The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-26
WITNESS
NEAR DEATH WHEN
:. AUTO IS WRECKED
Man Upon Whom Prose.
cution Relied May Die
From Injuries.
BY J. HAROLD KEEN,
tstaf Correspondent Of The wash
IngtOn HeraId.)

lnStOn herald.D
FREDERICKSBURG Va. Oct rs.
Death bids fair to intervene in
favor of the defense of Roger d.
Eastlake and Miss Sarah z. Knox,
charged with the staying Of Mrs.
Margaret Z. Eastlake, the accused
mans wife, at Colonial Beach on
the morning of September 30.
Capt. Blanchard Robey, SO years
old, of Colonial Beach, who was
plotting the motor launch on which
Eastlake was preparing to cross the
Potomac River from Colonial Beach
to the naval proving grounds at
Dahlgren on the morning the fiend-
ish crime was committed, and who
is considered one of the prosecu-
tion's most important witnesses, is
in a critical condition at the Mary
Washington Tfospitaf here as the
result of an automobile accident
which occurred late this afternoon
at King George Courthouse.
Capt Robey, according to physi-
clans at the Hospital, is suffering
from a fracture of the right leg, Sc
we're lacerations OF the face and
body and probably internal injuries
He was unconscious during the
greater part of the evening.
Car Turned Turtle.
The accident, which may rob the
prosecution of one OF its leading
witnesses or will at least interfere
with his appearance at the trial
December 13, was caused by the
breaking OF the stearing gear of an
automobile in which he was riding.
causing it to plunge down a steep
grade and turn turtle, pinning him
beneath near the foot of the incline
After turning over, the automo-
bile burst into flames and only the
opportune arrival of passing mo-
torists saved the injured man from
probable death.
Capt Robey was rushed to the
hospital here, where immediate
treatment was administered. Owing
to his critical condition a thorough
examination of his injuries will be
impossible until tomorrow. Capt.
Robey who summoned Eastlake
from the hold of the launch on the
morning that the heinous assault
was perpetrated and who is al
legged to be able to testify that he
husband Of the murdered woman
showed no emotion when Informed
by neighbors of the horrible fate
which had befallen his wife, is
looked upon by the attorneys for
the prosecution as the possessor of
evidence damaging to Eastlake.
Prosecution suffers Setback.
With the probable fatal injury of
Capt. Robey, and with the attorneys
for the defendants, Harry w. Smith,
jr., of Richmond. and F. w. Cole
man, Of this place, representing
Miss Knox. and william w. Butz-
ner. Of this place, representing
Eastlake. indicating that they will
exert every bit of legal action
available in the. defense of their
clients, the strong case of circum-
stantial evidence which the prose-
cution has established today, suf-
fered a severe setback.
During their investigation of the
house and grounds at Colonial
Beach where the murder was COM
mitted, and the Interrogation of Co
lonial Beach police. authorities and
neighbors. today, the attorneys for
the defense indicated that a plea
of insanity will be entered when
Miss Knox Is called before the trial
jury at Montross.
Don't you believe that the per-
son who committed the crime was
insane?" Attorney Smith is quoted
as asking. according to one of the
Colonial Beach police authorities who
made an extensive search of the
place, while standing in the room
where the mutilated body was
found The policeman said that he
did not make any response to the
question.
Expect Insanity PIea.
other questions which the at
torneys are alleged to- have asked
of persons residing near the East
lake home and who were asso-
ciated with Miss Knox during her
stay at the beach, have given rise
to the belief among the residents
of the town in which the murder
occurred that the insanity plea
will be made for Miss Knox.
Didn't Miss Knox act strangely
while she was in Colonial Beach?"
Is another question which the at
torneys are alleged to have asked
witnesses for the prosecution.
After making a thorough inves-
tigation of the house and conduct
ing an examination of the persons
who were suBpoenaed to appear
before the westmoreland County
grand jury yesterday, the defense
attorneys departed from Montross
TO return ts their homa.