Evening star., 1922-04-29
NURSES LETTERS
TO EASTLAKE READ
One to Slain Woman, Deny
ing "vamp" Charge, Is
Also introduced.
from 4 Stan Correspondent.

From \ Stan Correspondent.
MONTROSS. Va. April 29.-Crouch-
ed in her seat with eyes focused on a
little window in the rear of the
courtroom. Miss Sarah E. Knox.
Margaret L. Eastlake. listened to
Commonwealth Attorney Watt T.
Mayo read scores of her personal let
ters. written to the husband of the
dead woman. at the fifth day of her
trial here today.
As the prosecutor barred the soul of
the middle-aged graduate nurse. as
the naval petty officer. crowd that
tested the capacity of the little
westmoreland county courthouse
strained its ears to catch every word:
The letters, which cover period
from November /, 1920. up to within
q few days of the murder, are the
same that were read at the trial OF
Roger D. Eastlake here last Decem-
Der. They are most voluminous'
and expressed in details Miss knox's
innermost feelings for Eastlake.
Several letters from the nurse to
the murdered woman were also read.
In these Miss Knox takes Mrs. East
lake 10 task for accusing her OF try
ing to "vamp" Eastlake and ridicules
the Implication that there were i'm
proper relations between herself and
Mrs. EaStlake's husband. One letter
from the dead woman to Miss Knox
was also read.
ORers to Repay Loan.
This was introduced to show that
1ory 70 nj
all relations between Miss Knox and
her husband. The concluding para
graph read:
Il hope you are satisfied. I will
see that you get a payment on March
without fail Mr.. Eastlake is not
in health and he has been worried
about me. The talk your visit caused
and the unhappiness 1t brought me
has upset him and he has neglected
everything.
want to be under any obligations to
you. nor do l'want my husband. The
money (about 5000 will be paid as
soon as possible. Is that satisfac-
toryr'
In this letter Mrs. Eastlake also in
formed the nurse that her husband
was aware Of her intimacy with Miss
Knoxs brother. 1t was brought out
that this was the threat held over
the murdered woman's head by the
nurse.
In the letters to Eastlake the nurse
uses the most endearing terms. and
most always signs herself "Aunty."
The prosecution expects to prove a
motive for the murder by the letters.
Thirty Letters Read.
After thirty Of the eighty-fve let
ters had been read, John Henry Bur-
ton Of Washington. D. c.. was placed
on the stand and qualified as q bio
chemist. He said that on October 20.
1921. he had examined a piece Of the
raincoat found on the Eastlake prem
ises the morning of the murder by
microscopic test. but could not state
whether blood was upon the garment.
He then used a guaiac chemical test.
and had positive results. He found
evidence Of blood.
Of the defense. the witness was asked
IL he could state whether 1t was hu-
man blood. and he said that he could
He qualified his answer. though. by
saying that such test could be made.
He was then excused.
objection was made by Harry M.
Smith, IT,, chief counsel for the de-
fense, to admit the letters as evil
dence, but after Mr.. Mayo agreed to
the possession of both Eastlake and
Miss Knox after the crime was COM
mitted the defense withdrew its OBJ
lection and the proceedings started.
A. r. Crowthers. hydraulic worker
Of Ocean City. N. j., who Is claimed
to have sLarpened the hatchet for
Miss Knox with which the murder
was committed, was on the stand for
the greater part Of the late session
yesterday.
Frequent clashes between the wit
ness and Mr.. Smith ended in the lie
being passed, and until Judge Joseph
w. CT inn had restored order, much
excitement prevailed in the court
room.
Former Expert Boxer.
It was a visit made by Attorney
uary that seemed to raise the ire Of
the witness, short, stocky man, who
acknowledged having been an expert
boxer.
Crowthers said that his reputation
at home had been greatly damaged
since he testified in the Eastlake case,
intimating that since the visit Of Mr..
Smith his neighbors had accused him
Of having been bought" He said
further that the lawyer for the de-
talked at Ocean City that there would
be no dispute over the hatchet.
Resenttng the fnsfnuation, Mr.. Smith
jumped to his feet and emphatically
denied everything the witness had
said.
With face flushed. Crowthers shout
ed. az have never heard any man call
me liar in my life"
We'll, you hear one now" retorted
the attorney.
II will attend TO- that remark out
side," snapped back Crowthers as
ed to his feet to protest. Judge Chinn
raped vigorously for order.
The Richmond lawyer then address,
ed the court and said that never in
his forty years practice before the
bar had he been accused of unethical
Ocean City had been on a matter en-
tirely foreign to the hatchet. and that
he did. not feel that he should be COM
pelled to state what his business was,
as 1t would give the prosecution an
outline OF what the defense might be.
with the character OF Mr.. Smiths Wis
IL to Ocean City. but asked the court
to permit the witness to explain his
purport In open court.
Judge In Private Hearing.
Judge Chinn ordered both lawyers
to their feet and declared that Mr..
Smith was fully within his rights.
He said that he had never known the
lawyer to do an unethical action and
that he would hear the prosecutions
contention In private. after which he