
ored possible owing to the limite,
accommodations and lack Of pro
| lection here, on the grounds tha
he wants his clients near him at al
times.
Although no official action ha
ais yet been taken, the rumor tina
the trial will be moved from West
moreland. county to Spotsylvani
| county is gaining in prominence to
day.
Miss Knox spent the day reading
| and writing letters with the excep
ton of half hour during whicl
! Continued OF Page Too.