The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-25

~
. of Roberts, the alleged murderer q
y Of Mrs. Edith May Woodiil.
'n>~~>>~~~~>>>~~~~
st. Michaels, Nd, June 24--Practical-
~ the entire Eastern shore OF Mary
land was axpused and Joined In the
search today for one Emmett r., or
John T. Roberts. wanted In connection
with the brutal murder of Mrs. Edith
May WoodilL wife Of Gilbert Woodill.
nm automobile dealer, of Los Angeles.
CAL, whose nude body. the skull crush
nd In. the face horribly disfigured, the
entire body swollen from the effects OF
several days immersion and weighted
with an iron pot containing half-a-doz-
en- bricks. was yesterday discovered by
boys who were Grabbing in Back Creek,
> tributary to the Choptank River. not
far from the home OF Mrs. Wo0dilPs
foster father. Captain Charles II.
Thompson, O few miles from here
Roberts was with Mrs. Woodill when
she was seen for the last time. and he
Is accused Of having committed the
murder.
The motive for the crime Is at pres
ent mystery. The police Of Balti-
more and all other cities to which Rob-
: erts might make his way, were asked
10 search for Roberts. He Is about so
years old. five feet six inches tall.
stout. smooth-s shaver. with abundant.
bushy hair, and ruddyscomplexiou. he
1imps and wears brace on one leg. He
claimed to be magazine writer and
general correspondent OF newspapers.
He Is even said to have declared that
he returned to this locality after q
short absence for the express purpose
of writing up the murder which he 10
now accused of having committed.
Mr.. and Mrs. WoodilI came here early
this month. the latter with the inten-
ton OF spending the summer with her
foster father. IIsr husband remained
only few days: leaving. L !: und ss
10 return 10 Los AnEeles- From that
time, Mrs. Wo6dili and Roberts are said
to have seen much ~ e4oh other Last
Saturday Mrs. Wo0diH went TO Mas-
ton. TO have some dantat work done.
ana II had been arranged that Roberts
should meet her at Royal Oak and rc-
turn with her to her home. Roberts
missed the train for Royal Oak and
drove there. met Mrs. woodill and re
turned with her back to the landing.
where his launch was moored.
They entered the launch and Mrs.
:woodill was not seen again alive. SO
Ear as has been learned.
After her disappearance, Roberts
nnade trip to Baltimore, from which
letter was received by Captain
Thompson, ostensibly from MRS. Wood-
would shortly return.
Roberts remained in this neighbor-
hood until after the binding Of the body.
He hadlpreviously endeavored to allay
the growing uneasiness OF Captain
Thompson in connection with his fos~.
ter daughters absence and used the
letter referred to as evidence in sup
a port of his contention that she was all
right and would soon return.
when the body was brought ashore
Nfn~N (NntsA a r.
Thompson could not at first believe u
was. the body OF Mrs. Woodill, who IL
said to have weighed only about 100
pounds. The Identification was made
positive, however, by the dentist MIS-
woodiil had visited professionally IN
Easton.
After the body had been positively
Identified, and suspicion began to point
10 Roberts, he visited livery stable
here kept by c. r. Wiley and A. H.
Radliffe and tried to hire team. Rad
life remarked to his partner that the
applicant for team was under suspis
cion. but Wiley a Justice, did not feel
Justified In OBTAINING him at the time
Later last night, however, Wiley
telephoned to the boarding house of
George Taylor. made inquiries about
Roberts, and mentioned that he was
suspected OF the murder. Roberts was
beside Taylor during this eonversation
and upon learning OF the suspicion
against him. remarked:
'If that is the case, will not go to
Baltimore"
A few minutes later he was found to
have disappeared and 1t was after
wards discovered that he had taken
Taylor's skin.
Investigations indicate that when
Roberts and Mrs. Woodin left here
they went in the launch to Q bunga-
low that Is being built on Roberts
small farm, near that of Captain
Thompson, and that In this bungalow
the murder was committed. There
were found a bloody quilt and mattress
and portions of a woman's clothes,
partly burned. These have been iden-
tiHed as having belonged to MIS- Wood
III. There were also found In the
bungalow pair Of corduroy trousers,
In the pocket OF which were two let
tiers. One, believed to have been from
Mrs. woodill and to have some con-
nection with the meeting at Royal Oak.
was dated June 10 and read,
Dear Wobby--Can't come down.
Haven't even had my morning ablu-
tions and know how men hate wait
ing. whyi would be afraid you
would wear out the parlor rug plus
your temper, II you tried 1t. 1t 10 only
an intermitten delirium anyhow. and
you had better go and wash your
YOU must know be thinking of you"
This was signed "Doll Baby" The
other letter. also dated the 18th, from
Easton, read:
"pear Roberts--Ryan and Short will
arrive oxford boat ~ o'clock tonight.
CAPTAIN Lee will take US over to your
joint. Get there about 1910. 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."
The room in which these things were
found showed evidences Of struggle
having taken place. 1t was discovered
today that crabbers an the river early
Tuesday morning. were passed by
emily heavy object tarowu into the
water with splash. 1t is supposed
that the vessel was Roberts's launch
aud that 1t was Mrs. WoodilPs body