Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-29
.JURY'S VERDICT
CLOSES TRAGEDY
STRANGE DUAL KILLING Is
ENDED BY COMPROMISE
FOUR JURORS DISSENT FROM
EASTMAN FINDING
Report of Investigators Says Writer
Either Killed or Was Accessory
to Murder of Edith May
Woodll
(By Associated Press.)

ST. MICHAELS, Md, June 2S.-
With the compromise verdict of the
coroners jury that Robert e. Eastman
either killed or was accessory to the
murder of Edith May Woodill, and the
declaration of States Attorney Taylor
that he was through with the case, the
strange dual tragedy became closed
incident today
Four of the twelve jurors refused to
sign the verdict, and the words "or
accessory to the crime" were added to
the draft which, approved by the ma
jority, bluntly accused Eastman of the
murder.
The four dissenting juorors merely
wished to protest, they said, against
the manner in which the inquiry was
conducted, declaring much available
evidence was not abduced.
There was just bit of petty poll
tics mixed up in the verdict, for some
of the members of the jury nave been
bitter enemies in Talbot county af-
fairs.
The jury sat for a time today in the
bungalow itself, with Eastmans un-
marked grave not fifty feet away. Mrs.
Eastman had visited the place earlier
in the day and had stood dry eyed for
time beside the new-made mound.
Tomato Vine on Grave
Someone with ill-judged humor had
planted a tomato vine on the grave.
Mrs. Eastman, thinking the vine a ma
tive flower, asked what it was. No
one had the heart to tell her. She stood
bv the grave until at last a convul-
sive shudder shook her shoulders. Then
she was led away.
From the testimony the authorities
have formed this final theory
That Eastman was in need of money;
that.he probably had been getting
money from Mrs. Woodill for some
time; that he undoubtedly knew some
thing of her past life, and that he had
been blackmailing her; that he at
tempted to continue this practice and
the woman rebelled, intimating that
she, too, had found out certain things
about Eastman and that If driven TO
it would expose him.
Compromise Verdict
The compromise verdict declared
that on Sunday, June 20, in his bung-
allow on Broad creek, Robert E, East
man feloniously killed or was acces-
sorry to the crime of numbering Edith
MAY Woodill, wife of Gilbert Woodill,
of Los Angeles Cal"
The four dissenting iurymen were
deeply impressed when they first read
Eastman's letter giving his story of the
crime. and while they morally believed
him alone guilty, they desired that
every other possible factor in the case
should be eliminated. They complained
that no testimony showing that Mrs
Woodill and Eastman met at Royal
Oaks station on Saturday and We're last
seen together in a motor boat was
officially presented.
There was talk today of having an
analysis made of the contents of the
bottle found in the shack yesterday
This bottle is believed to have con-
tained narcotic drugs which may have
been given to Mrs Woodill before the
murder. But the analysis was regarded
as unnecessary in view of the finding
of the jury. and the coroner remarked
that the county had spent enough
money upon the lamentable case.
Mrs. Eastman was granted letters of
administration, and all real and per-
sonal property of her husband will be
turned over to her. She soon will re-
turn to the stage
The coroner's inquest into the death
of Mrs. Woodill was resumed today
with several of the jurors still con-
vinced there was a large element of
truth in the letter left by Lame Bob"
Eastman, declaring there had been
party at his bungalow and that Mrs.
Woodill had been slain by a jealous
woman.
The jury met in the lonely little bun
galow itself 1t is not believed a
definite verdict will be rendered by the
jury and it is certain no matter what
may be the outcome of today's sitting
of the inquest investigation of the
tragedy will be carried forward by the
law officers of the state and county
with undiminished energy.
The authorities give no credence to
report circulated last night that East
man tried to induce Mrs Woodill TO
elope to Europe with him and that he
killed her when she refused.
This report went on to state that
Eastmans hiding place had been de-
tected and it was necessary for him
again to take to flight. AS cold mat
ter of fact, Eastman was in financial