The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-26
HER JEWELS CONE
Robbery Is Advanced as Motive
for the WOOdill Murder.
Diamonds Pawned by Man Sup
posed to Be Eastman.
LAME BOB ISsBURIED.
Is Inferred at Public Expense
on His Farm.
No Church Would Permit Inter-
ment in Its Graveyard.
LAME BOB ISsBURIED.


of Lame Bob" Eastman's version Of
the death of Edith May Woodill, as
related in the letter he sought to mail
to Winnie Bradcombe, his wife, has
added a new Interpretation to the
tragedy.
But robbery as a possible motive
for the crime now has been advanced.
Word comes from Baltimore that a
man answering the description of
Eastman pawned in that city on Tues
day last two diamond rings and a dia-
mond brooch valued at about $500.
Diamond rings, diamond brooch and
a diamond set bracelet worn by Mrs.
Woodill when she last was seen with
Eastman have not been accounted for.
Eastman went to Baltimore on Tues
day and mailed from there a letter
written by Mrs. WoodiH sevral days
previously to her sister at Mcdaniel.
Eastman's story of the crime, which
he declared was committed by a
drunken woman in a fit of Jealous
rage, is so circumstantiai, however,
that Foreman Radcliffe of the cor
Oner's jury which is inquirng into the
death of Mrs. Woodill, is convinced
of its truth.
Mr.. Radcliffe again today postponed
the inquest to await some action by
the law officers. The latter are still
inclined to take but little stock in
the last letter may have been written
i'll an attempt to shield his wife and
boy from a final and overwhelming
stigma.
States Attorney Turner declared to-
day that he will not close the investi-
cation until he is convinced that every
tangible clue has been followed to the
end.
Various Theories.
The Baltimore police adhere to the
at 4acfr1
mitted the deed. Detective Captain
Humphrey of Baltimore in an inter
view today explained his theory in de-
tail; He believes, despite Eastman's s
declaration that Mrs. WoodiIl was g.
new acquaintance, that the two were
old friends, and that the woman was
killed from motives of jealousy when,
after postponing her departure to join
her husband, she finally declared she
was going back to her home in Los
Angeles.
Here, where Mrs. WoodiIl lived as a
girl, the neighbors of her foster
father and Col. Thompson himself
hold the theory that the girl was
killed in repulsing Eastmans ad-
vances.
One of the clues yet to run down is
locating the men who were to visit
Eastman's bungalow the night of
June 16. This letter, found in East
mans bungalow, and addressed to
Roberts, as he was known here,
was as follows:
"Easton, Md. June 16.
Dear Roberts: Ryan and Shot
wen will arrive oxford boat -
o'clock tonight. Captain Lee will
take US over to your joint. Get there
about 12:4O, but must leave after
looking the place over. Sorry you
have decided not to go this time
Girls all at Annapolis. Here is to the
one you sent for me. Yours.
"HOWARTH.'
There may have been party at
the bungalow prior to the arrival of
Mrs. Woodill there on the 18th and
this fact may have given Eastman his
idea for an explanation of the crime.
Several persons along the road. it
was learned today, heard Eastman
and Mrs. Woodill quarreling as they
drove from Royal Oak station, where
he met her Saturday last, to the
wharf at MCDANIEL, where she was
seen entering a motor boat with
Eastman.
Burial of Lame Bob.
st. Michaels, Md, June 26.-With-
out ceremony the body of Robert E.
York stock broker who murdered
pretty May Edith Thompson Woodill,
and then committed suicide, was bur-
led this afternoon at the expense of
Talbot county.
The farm near Bozman, where
Eastman had made his home during
his brief stay in this county and in
the bungalow on which place the
murder probably took place. was the
scene of the burial and as no church
here would permit the body to be
buried within it's graveyard, the au-
thorities were forced to seek a resting
place for it on the farm of the man
himself.
Lame Bob" Eastman, the fugitive
New York broker, is now established
beyond all doubt. Louis 3. Pedler, an
artist, on a Washington newspaper,
identified the body today. Pedler is
cousin of Winnie Bradcombe the
New York actress, who it turns out, is
the wife of Eastman. and to whom
he addressed the letter in which he
charged that a woman had killed
Mrs Woodill. Pedler had known
Eastman well in New York, and there
was no hesitancy in his Identification.
The story of the drunken row told
by Eastman in his letter to his wife
has caused speculation here, and ef-
forts are being made today to locate
members of a party of four or five
people who are said to have left here
in a launch the day after the sup
posed tirne of Mrs. WoodilFs murder
Murdered Woman's Mother Found.
Lewiston. Idaho, June 26.-Mrs. Alber
kight, mother of Mrs. Edith May
Woodill, has been found by represen-
tative of the Associated Press, at hel
home at Ashaka. a settlement in thu
mountains 40 miles up the Clearwater
river from this city. The news of hel
daughters murder had not reached th'
secluded home of the woman and il
was broken to Eer by the press repre-
NATIVE. AS soon as she recovered
herself Mrs. Kight related the story o
her daughters adoption by CnaS H
Thompson in Minneapolis in October
1890.
Separatiou of the mother and infani