The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-25
Eastern Maryland Is Aroused By Foul Murder of Beau
 tifuI Young Wife
BODY IS FOUND IN RIVER
 FEARFULLY DiSFIGURED
Motive for the Crime Is Yet a Mystery But a Magazine Writer Named Roberts Is Suspected as
 the Murderer.

St Michaels, Md. June 2A-PracticaIly the entire eastern shore of Maryland was aroused and joined in the search today for one Emmett E., or John T. Roberts, wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Mrs Edith May Woodill wife of Gilbert woodill. an automobile dealer of Los Angeles, Cal. whose nude body l the skull crushed in, the face horribly dis figured, the entire body swollen from the effects of several days immersion and weighted with an iron pot containing A half dozen bricks, was yesterday dscov- cred by boys who were grabbing in Back creek, tributary of the Choptank river. not far from the home of Mrs Woodilrs foster father, Capt. Charles H. Thomp- l son, a few miles from here
 Roberts was with Mrs woodiu when she was seen for the last time and he is accused of having committed the mur- | der.
 The motive for the crime Is at present a mystery. The police of Baltimore and all other cities to which Roberts might | make his way were asked to search for Roberts, He is about 50 years old. five feet six inches tall, stout, smooth shaven. with abundant, bushy hair, and a ruddv complexion He limps and wears a. brace on one leg. He claimed to be a mara- zine writer and general correspondent of newspapers. He Is even said to have de- 1 clared that he returned to this locality after short absence for the express pur-
 pose of writing up the murder which he
 is now accused of having committed.
 Never Seen Aoajn.
 Mir and Mrs. Woodill came here early this month. the latter with the intention of spending the summer with her foster father. Her husband remained only a few days, leaving, it is understood. for Detroit whence he intended to return to Los Angeles. From that time Mrs Wood- ill and Roberts are said to have seen much of each other. Last Saturday Mrs. Woodill went to Easton to have some dental work done and it had been ar ranged that Roberts should meet her at Royal Oak and return with her to her home. Roberts missed the train at Royal l Oak and drove there, met Mrs. Woodill and returned with her back here to the landing, where his launch was moored.
 They entered the launch and Mrs 1 Woodill was not seen again alive. so far as has been learned
 After her disappearance Roberts made a 1 trip to Baltimore, from which point a ] letter was received by Captain Thompson, ostensibly from Mrs. Woodill saying she was In that city and would shortly re- | turn.
 Roberts remained in this neighborhood until after the finding of the body He had previously endeavored to allay the | growing uneasiness of Captain Thompson 1 in connection with his foster daughters | absence and used the letter referred to as | in G11Fnr of l,f, she was all right and would soon return.
 Body Identified.
 When the body was brought ashore it was so horribly swollen that Captain 1 Thompson could not at first believe it was | the body of Mrs Woodill who is said 1 to have weighed about 100 pounds. The | Identification was made positive, how ever. by the dentist Mrs. Woodill had vis- | tied professionally in Easton
 | After the body had been positively iden- tifed. and suspicion began to point to Roberts, he visited a livery stable here kept by c. F. Wiley and A. H. Radliffe and tried to hire a team. Radliffe re- marked to his partner that the applicant for team was under suspicion. but | Wiley. justice, did not feel justified in detaining him at the time
 Later last night, however, Wiley tele- l phoned to the boarding house or George | Taylor, made inquiries about Roberts and | mentioned that he suspected of the murder. Roberts beside Taylor dur | ing this conversation and upon learning 1 of the suspicion against him. remarked: | If that Is the case, I will not go to Baltimore"
 | A few minutes later he was found to have disappeared and 1t was afterward discovered that he had taken Taylors 1 skin.
 Results of Investigation.
  erts and Mrs. Woodill left here they went in the launch to bungalow that Is being built on Roberts small farm near that of Captain Thompson, and that in tliis bungalow the murder was committed There was found bloody sheet and mat tress and portions of a we.asn's clothes partly burned. These have been identified as lowing belonged to Hrs Woodill. There were also found in the bungalow a pair of corduroy trousers, in the pocket of which was two letters. One, believed to have been from Mrs. Woodin and to have some connection with the meeting at Royal Oak was dated June 16. and read: Dear Wobby: Cant come down. l Haven't even had my morning ablutions, | and I know how men hate waiting Why, | l would be afraid you would wear out | the parlor rug, plus your temper, if you | tried it. It Is only an intermittent de- | lirum, anyhow, and you had better go and wash your dishes. Even without | an imagination you must know 1 am ] thinking of you"
 This was signed Doll Baby" The other letter, also dated the 16th, from Easton. read
 Dear Roberts: Ryan and Short will ar rive Oxford boat 12 o'clock tonight Cap tain Lee will take us over to your joint | Get there about 124o, but must leave after looking the place over. Sorry you have decided not to go this time Girls