The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-05
Refers to Naval Petty Officer as
"The Most Despicable
Type of Humanity"
DECLARES HE WAS
GUILTY OF CRIME
Stressed What He Termed the
Good the Accused Woman Had
Done for Humanity.
tgn The Assoelated pressl

MONTROSS, Va May 4-Miss
Sarah r. Knox was found guilty of
murder in the first degree and SEN
fenced to 20 years in prison by the
jury In it's verdict returned at S:2S
this evening Miss xxx former nurse
has been on trial since last Tuesday
for the killing or Mrs. Roger d. East
lake, whose husband was acquitted
last December Of the murder.
Watt r. Mayo commonwealth's at
torney Of Westmoreland county, con-
cluded the argument for the state at
o'clock Judge Chinn then adjourn
ed court to allow the jury time to eat
dinner before beginning their secret
discussion. The jury retired at
o'clock, returning the verdict in one
hour and 23 minutes.
The jury stipulated that the verdict
should carry a sentence of 20 years
Imprisonment IN the state penitentiary
The court room was crowded as
Miss Krox was brought from the jail
TO face the jury. The nurse stood
erect as the sentence was announced
and displayed no emotion.
She returned TO her sister Mrs w
T. Alter, Of Ocean City y. J., however,
and said a few words. Judge Chinn
then officially sentenced her and said
he thought the jury had been most
lenientn with her.
No steps We're taken by defense
counsel toward filing any appeal, and
Judge Chinn adjourned court, while
Miss Knox was taken back to the
jail II is expected she win be taken
to Richmond tomorrow TO begin serv-
ing sentence.
During the arguments which We're
closed by Commonwealth Attorney
Mayo. both Miss Knox and Roger D..
Eastlaixe, husband OF the slain woman,
We're denounced by the opposing at
torneys Mr.. Mayo was merciless In
his. references to the nurses life from
the time she first met Eastlake until
the morning the mutilated body Of
Mrs. Eastlake was found in a pool Of
blood on the kitchen floor OF her home.
He declared that III ever a murderer
was caught red-handed" 1t was the
defendant and asked the jury as ffair
minded citizens OF Virginia" to render
verdict in the first degree. There
was motive, means ana opportunity
heyond preadventure Of doubt. for the
staying he told the jury,
Fred w. Coleman OF Fredericks-
burg, for the defense, bitterly assailed
Eastlake and declared the crime had
been committed by no other than him.
His reference to the naval petty officer
as 'the most desplcable type OF hu-
manity" caused the crowd that jam
med the court room 10 break into a
cheer and Judge Chinn ordered the
sheriff to clear the room il there was
a repetition.
Harry NJ smith Jr.. OF Richmond
chief counsel for Miss Knox, closed
FOR the defense He stressed what he
termed the good the accused woman
had done for suffering humanity all
her life and In contrast featured East
lake as the personification OF selfish
ness. He emphasized Eastlake's ad-
mission on the stand that he "had
\ frequently lied" to the nurse, had
owed her large sums of money and had
tried TO cover up his double life by
Joining the church" Mr. Smith eck-
nowledged that "a dangerous chain OF
circumstances connects the defendant
with the crime but also know that
there lives one, ten times more famil-
lar with its commitment" than this
nurse.
ryuder agreement, Judge chinn per-
y,stted DIR. Charles II. Burton, a chem
iut OF washington 10 testify at the
onening OF court concerning blood
stains he had found on the hat said
ia have been picked up near the body
81 Mrs. East lake.