Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-29
SLAIN W0MAN'S SON
HEARD At KNOX TRIAL
Child of Nine Saw Man Like
Father at Scene OF
Killing.

Montross. Va, April 29.--Roger d.
Eastlake, Jr., years old son Of Mrs.
Margaret l.. Eastlske, went on the
witness stand In the Circuit Court here
Yesterday and told what he knew con-
cerning the murder Of his mother In
their home at Colonial Beach Septem-
ber 30, 1921.
Miss Sarah F.. Knox. Baltimore
nurse, who is on trial charged with the
crime. gazed affectionately at the lad
during his ordeal. Roger E. East
lake. husband OF the murdered wo-
man. who was cleared Of the crime
last December. is still in F'redericks-
burg, waiting for a message TO come
to testify for the Commonwealth.
Although little Roger is small for
his age. he was declared an exception
ally bright child. He is the only in
mate of the Eastlake house who has
testified so far. Here IS. his story,
told in a voice that could be only
! heard by those who were within a few
feet OF him.
Boy Tells His Story.
Il was wakened up by Margaret
crying and saying she could not find
her mother. Margaret is my little
sister. 5 years old. She was lying on
the couch by the window. l went over
10 try TO comfort her, but she was
Just bawling and bawling, 50 I could
not stop her. saw there was no
use so I gave It up and looked out of
the window
There VAS a screen IN the window,
I saw Miss Knox come through the
gap in the hedge. About this time she
saw me, and she called, Rogie. did you
hear anyone CALI" l told her I had
not heard anyone
She came up 20 the screen and
asked Margaret what she was crying
about? Margaret said she could not
find her mother and had tried TO go
into the kitchen, and a man had rush
ed out and pushed her down and hurt
her knee.
Miss Knox went on into the kitchen
by the back door I heard the screen
doors slam after her. 1 don't think
the wooden door was often shut,
know it was not locked, fer she walk
ed right in. l asked what was the
matter. and she said. Your mother is
badly hurt
Attorney Harry NJ Smith, counsel
for Miss Knox, asked IL little Margaret
had not said something more to Miss
Knox when speaking OF the man who
pushed her. The bcy replied:
"She said he had a dark raincoat on
She thought it was father, but il
could not have been. father, for hs
wasn't in the house. Daddy has two
black slckers. She didn't know who
IL was; she was guessing"
On redirect examination Common
wealth Attorney Mayo asked Roger il
his mother was fond OF Miss Knox.
Il don't just know. L hardly think
So"
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert R. Crowthers
of Ocean City. y. j., told of Mr.
Crowthers sharpening a hatchet foi
Miss Knox on September last, anC
they identified the hatchet found OF
, the Eastlake premises the morning o
the murder as the same one, Mrs
Crowthers said.
Attorney Smith endeavored TO ge
Mr.. and Mrs. Crowthers TO say it wal
a navy hatchet, but they said they did
not know. They did say that Mis-
Knox told them that Eastlake. who il
chief petty officer in the navy. gav'
it to her in December, 1919. Mr.. an,
Mrs. Crowthers repeated the state
| ment made by them in the Eastlak'
trial. TO the effect that Miss Knox ha,
asked Mr.. Crowthers on September 9
1921, how TO kill person without de
lection. Mr.. Crowthers said that Mis-
Knox also asked him how TO strike
person so as 10 knock him out; il
2 ether words, make him unconsciou
: without killing him.
e. The court and jurors We're surprises
{ at the testimony of Roger Eastlak
e describing a man at the scene of tn
killing as looking like his father.
RepalriuQ \ew Castle Raad