Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-26
SAYS WOMAN DID THE MURDER
Letter in Dead Mans Pocket Lays
Crime at Door OF Unmarried Person
He Was Robert Emmett East
man, an Ascending New York
Stock Broker.
(By Associated Press.)


ST. MfCHAEIS, MD, June 25.-The
last tragic chapter in story of crime
unparalleled in this section Of the
country was written in the early dawn
today, when the man accused of the
beartless murder of pretty little May
Edith Thompson WOOdill-a specter-
like form fleeing in skiff from a
skin from a posse of determined, re-
lentleSs pursuers-stood for moment
facing the men who had cOrnered him
On the waters of a narrow creek, then
fired n bullet crashing into his hear.
and fell lifeless- lump into the bot
tom 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 blotting out untold the story of
the death of girl who had moved
in the highest social circles of Bal
timore. Washington. and Los Angeles
"a beautiful. talented girl, who had
y been a prctege of Lyman J. Gage. and
of Former Governor Frank Brown,
of this state-the man known here
as Emmett f. Roberts, but who in
reality was Robert Emmett Eastman.
a failed broker of the Consolidated
Stock Exchange, of New York, pass
ed beyond the reach OF the law and
with his going there vanished the
hope of clearing up the motive and
the battling details of this strange
tragedy.
Rambling Story of Crime.
letter found upon Eastman's body.
addressed to Miss Winnie Bradcome,
care of Klaw & Erlanger New York.
gave Eastman's ill-sustained excuse
for a crime. II was a rambling ac
count of how he had been out in a
launch with a party of men and wO-
men, all OF whom had been drinking
to excess with the exception of him
self and Mrs WoOdill: of how one OF
the women in a fit of jealous frenzy
had attacked Mrs Woodill with a |
wine bottle and killed her: how the
remainder of the party had taken
flight. leaving him to dispose of the
body, and how, as a means of escape
from all of his troubles the writer
had decided to end his life. East
man asked Miss Bradcome to hurry
to Maryland to take charge of his
body and his property.
The authorities after thorough in
vestigatiOn. apparently have cast
aside this theory
Does Not Know Him.
The first word received from Miss
Bradcome today conveyed the some
what battling informaticn that she
FDew nothing of a Mr.. Roberts or of
Eastman. Forenoon Radcliffe, of the
coroner's jury telegraphed Miss Brad
come to come and take possession or
rppaiUnd a
pIy saving she could not because OF
lack Of funds. He has now telegraph
ed her to draw on him for $50.
In order to mere fully investigate
the Rradcome letter and other letters
which now are said to have been
found upon Eastman. the coroner to-
night determined to postpone further
investigation
Contents Of Letters Withheld.
The contents of the letters are
withheld. by the authorities. who de-
sire that every possible clue shall be
run down before the Investigation Of ,
the tragedy is ended A witness has
been found. Il is said. who overheard
the voices OF several persons merry
making in Eastman's bungalow Sun
day afternoon. Among the voices oI
the women IN the bungalow the wit
ness is said to have recognized that
of Mrs. WoOdili.
This story IS being investigated
Il mas been the theory Of the author.
tics and Of the examining physicians
that the murder was committed some
Sunday night
The authorities seem 20 believe
with Colonel Charles IT. Thompson.
Of Mcdaniel. the foster father ~ me
girl. that Eastman. IN whose company
she last was seen alive. was respons-
ibic for the death Of Mrs. Woodill
That Eastman vas infatuated with
the riri was well known She IN turn
n would seem. was fascinated By him
n times and possibly frightened by
his attentions.
Left Mcdaniel Saturday.
The girl met Eastman SATURDAY.
was seen 10 leave the Mcdaniel wharf
IN a launch With him and "wednesday
her nude body vas found floating On
fhc surface Of Rose creek. crudely
tied 70 q rope and weighted with iron
bricks
The meeting q Eastman and Mrs.
Woodnn. wherever aad whenever 81