The Washington times., 1922-04-26
MENTA[ITY Y
IS NORMAL
AL|EN|S IS
D Eel A RE
HOPES of Defense Seriously
Dimmed by Findings OF
Medics.
BY KIRK c. MILLER,
Staff Correspondent

MONTROSS, Va, April 28.-
Revelations made here today ex-
plain why Miss Sarah E. Knox,
charged with the murder of Mrs.
Roger E. Eastlake at Colonial
Beach last September, was foiled
in her plan to plead insanity.
That insanity as her defense
was contemplated up until
shortly before the beginning OK
her trial is substantiated by the
fact that the only witnesses
called for the present hearing
were summoned by the prosecu-
ton.
Given Mental Test.
Counsel for the defense some
months ago engaged the STATE
alienist, DR.. ]. S. Dejarnette, OF
Western State Hospital. Staunton'
Va. to visit the accused woman at
,he Richmond city Jail and deter
mine her state of mentality.
He took with him another Nir-
yinia aliepist, DR.. A. l.. FREDDY
of Virginis/ State Epileptic Colony.
and together they put Miss knox
through a psychological test.
Commonwealth Attorney Mayo,
hearing that the States expert had
been broached by the defense I'M
mediately got in touch with MN.
advising him he would be sum-
moned in rebuttal should Miss
Knox's attorneys enter an insanity
plea or ask for a lunacy commis'
sion. DIR. Dejarnette then IN
formed Mr.. Mayo that he and Dr.
Freddy had found Miss Knox to
be mentally sound and offered botn
of their services as witnesses Tor
the Commonwealth. They are both
in Montross, together with DR..
William +. brewery, another noted
psychopathic expert of this State.
Thus the Knox defense, as orig
inally outlined, was undermined.
Hope for Acquittal.
The evidence in the Eastlake
trial being solely circumstant'ai
and not sufficient to convict him.
the Knox defense seems to find
refuge in the possibility OF her
being even less guilty than East
lake. The only testimony likely 10
find her more guilty than East
lake will be that which Eastlake
and his eight-year-old son may
give.
Taking the testimony in the trial
of Miss Knox is expected to get
under way before noon recess to-
day. The initial day of her hear
ing was interrupted when the first
panel of fifty veniremen was ex-
hausted before twenty men from
which to draw a jury could be Be.
lected.
At the direction OF Judge Joseph
w. Chinn, Sheriff Robert l.. 1rif-
fifth had an additional panel OF
thirty veniremen in court to be
examined for the six remaining
positions necessary to make a
score. When this number has
been completed, the Commonwealth
and defense may each exercise
their privilege of eliminating four
! jurymen, thereby leaving the nee
essary dozen to consider the testi-
mony.
Ak Man Witness.
| Probably the most important wit
ness summoned by the prosecution
outside of Eastlake and his son is
A. r. Crowthers, of Ocean City,
n. j.. the scissors grinder. who
sharpened a hatchet for Miss Knox
on September last and who iden-
titled the implement at the East
lake trial as being the identical one
on which he put an edge.
This weapon was found in
cluster of bushes in the backyard
of the Eastlake home shortly after
the Eastlake murder. 1t bore blood
stains and fingerprints, which II Is
expected will be proved to be those
of Miss Knox. Detective William
A. Toler, fingerprint expert of the
Richmond police department, Is
here to testify as to the prints
which he photographed on the
hatchet head and handle.
Crowthers testified at the East
lake trial that while Miss Knox
was In Ocean City last September
she inquired of him II he knew OF
any way to kill a person without
being detected. He has promised
more startling testimony against
the former trained nurse when he
is called to the stand in the present
trial
Indications today were that au-
! thorities of Westmoreland county
will have to go outside of this
! Jurisdiction to secure veniremen
with which TO complete the jury
/ to try Miss Knox.
The present probabilities are thai
the adjoining counties OF North
cumberland. Lancaster, and King
George will have TO be drawn upon