Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-02
IS
CRILLED ON
WITNESSSTAND
Husband of Murdered WO-
man on Stand For
Six Hours
TO RESUME TO-DAY
Defense Attorney Introduces Endear-
ing Letters From Eastlake 20 Nurse
Lawyer Reads Missiyes

Montross. Va. May For The
! first time since the two were arrest
/ ed and taken to the Richmond city
, Jail for safekeeping. Roger Deiano
! Eastlake Yesterday met face to face
Miss Sarah Euphonia Knox, being
I tried for the murder of his wife, in the
county courthouse.
For six hours the chief navy petty
officer, who has been eXonerated Of
( completely in the murder, occupied
+ the witness stand and answered
questions propounGed by opposing at
! torneys.
/ Watt T. Mayo, Commonwealth's at
, torney OF Westmoreland County, in
/ troduced EaStlake when court con-
vened, and continued his direct exam
, ination until ; O'Clock. From then un-
! til $50 o'clock, when court adjourn
cd, Harry VI. Smith. Jr, Of Rich.
mond, subjected EaStiake to one OF
: the most guelling, nerve-racking
cross examinations ever heard in this
court.
! Mr.. Smith had not completed his
examination when court was adjourn
/ ed, and Eastlake will again take the
stand today.
Eastlakc maintained his compos-
ure the entire day. Without heSita-
ton, he admitted his infidelitv to his
slain wife. his wife'S unfaithfulneSs
to him and his own mendacious traits.
Attorney Smith created general
/ laughter when he introduced q let
/ ter. saying - want YOU 10 come here,
and what is more. YOU are coming
+ written by Eastlakc after he had
claimed he broke off" with Miss
Knox. Carefully. Mr.. Smith READ East
lake's endearing miSsive imploring
his little girl' 10 reply to him. in
terpoSing at judcious intervals the
question, And was that the way you
broke off ?'
The Richmond attorney demanded
/ To know why Eastlake exchanged
notes in the MontrosS jail with the
woman alleged to have killed his
wife, and why he destroyed some, yet
preserved othcr notes from the nurse.
\ note showing that Miss Knox loan
! ed Eastlake the sum of 500 was in
troduced The witness admitted ne had
never repaid a cent. Eastlake stated
also that the accused had loaned
money to his wife.
Attorney Smith asked if several
checks ne produced represented loans
made by Miss kroX. The witness re-
. piled they were probably payments
on the board bill Of Miss knoX's
brother At that time the brother had
been dead more than q year, the de-
Tense showed. amid mucn mcrriment.
Were you decciving Miss Knox or
your wife, or both" Mr. Smith de-
mandcd.
Continuing answers TO questions
asked by AEOrncy Mayo Eastiake de-
clared he met his present wife in
January. became engaged in Fcbru-
ary and married her March /. 1922.
EaStIake admitted lee ioincd the
church and became a teacher in the
Sunday school the year following ms
relations with the nurse.
Asked what the letter - used by
him IN the salutation Of several let
/ terS he wrote Miss knoX represented,
the witness profcSSed ignorance,
/ claiming he wrote the letter "S' with
out thinking what he was doing. At
torney Mayo suggested nat the letter
was an abbrcvation for sponge, but
! Fastlakc came 70 the aid of the at
torneys by stating his use Of the term
possibly was derived from seeing Miss
Knox use the letter 20 stand for
safety valve" which she was fire.
quently called.
A. the use Of the phrase safety
valve" the crowd broke into an up-
roar that lasted several minutes, and
subsequent references 20 the unusual
appellation caused laughter.
Attorney Mayo asked Eastlake To
relate the story of the cvcpts Of the
morning on which his wife was mur-
dcred.
81 left my home at $50 o'clock"
narrated Eastlake. after had eaten
breakfast preparcd by my wife. |
kissed her bood-by. requesting that
she serve lunch early. so we could
catch the train for an outing we had
planned"
"While walking down the narrow
boardwalk, ! heard three distinct
screams, nut. thinking they came from
children, ! paid no heed Later | was
notified Of my wife's murder ! went
to get DR.. Brent, and then went
home
Eastlake told Of securing a cottage
at Colonial Beach for Miss Knox, and
instructing her in iuiutSu, which, he
said. he learned i'm Japan. He fre
auently spent the nicht there, he
admitted unblushingIv
Later. ne declared. he confessed his
infidelity to his wife. During the CON
ference. he claimed his wife told him
of her improper relations with Mason
Knox. brother of the accused woman.
After the mutual admission, every
/ thing was patched up, he stated.