Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-26
Murderer Supposed to Be Lame Bob
Eastman, Bankrupt Broker.
IS HEMMED IN ON ALL SIDES
PromiscuOus Shooting, but Coroner's
Jury Says Suicide.
LETTERS FOUND ON HIS BODY
He Tries 20 Throw Responsibility for
Death of Girl Upon Others-Crime
Shocking One, but Details
Not Known.

ST. MTcHAELs. Md. June 25.-The last
tragic chapter in the story of a crime |
unparalleled in this section, was written
In the half light OF an early summers !
dawn today, when the man accused of the |
heartless murder of pretty May Edith |
Thompson Woodill, stood for a moment |
facing the men who had cornered him on |
the waters of a narrow creek, then fired |
a bullet into his heart and fell lifeless into |
the bottom Of the boat, which he had |
hoped would carry him to a landing place
where flight might be possible.
Taking his fate into his own hands and |
blottlng out untold the story Of the death |
of giTl who had moved in the highest |
social circles Of Baltimore. Washington and |
Los Angeles, a beautiful, talented girl who
bad been a protege of Lyman j. Gage and |
of former Governor Frank Brown of this
state, the man known here as Emmett E !
Roberts. but in reality was Robert Emmett |
Eastman. bankrupt broker of the Con-
soldated Stock exchange of New York,
passed beyond the reach of the law and
with his going there vanished the hope Of
clearing UP the motive of this strange
tragedy.
Says Woman Killed Her.
dressed to Miss Winnie Bradcome, care of
Klaw & Erlanger, the theatrical managers
in New YORK, gave Eastman's ill-sustained
excuse for the crime. 1t was a rambling
account of how he had been out in a
launch with a party of men and women,
all of whom had been drinking to excess
with the exception of himself and Mrs.
Woodill; of how one of the women in a
fit of jealous frenzy, had attacked Mrs.
Woodill with wine bottle and killed her;
how the remainder OF the party had taken
flight, leaving him to dispose of the body
ana how a means of escape from all
Of his troubles, the. writer had decided to
end his life, Eastman asked Miss Brad
come 10 hurry to Maryland to take charge
OF his boey and his property.
e. -noritcs. after a thorough investi-
"a Son have cast aside this version of the
o!il.t he ihst word received from Miss
B.GdcUltc today conveyed the information
thai she knew nothing of a Mr. Roberts
OF Eastman Foreman radcliffe of the
corcnci's Jury wired Miss Bradcome TO
come and take possession Of the body,
however, and received a reply from her
saying she could not because of lack of
funds He has wired her to draw on him
for $50 and Is now awaiting developments
New York Dispatch tonight says Miss
Bradcome admits she is Eastman's wife.
Neither the known movements Of East
man and Mrs. Woodill and many of the
circumstances OF the case tend to bear
out Eastman's explanation In the letter
which he had no opportunity to mail, ac-
cording to the authorities, who seem to
believe. with Colonel Charles H. Thompson
Of Mcdaniel, the foster father of the girl,
that Eastman, in whose company she last
aIf.t 10
death OF Mrs. woodill.
BeIIeve II Was Jealousy.
As for motives. many have been I'D
vanced That Eastman was infatuated
with the girl was well known. She, in
turn, It would seem. was fascinated by him
at times, and possibly frightened by his
attentions. In note addressed TO Dear
wobby." declining 20 see him at the par
tioular time, but not wishing to anger
him she said;
1T is only an intermittent delirium, any
how. and you had better 20 and wash
your dishes
After this Eastman evidently prevailed
upon the girl to visit his farm, which was
near that OF her foster fathers, to see
the new bungalow which he bad built. The
girl met Eastman Sunday was seen to
leave the Mcdaniel wharf in a launch With
him. and Wednesday her nude body was
found floating on the surface OF Rose
creek, erudely tied to a rope and weighted
with iron and bricks.
Mrs Woodnl had been on visit to her
relatives. and had intended leaving in a
few davs 10 rejoin her husband. TO whom
she was ostensibly happily married
Jealousy, induced by the fact that she was
SO soon to go away. is strikingly foremost
IN the list OF theories.
The crime may have been meditated or
Il may have been the result OF sudden
frenzy and attack in the lonely bungalow
There were signs Of a struggle In the
bungalows bloody sheet, some blood
stained boards. some half burned clothing
but the real story of the bungalow can
never be known.
Were OddIy-Mated Pair.
The meeting OF Eastman and Mrs.
woodnl wherever and whenever It occurred
brought together two oddly suited figures,
and the tragedy brought 10 an end two
strange careers. Mrs. Woodin. though
twice married, Was but slip OF a girl q
vivacious petite little thing. Immensely
fond Of pretty clothes always immacu-
lately dressed and Weighing only about 100
pounds.
Where the girl sprang from, who her
father Was and what should have been her
station I'm life, are clothed with much OF
the same deep mystery which surround the
details OF her death. She was adopted by
Colonel Charles II. Thompson. weil-to-do
farmer OF the eastern shore OF Maryland
nineteen years ago. when she was tot OF
g. The baby was in the custody OF a
Minneapolis street car conductor and his
wife, who said they knew nothing Of her
parents. The records In Minneapolis show
that the baby adopted by Colonel Thomp-
son and his wife was entered In the records
OF adoption az the daughter OF Matthew
and zetena knight Vita Indications seem
20 point to the fact that Witz Was not her
father. Mr.. Woodill Is known TO have ad-
In An aIIdanYnr 10 find