Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-29
EASTLAKE'SSON
TAKES STAND
At MONTROSS
BOy SwearS His Sister Told
Him of a Strange
Man
NOT HIS FATHER
Child Describes Miss knON's Actions
After Mother Was killed-Attor-
ney and Witness Clash

Montross, Va, April 29.-Roger D.
Eastlake, Jr., years old, son of Mrs.
Margaret L. EastlaGe, went on the
witness stand in the Circuit Court
here today and told what he knew
concerning the murder Of his mother
i'm their home AT Colonial Beach Sep
tember 30, 1921.
Although little Roger is small for
his age, he was declared an eXcep-
tionally bright child He is the only
inmate Of the EaStlaSe house who
has testified so far. Here is ms story,
told in a voice that could be only
heard by those who were within
few feet of him.
Il was wakened up by Margaret
crying and saying she could not tlnd
ner mother. Margaret is my little SIS
ter, ) year old. She was lying on the
couch by the window, | went over to
try to comfort her, but she was Just
bawling and bawling, 50 | could not
stOp her. | saw there was no use so
| gave it up and looked out Of the
window.
There was a screen in the window,
SAW MISS hti'A NNAlAt N+aAONSA ~
pan i'm the hedge About this time she
saw me, and she called. 'Rogie, did you
hear anyone call?' l told her | mad not
heard anyone"
"She came up to the screen and ask
ed Margaret what she was crying
about? Margaret said she could not
find her mother and had tried TO go
into the kitchen, aud man had
rushed out and pushed her down and
hurt her knee.
"Miss Knox went on into the kitch-
en- by the back door. / heard the
screen doors slam after her. | don't
think the wooden door was often shut,
| know it was not locked, for she
walked right in. | asked what was
the matter, and she said, Your mother
is badly hurt, "
"She was in the kitchen a short
time, about half minute or a min
ute maybe, and then she came out
with u dishpan of water and carried
it into the honeysuckles, grass and
weeds. She went back into the kitchen
and was there not quite so long as the
first time. / heard her say oh, dear,
or oh, Heavens" or some eNciama-
atlOn IKE tnat
Attorney Harry NJ. Smith counsel
for Miss Knox, asked if little Mar
garet had not said something more to
Miss Knox when speaking of the man
who pushed her. The boy replied:
"She said he had a dark raincoat
or. She thought it was father, but 1t
could not have been father. for he
wasn't in the house. Daddy has two
black Slickers, She didn't know who it
was; she was guessing.
On redirect examination Common
wealth Attorney Mayo asked Roger if
his mother was fond Of Miss Knox.
IL don't just know, | hardly think
So"
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert K. Crowthers,
of Ocean City, y. j.. told of Mr.
Crowthers sharpening q hatchet for
Miss Knox on September = last and
they identified the hatchet found on
the EaStlake premises the morning
of the murder as the same one, Mrs.
CrowtherS said.
Attorney Smith endeavored TO get
Mr.. and Mrs CrowtherS to say it was
4 navy hatchet, hut they said they
did not know. They did say that Miss
hnoN told them that EaStlake, who is
4 chief petty officer in the navy, gave
it to her IN December. 1919. MIR. and
Mrs. CrowJheyS repeated the state
ment made by them in the EaStlake
trial, 20 the effect that Miss Knox
had asked Mr.. Crowthers on Septem-
ber y, 1921, how to kill person with
out detection. Mr.. Crowthers said that
Miss Knox also asked him how to
strike q person SO as to knock him
out; in other words, make him uucon-
sciouS without killing him. He said
that Miss Knox was powerful wo-
man and an all around athlete. Mr..
CrowtherS was provoked on crosS-ex-
animation and told Attorney Smith
there was no use trying 20 mix him
up about the hatchot.
You told me in my own house at
Ocean City on January 24," he said.
that this was the hatchet all right.
and there would be no dispute about
il"
That is false" exclaimed Mr.,
Smith.