The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-25
Rich Young Woman's
Slayer Is Run to Earth
by Posse and Killed
Body of His Victim, Mrs.
Edith Woodill, Is Found
Horribly Mutilated =
Her Skull Crushed Be-
yond Recognition.
lRULLETIN.l

Mrs. Edith thompson WoOuIi
. was killed by a woman who hit
her over the head with a cham
payne bottle, according to revela-
tions said to be contained In let
ter found i'm the pocket of Emmet
Roberts, who was Stayed by a
posse early today at Mcdaniel.
(By United Press Leased Wire.)
ST. MICHAELS, Nd, June
25.-Emmet Roberts, slayer
of Mrs. Edith Thompson
Woodill, was shot to death
by a sheriff's posse while re-
sisting arrest at 4 o'clock this
morning.
Roberts was killed by the
posse in a revolver duel near the
wharf at Mcdaniel, Maryland, the
home of Mrs. Woodill's foster
father. Captain Charles H. Thomp-
( son. He was approaching the
wharf in a small boat when the
officers sprang from places of con-
cealment on shore and ordered
him to surrender. Instead of CIV
ing himself up the fugitive opened
fire on his pursuers and they shot
him dead.
Pursued in Boat.
Shortly after midnight small
boat was seen moving up Back
river, stream along whose shores
the house of Captain Thompson
and the bungalow of Roberts are
situated.
Sheriff Mortimer and Magistrate
Willy assembled an armed posse
of six men and started for the riv-
er shore. They arrived about
20 clock in the morning. Creep
ing along the waters edge they
watched the boatman but could
not make out his features.
The posse agreed to follow the
boatman along the bauk and Sher-
iff Mortimer and companion
named Hopper secured small
boat in which they took up the
pursuit by water.
Roberts evident haste when he
heard another boat making its
way up the river, convinced the
men on shore that they were on
the right trail.
For three miles the boats pro-
ceeGed up stream, the river mar
rowing all the while.
Throw Up Your Hands,"
Near the scene of the crime the
shores were close enough together
for the men on land to recognize
the features of Roberts. When
he got abreast of the landing and
was about 100 feet from shore,
Magistrate Willy, who was lead
ing the posse, and two deputies
stepped into the open and shouted
Hello, Roberts, throw up your
hands" Without speaking a word
Roberts rose in the boat and lev
cling a big revolver in his right
hand at the party. fired.
Several Shots Fired.
Almost simultaneously with
Roberts shot, Deputies Meyer and
Jrone opened fire on the white
shirted figure In the boat. Willy
got into action and fired several
shots and finally, after a number
of bullets had been exchanged,
Roberts dropped back into the
boat, dead.
The deputies waded out to the
boat and pulled 1t ashore. Rob
erts was shot through the mouth
and died instantly. He had q
bottle of poison and a number or
letters in his pockets.
The body was brought to st.
Michaels.
BOSTON, Mass, June 25.-
Mrs. Edith Woodill, the victim of
Emmett Roberts, was the divorced
. wife of Walter l.. Caswell, a Bos-
ton osteopath, at the time she
married Gilbert Woodill, the Los
Angeles automobile dealer, MT
tie more than year ago. She
Ras a friend of Mrs. Katherine
u fIoy. fhc Point Iona Purple
IS ~ ntodIed theosophy
W was placed IN
II F*|=7| ~ uI1H IEHE AHUWH
!; Iii Roberts or who
ii Mrs. Woodill's ae-
q ) q, lth him.
ztrocious Crime.
Fla e <uao IF which Mrs. Wood
I<a 81 Is one OF the most
| @ ecord.
- 4ill's body was nude
when It WaE taken from the river
and the skull was crushed beyond
recognition. Identification was
made by q dentist who had placed
gold Billings in the woman'e teeth.
Little Ia known about Roberts,
who came here a few months ago
from Baltimore.
May Re Fugitive Broker.
NEW YORK. June 25.-The no
lice suspect that possibly the
Roberta connected with the st.
Michaels' tragedy was Robert n.
Haatman. former Wall street
broker, who has been . fugitive
rom Justice. having Jumped his
s xail after being arrested at Chi
80 last August with $4,000 on
s person. II Is alleged that
slman had liabilities OF over
900.