Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-07-01
The Man Charged With Killing Mrs.
WoOdiII a Suicide.
WAS SURROUNDED BY A POSSE
The Mystery Of the Woman's Death
viii Never Be cleared--Aer
Foster Father Tells Of Her
Early Life.


try was written in the half light OF an
early summers dawn when the mar
accused Of the heartlesS murder Of
pretty little May Edith Thompson
Woodill-a spectre like form fleeing
in q skin from q posse Of determined
pursuers stood for a moment facing
the men who had cornered him on the
waters Of q narrow creek, then fred
q bullet into his heart and fell lifeless
into the bottom Of the boat which he
had hoped would carry him to a land
ing place where fight might be posi-
BILE.
Taking his fate into his own hands
and plotting out untold the story OF
the death Of a girl who had moved
In the highest social circles Of Balti-
more, Washington and Los Angeles
Q beautiful talented girl Who had been
a protege Of Lyman J. Gage, and Of
former Gov. Frank Brown Of this state
the man known here as Emmett e.
Roberts, but who in reality was Bob
ert Emmett Eastman, a failed broker
OF the Consolidated 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.
As for motives many have been ad-
vanced. That eastman was infatuat-
ed with the girl was well known
She in turn, 1t would seem was fasci-
mated by him at times and possibly
frightened by his attentions In note
addressed to Dear Wobby" declining
to see him at the particular time. but
not wishing to anger him, she said;
1T is only an intermittent delirium,
anyhow, and you had better go and
wash your Dishes"
After this Eastman evidently pre-
vailed upon the girl to visit his farm,
Will, Al was near that of her foster
Mther's, to see the new bungalow
WhiCl he had built. The girl met
Eastman Saturday, 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, cruiely tied to rope and
weighted With iron and bricks.
Mrs. Woodlll, the wife of Gilbert
Woodill, an automobile dealer in Los
Angeles, who had been on a visit to
her relatives had intended leaving in
few days to reioin her husband, to
whom she was ostensibly happily mar
rled.
One of the most pltiable figures In
all of the lamentable tragedy is old
Col. Charles H. Thompson Of Nc.
Daniel, the foster father of the muir
dered girl Sitting on the porch of
his home, overlooking the waters of
Harris Creek, where Eastman had end.
ed his life In the early hours Of the
dawn, the broken old man told the
story Of the girls life so far as he
"a~il social the details. He had fol-
lowed the girls body to its last rest
ing place. beside the graves Of his
wife and son, The girl had been do
voted to her foster mother and II she
could have chosen her burying place.
1t undoubtedly would have been at the
side Of this dear friend.
To the foster brother, lying in the
grave next to hers, the girl had been
the ideal Of all that was good and
sweet and pure. The splendid young
fellow had grown up with her and
learned to love her and II is said that
he desired her to become his wife. She
would not. He killed himself. Through
out the neighborhoOd II Is common
talk that young Thompson's suicide
was due to his failure to win his foster
sisters love.
This is the GROWING sorrow Of my
llfe," said Col. Thompson as the tears
streamed down his deep tanned and
furrowed cheeks. II have experienced
many sorrows. have had many
heart wrecking blows, but this is the
hardest Of all to bear"
The little girl who became his foster
daughter was but three years old when
she was found BY Mrs. Thompson who
was at the time q worker in the chart
ties Of Minneapolis. MINI. The tot
was then In the custody Of a street
car driver or conductor. who was will.