Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-07-02
"A Horrible Murdei

der occurred near St. Michaels, Talbot
county, Nd. on Sunday, the goth of June,
Last March Emmett E, Roberts purchased
small farm near St. Michaels, bordering
on the water and built himself bungalow
to reside in alone. Mrs. Edith Thompson
Woodill, wife of Gilbert Woodill, of Cali
fornia, visited him on the Saturday before
the murder. Her body was found on the
following Wednesday floating in the creek,
near st, Michaels, stripped of its clothing,
skull crushed, and rope around the waist,
with the other end attached to an iron
kettle containing nine bricks. The features
were distorted beyond recognition, but a
dentist in EastOn. in the same county,
identified some recent work done by him
self upon the teeth Of the victim and the
body as that of Mrs. Woodill. Suspicion
rested on Roberts. The authorities of the
law met up with him on the succeeding
Friday at McDaniel's wharf. near the Rob-
erts home, where he was about to land at
daybreak after spending the night in his
boat out upon the water. When he found
that he was overpOwered he sent bullet
through his head and died instantly. He
also carried bottle of aconite. deadly
poison. His body was inferred on his farm,
interment having been denied the body by
all the cemeteries in that section.
Roberts was a fugitive from New York
justice. He failed after performing many
large monied transactions in that city and
was charged with robbery. His real name
was Robert E. Eastman, which he trans
posed to hide his identity He was mar
ried and leaves widow and seven
month-old boy, which he never saw A
letter was found on his body addressed to
his wife, in which he denied committing
the crime and charged that it was perpe-
trated at his home by a jealous woman
who gave the death-dealing blow with a
champagne bottle. This story is discredited
by the public.
| Mrs Edith Thompson Woodill went to
Eastman's bungalow from Col. James II
Thompson's her foster-father, who reside:
in Talbot county. She was at Col. ThOmp
sons on visit from her western home anC
had been there but short time. Sh'
knew Eastman previously, but what ms
sion took her there remains an unsolve6
mystery She was robbed of two diamond
rings of great value, and they were pawnet
in Baltimore city after the murder by East
man Tor $zoo' ny her large circle OF ac'
quaintances reaching from one end of this
country to the other she is said to hav'
been lovable, chaste and talented youni
woman-23 years of age. Secretary Ly
man j. Gage, of Mckinley's cabinet, at
tracted by her personality, sent her ABROAD
when child and had her educated. lie
musical charms afforded her an entree int
the White House, where she sang to Presi
dent Mckinley and his family. She mar
ried Gilbert WOodill. prosperous bushes
man, little more than year ago, in New
York, after an acquaintance of five days
They lived together happily and the hus
band is seriously depressed from the tragi
death of the devoted wife. Her many friend
from all sections of the country resent al
insinuations against her virtue. She leave
no children. Her body was inferred il
Talbot county
D' ua.,,
III coihec'ioh WIN TIC Eastman "ooui
tragedy, the interesting fact has been re
called that when BOSS" Tweed fled froT
NJ, vorL ho oonah. ,af.ae from tho In,
,''" e.,
by coming 10 o. michaen'
That section OF the Eastern Shore