The Washington times., 1922-05-04
Prosecutor Tells Jury Nurse
Slayer Suspect is
Serpent.
by KIRK {. MILLER,
stpff Cory~spopdrpt.

MONTROSS, Va, May 1.-Two
men tainted in court today while
Commonwealth Attorney Mayo
was excoriating the character of
Miss Sara +. Knox in his closing
arguments to the jury. Both were
carried out.
The courtroom was so congest-
ed with humanity that bailiffs had
to hold hands, forming a chain,
to keep the spectators from surg
ing to the front and interrupting
the trial. Judge Chinn was
forced to exercise great forbear-
ance to keep the throng in order
without finding some of the crowd
in contempt.
Looks Black" Nurse says.
As MIR. Mayo commenced. Miss
Knox leaned over to her sister.
Mrs. Meta Salter, and whispered:
1T looks mighty black for me-"
The prisoner stated that she got
hardly any rest last night because OF
Preceding today's arguments, by
agreement between counsel before
they rested their cases. J. h. Burton.
Washington chemist. who could not
arrive here yesterday, testified Hs
TO blood tests which he determined
as positive" on the felt hat made
by a Baltimore milliner and found
on Mrs. Eestlake's body.
Miss Knox should know her fate
by tonight.
With all the evidence, direct and
In rebuttal. introduced by both sides,
the jury this morning listened 10
Judge Joseph w. Chinn read the
instructions which were prepared
overnight by the commonwealth and
defense.
Their reading occupied the morn
ing's session, after which Common.
wealths Attorney Watt T. Mayo
took up his argument. He painted
the woman defendant in scathlng
terms. He likened her to the ser.
pent in the Garden OF Eden, ex srt-
ing her evil influence I'm a happy
and contented household.
He told Of her having injected her
self into the domestic tranquility Of
another woman's home. welding an
insidious influence, which culmi-
mated in making one man w1feless
and two children moth horiess.
The woman al the lar lid not
vince as the prosecutor pointed his
accusing finger at her and described
in minute detail her movements dur
ing the morning Of tho murder ss
they were shown to the jury by the
evidence.
Gentlemen" said Mr. Mayo. II
believe this woman went from the
shores of New Jersey TO the shores
of Virginia on the day preceding the
crime with murder premeditated in
her heart"
Traces Nurses Steps.
He traced her steps through her
arrival at the Potomac river resort,
her registering at the DE Atley Ho-
tel, where she stayed in retirement
all day long, eating her m.ager meals
of crackers and canned foods until
nightfall, when she stepped out Of
her room and hid in the shanty IN
full view of the Eastlake home until
she might enter at the opportune
time and inflict the wounds which
took the life OF one of ncr own sex"
Mr.. Mayo, true to southern In
stincts of chivairy, reminded the jury
that his personal ethics revolted at
so arraigning any woman of any
land, excuelng himsolf on the
grounds that the duties VI his office
necessitated his prosecuting all vio.
lators alike, regardless IL sex. color
or creed.
The fact Of the matter is"
said he. that a hideous crime has
been perpetrated against the com.
monwealth, and II we were to be.
gin to mitigate felonies on the
pretense that a woman committed
them. when would we know where
to stop7
"I believe the laws OF this fair
land of ours were made for all
the people, not for individuals, and
CONTINUED on Page Z, Column 81