Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-17
ALIBI SOUGHT
BY EAS7LAKE
AT M0NTR0sS
Physicians Disagree on Time
of .Murder-State's
Theory Assailed
HATCHET IDENTIFIED
Hair Found on Bloody Revolver Un-
der Shack Occupied by Miss Knox
Matches That of Dead Woman.

Montross, Va, Dec. 17.-Testimony
regarded as favorable to the defense
was introduced this afternoon in the
case of Roger D. Eastlake, on trlal
here for the murder of his wife, Mar
garete L. Eastlake, September 80
Dr.. James H. Whitfield, coroner OF
Richmond, who qualified as an expert
was perhaps the most important wit
ness. He belittled the theory that the
progress Of rigor mortis was an ac-
curate means of fixing the time
elapsed after death.
He said the time of appearance OF
rigor mortis is from few minutes 70
several hours. 1t is usually from
four to six hours, but may be carrier
or later. In one case he had seen TINS
summer it was fully developed IN 20
minutes.
Attorney Butzner then proposed the
hypothetical question detailing condl-
tions such as those that surrounded
Mrs. EastIake's death, and asked II
he could say on examination at 9:3O
a. m. that the woman was not awe
at $3.50 q. m?
No.-No, sir. She might have been
alive at that time.
Q.-Or at quarter to 6?
I.-she might have been alive at
that time.
DR.. w. L. Brent, of Colonial
Beach, said his personal opinion was
that Mrs. Eastlake may have been
killed at $50 a. m. Rigor mortis was
not complete at $3.50 a. m. He noted
a small clot of blood in Mrs. East
lakes ear.
Franklin Carruthers, who works at
the Dahlgren Proving Grounds, gave
evidences Favorable to Eastlake. He
lives about SO yards from Eastlake's s
home and left home September 80 at
6:15. AS he passed the Eastlake
house ne heard child scream and a
sound of something knocked over.
When he reached the boat 6 or min,
utes later he found Eastlake ahead
of him and on the boat. Both would
follow the same road.
Robert Roardman, OF Colonial
Beach, who lives two blocks from the
wharf, went to the proving grounds
on the morning of September 80 on
Capt. E. B. Robey's boat. Board
man left home at $50. Eastlake was
not on the boat when he got there. but
he saw him coming. The walk from
Boardmsn's house to the wharf is
less than five minutes. Captain
Robey said that Eastlake was already
on board when he arrived. He was
in his white uniform and asked Cap
tain Robey to call for him on his re-
turn trip at 1880 a. m. He had got
ten leave to take his wife and chill
dren to the Fredericksburg fair.
Lieut.. II. NJ. Green. U. S. NJ, OF
the proving grounds. Eastlake's su-
perior officer, said that Eastlake is
chief petty officer in the seaplane
hangar-"about as responsible posi-
tion as man can hold" He stated
that Eastlake had made application
to him September 90 to get off Fri
day to Monday to go 20 the fair and
that he application had been granted.
A. R. Crowther, Ocean City, n. j.,
identified the hatchet found on the
Eastlake premises after the murder,
and said Miss Knox had brought 1t
to him to be sharpened September Z.
Crowther was quite amusing and gave
the audience several hearty laughs.
He said he had seen great deal of
Miss Knox and characterized her "as
a damned nuisance" On one oc-
casion she had asked him if there was
way to kill person without cut
ting. Mrs. Crowther corroborated
her husbands statement in regard to
the hatchet.
Mrs. Mary Griffith, Mrs. Helen
Miller and other residents of Colonial
Beach testified that the relations be-
tween Eastlake and his wife seemed
very affectionate.
Just before the commonwealth
closed its testimony Judge Chinn an
nounced to the jury that the question
had come up as to the testimony OF
Eastlake's children, Roger B., agec
8, and Margaret, aged 5. He said ht
would not pass on it until he hac
seen and examined the children him
self in the presence Of counsel TO,
both sides. He adjourned court one
hour for this purpose. The children
were at hotel in the village.
On reassembling court he said:
"From a legal standpoint the lit
tie girl is not competence as wit
ness. She has no conception of al
oath from a moral or legal stand
point. ! can't say that were she pu
on the stand she could throw an!
light on the matter. In my epinio,
Rorer is competent. He is nine year
old, bright and intelligent, an
knows what an oath means. !
neither side puts him ON before tn