The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-25
The Supposed Slayer OF Mrs.
WorstiIl Is Killed.
Whether by Himself or Posse
Is Not Known.
IN DARKEST NIGHT
He Was Surrounded and Shots
Followed on Both Sides.
Indications That His Name Is
Robert E. Eastman.

st. Michaels, Md. June 25.-Dead
either by the shots of a sheriff's
posse, or by his own hand. Emmett E..
Roberts, the accused slayer of beau
tiful Mrs. Edith May Thompson
Woodill, protege of Lyman ]. Gage,
passed beyond the reach of the law
today and with his death vanished
the hope of clearing up the details of
one of the most shocking crimes the
state of Maryland ever has known.
With the lips of both victim and
struggle in the lonely bungalow on
the shores of tidal inlet OF
Chesapeake Bay; the story of the
mad efforts of the slayer to conceal
the identity and dispose of the body
of the woman, who though !"lce
married was still a mere girl in
years; the story of the scenes pre-
ceding the fatal attack and above all,
the motive for the deed may never
now be told.
The mystery of Mrs. Woodlll
antecedents, her brilliant prospects
and accomplishments. her beauty and
the prominence of her foster parents
and relatives and the brutal manner
of her death had created an intense
sensation in themselves which was
further heightened today by the
death of the man in whose company
Nhe was last seen.
Roberts. who was little known
here. is believed now to have as
sumed that name. Robert r. East.
man is believed to have been his real
name, according to papers discovered
today
For dramatic features the death of
Roberts could hardly be surpasse ed.
1t was in the blacklist part OF a
moonless night-the half hour of
darkness just before dawn-that the
posse came up with their quarry
who had during the night taken to
rowboat and sculled up Back creek.
He Was Surrounded.
Hemmed in on all sides Roberts
tried to sneak out through one OF
the many branches of the creek, but
the slight noise made by his oars was
detected and the watchers saw the
dark form of his boat on the water.
There was a sharp command to halt,
which went unheeded, then another
command Then Roberts fired,
whether at the posse or at himself
IS as yet unknown.
In answer to his shot the posse
sent a fusillade in the the direction
of the boat. The man hunters then
rowed to the skiff and found Rob
erts in the bottom dead.
Thus eliminated the sensational
tragedy enacted in this state, with
ramifications that have become coun-
trv-wide in extent through the social
of the victim. jealousy may have
been the motive.
Where and under what circumstances
Roberts and Mrs. Woodill met is not
known but they are said to have been
Immediately attracted to each other.
Little Is known here regarding Rob
erts, which name he gave when he
came to this region about a month ago
and purchased a small farm near Cap
tain Thompsons place. He claimed to
be a magazine writer and newspaper
correspondent. He was polite and Of
fable in manner made friends readily
but never discussed his personal at
fairs.
His Name i'm Doubt.
Doubt as to whether the mans real
name was Roberts was raised today by
the finding near his body of a letter
and deed address to Mrs. Robert Z
Eastman care of Geo. B. Taylor, they
will be called for" The deed records
the sale by Robert e. Eastman to John
J. Mann, of New York, of six lots at