The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-06-27
Lame Bob" Eastman's Let
ter Has Added New
Interpretation.
HE CLAIMED IN LETTER WRIT
TEN BEFORE DEATH THAT SHE
WAS MURDERED BY ANOTHER
WOMAN IN A DRUNKEN FREN-
~.
Nv Associated Rrnss.

BY Associated Press.
st. MiChaels, Nd, June 26.-The
publication today of the full text OF
Lame Bob" Eastman's version of the
death of Edith May Woodill, as re-
lated in the letter he sought to mail
to Winnie Bradcomb, his wife, has
added a new Interpretation to the
tragedy of the lonely bungalow on the
shores of one of the maZes of tidal
streams that put in here from the
Chesapeake bay
But robbery, as a possible motive
for the crime now has been advanced.
Word comes from Baltimore that a
man answering the description -
Eastman in every detail. pawned in
that city on Tuesday last, two dia
mond rings and diamond brooch.
valued at about $500. Diamond rings,
a diamond brooch, and a diamond
set bracelet worn by Mrs. Woodif
when she last was seen alive with
Eastman never have been accounted
for 1t is likely that the ieWelry will
be sent here for identification. If il
proves to be that o. Mrs. WOodill, as
is now believed, an entirely new light
will be shed on the strange tragedy.
Eastman went to Baltimore on Tues
day and mailed from there a letter
written by Mrs. WoodiIl several days
4.
KILLED BY DRUNKEN WOMAN.
Eastmans story of the crime, which
he declared was committed by a
drunken woman in a drunken rage Is
so circumstantial and seems in a way
so much like the sincere declarations
of man about TO take his own life,
however, that Foreman Radcliffes OF
the corOner's jury which is inquiTing
into the death OF Mrs. Woodill is con-
= y a
ing to induce the authorities to OBJ
tain the services OF expert detectives
to work on the case.
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
Eastmans declarations, pointing out
that his whole life here was a con-
tinuous lie, and that he invented so
many false stories that this last one,
attempting to throw the blame for
the murder upon the shoulders of an
other, is unworthy OF belief. They
believe the letter may have been
written in an attempt to shield his
wife and boy from a final and over
whelming stigma.
EAsTMAN'S LETTER.
Eastmans letter was as follows.
winnie, take this money, at once,
and claim my body and all my prop
erty- The property consists of %
acres OF land and a bungalow. There
also is a motor boat. l don't owe a
pump, etc, which Shanahan and
Wrighton of Easton will be glad to
get back, as it is not broken.
Little girl, j had no hand in the
tragedy. Was there and removed the
evidence after the other two couples
fed. / did this for SELF preservation
and am haunted. The victim was my
particular friends and we were well
mated. Have only known her three
weeks We all, that is, two men and
two other women from Annapolis,
went to the bungalow for a time.
Everyone got full excepting Edith and
myself. Edith tried to win one Of
the girls fellows while lying on the
bed with him and was hit three times
on the side of the head with a full
bottle of champagne and the fellow
was hit once She fell over on the
floor and died. The man did nO5
come to for an hour. 1 was left with
the corpse and cannot take chance
for a trial.
My lie is very bitter and l viii
pull down the shades and say good
bye. You can claim my property and
say as little as possible, but get il |
am awfuIly sorry for you and our boy,
and I have been hUstling madly 10
make your path clear, but fate IS
against me.
tSigned) BOB"
Take Penna. railroad to Easton,
Md, and then change to p. c. & A.
Don't neglect this. The property is
valuable
1t was believed yesterday that
Eastman had said the murder was
committed in a launch. Eastman left
with the letter S14S.
States Attorney Turner declared to-
day that he will not close the inves-
tigation of Mrs. WOodillS death I'M
til he is convinced that every tangi-
Die clue has been followed out. II
necessary. he said, he would employ
assistance and ask the cooperation
of the Baltimore police. The latter.
however, adhere TO the theory that It
was Eastman who committed the
deed