The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-17
NURSES l3 WORDS
MAY CONDEMN HER,
BUT Aid EASTLAKE
Witness Says Miss Knox
Asked Him Safe Way
To Commit Murder.
BY J. HAROLD KEEN.

MONTROSE, Va. Dec 16.-"Do
you know of any way to kill a per-
son and escape detection"
In these thirteen words may be the
open sesame which will give Roger
d. Eastlake freedom and at the same
time condemn Miss Sarah f. Knox,
who is jointly accused of killing Mrs.
Eastlake. to death in the electric
chair.
These thirteen words. according to
A. r. Crowthers. OF Ocean City. n. j..
seventh witness for the defense, dur
ing the trial here today. were spoken
by Miss Sarah Knox three weeks be-
fore the murder OF Mrs. Eastlake.
The statement was made when she
brought a hatchet to the business
place conducted by Crowthers with the
instruction that she wanted a keen
edge ground on it," the witness tes-
titled.
At the same time. the witness de-
clared, Miss Knox wanted a knife
sharpened to a razor edge" This,
however. he refused to do, although
he did sharpen the hatchet. Upon be-
ing shown the hatchet with which II
Is alleged Mrs. Eastlake was slain.
Crowthers identified it as the one he
had sharpened, and expressed dehp
sorrow tfat he had ever done so.
HEARD CHILDREN SCREAM
Accompanying this revelation was
one which threw a dark cloud about
the accused man. made by Mrs w. V.
Caruthers. a resident of Colonial
Beech. who resides near the Eastlake
home.
On the morning of the fatal at
tack on Mrs. Ea5tlake. Mrs. Caruth-
ers declares she heard children
screaming frantically in the East
lake home shortly after she had
prepared breakfast for her brother
in-law, Franklin Caruthers, about
$50 o'clock.
Later she was notified that Mrs
Eastlake had been murdered, and
upon seeing Eastlake as he re-
turned from the boat in which he
was preparing to go to work, she
spoke to him of the murder ana
received no answer.
Her brother-in-law also testified
to hearing the children scream, but
he set the time as nearer 5:45
O'Clock. Giving as his reason for
not investigating the cries, he said
he had to hurry to work, and sup
posed that the children in the East
lake home were being chastised.
Talked TO EastIake.
Upon arriving at the boat land
ing-he saw Eastlake, and Informed
MIN that he had heard screams and
a noise which sounded like some
thing falling to the floor when he
passed the Eastlake home. To this
Eastlike Is said to have replied.
SO did 1; I stopped and listened. d"
Nothing more was mentioned of
the occurrence until Eastlake was
notified by neighbors that his wife
mad been slain. His only comment
at that time was, rs that woman
up theSe?" it was testified.
When Mrs. Carulhers encountered
Eastlake she asked him, What
time did you leave your wife this
morning." Eastlake is said to have
answered, About $40, I guess; the
usual time"
provided this testimony is borne
out by additional facts. and it is
established that Eastlake did not
leave the house until the time that
ne mentioned to Mrs. Caruthers on
numerous occasions since the mur-
DER the prosecution believes it has
established the link that will re-
suit in his conviction.
Today's session of the court
which is trying Eastlake was re-
plete with surprises.
Pathos was added when the
names Of the two small children
OF Eastlake were officially brought
before the jury.
Judge Examines Children,
Shortly after the noon recess
Judge Chinn announced that he. in
company with Attorney William w.
Butzner, attorney for the defense.
and Commonwealth Attorney Watt
T. Mayo, of the prosecution, would
examine the children to ascertain
whether they were capable OF tes-
tifying.
After an hour they returned and
Judge Chinn announced that the
little girl. Margaret, 5 years old,
would not be used owing to her
tender ago. but that the boy,
Continued on Page Tsoo.