Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-26

SAAS OOoy VI OOAtSS tAC
today are endeavoring to apprehend
certain persons in Baltimore and
Annapolis who may have been in the
Broad creek bungalow when Mrs Edith
May Thomson Woodill was cruelty
murdered
At first the states attorney and the
local constables, Justices, and other Of
ficials were skeptical when 1t was sug-
gested that Roberts may have written
the truth when he said that Mrs
Woodill was killed by blow from a
champagne bottle in the hand Of an
enraged and jealous woman. But the
testimony Of reputable persons who
saw a strange launch. a magnificently
appointed private boat, in the vicinity
of the, Roberts bungalow on Sunday
has given added color of truth to Rob-
erts' ante-mortem Photographic state
ment.
Many circumstances lead to the con-
clusion that the real sensations of this
mysterious bungalow murder are as yet
to be disclosed. The tragedy has ele-
ments of unusual interest and as more
facts are gathered it is seen with
clearness that the petite, attractive
end "the woman of mystery"
When Roberts pockets were searched
four letters were found, fully bearing
out the theory not only that Roberts
had taken his own life, but also that
he had planned for some time before
to commit suicide. These letters not
considering the tragic death of the
man, furnish the sensational develop
ment Of the day. But conclusions
drawn from the contents of the mis-
sives may be all wrong.
The authorities today are inclined
to believe that all four letters were
written by Roberts after the murder of
Mrs. Woodill and after the finding of
the body for the precise purpose Of
throwing the detectives off the trail.
Murder Follows an Orgy?
The letters indicate Roberts real
name was not Emmet e. Roberts, but
Robert E. Eastman. This may have
been his name, as is borne out by the
report that a broker, r. E. Eastman,
failed in New York for $4,000, and
then strangely disappeared. 1t is the
evident purpose of the letters to make
1t appear that when Mrs. Woodill was
cruelty killed Roberts was not alone
with her, but that an orgy was then
in progress in his bungalow on Broad
creek.
Roberts, In one letter addressed to his
wife as Mrs. r. E. Eastman, goes on
to say that besides himself and Mrs.
Woodill there were at his shore cottage
on the night Of the murder two other
%,,,O MI.
sons are described as living at Annapo-
lis and Baltimore. These letters,
whether designedly or not, make the
mystery all the deeper.
Roberts, in his letters, describes the
murder of Mrs. Woodill as taking place
In the bungalow on Saturday. He
paints picture of the actual killing,
writing that one of the other women
in a druRken and jealous frenzy
struck Mrs. Woodill on the back Of
the head with a champagne bottle.
Then, he says, all the others fled, leav-
ing him alone in the bungalow with
the body. He tells in his letters the
story Of how he placed the body on
the bed in his bungalow, and then. in
distraction, dragged it out across the
porch, dropped 1t on the ground, picked
1t up, carried 1t a little way in his
arms, placed 1t in Wheelbarrow,
wheeled 1t to the boat landing, put II
in his launch, tied an iron kettle loaded
with bricks to the corpse, and heaveo
1t overheard into Broad creek.
Police Follow Letter ciews.
This description is too realistic to be
without basis in fact, so States Attor-
ney Turner accepts it as true story
Of the disposal OF the body by Roberts
after he had killed the beautiful wom-
an by striking her from behind with a
club.
But while the authorities are skepti-
cal about the whole story of the orgy
In the bungalow, they are not disre-
earding 1t altogether. The coroner's
jury adjourned, waiting for more
evidence" The police detectives Of Bal
timore and the police OF Annapolis
were informed of the statements in
the letters indicating that two women
and two men supposedly from these
two places were present when Mrs.
Woodill was killed. Various small cir
cumstamces seemingly bearing out the
letters also were communicated to the
detectives.
To avoid interfering with the hunt
for these accomplices described by
Roberts, States Attorney Turner de-
termined to keep secret the actual text
Of the letters.
Deed Shows ReaI Name.
That the man known as Roberts
really was Robert e. Eastman is fur
ther indicated by deed found in the
bungalow showing the transfer OF six
lots in Bergen county, New York, from
Robert e. Eastman to John j. Mann, Of
New York, and Of four letters found
the briefest was addressed to "Mrs.
Robert p. Eastman, care of George B.
Taylor, 1t will be called for.''
This Mr.. Taylor Is the farmer with
whom Eastman or Roberts boarded
while his bungalow was under con-
struction. The letter reads:
Winnie, owe 20 cents to William
Sutton, neighhor. owe IS to William
Norris. Easton, Md. Pay them both ;.
The note has no date and is in pencil.
Another note provided for paying SO
to Mr.. Taylor for board. and for salts
flying boat hardware debt to Shanna-
han. W-ightson & Co.. Of Eestcn, see.
This firm, however, told the states at
torney that its bill against Roberts
really was $l07.03. .s,
In the long letter addressed to Winnie
Blancombe. care Of Klaw & Erlanger,
New York, Eastman or. Roberts writes
what virtually is a will conveying to
her, after his death, all his property,
both real and personal This girl, 1t is
presumed, may be Eastmans or Rob-
erts' wife under stage name.