The Washington herald., 1909-06-28

St Micheels. I'D. June flame
Bob Eastman feared that he was 70 be
arrested AID taken back TO New York
70 stand trial for grand larceny. He
begged aIrs. Edith Thompson WoOdiH to
run away with him The girl refused.
and Eastman. pressed by anger. fright,
and his necessities. murdered h-r while
she lay on the bed in his bungalow.
That is the story OF the tragedy which
has come 20 be believed By the Maryland
authorities as the first clear reading OF
the motive Eastman's own account o.
Airs Woodius death. written into Ihe
letters that were taken fror1 his body,
has been rejected utterly as the STRAIT
agem OF a cunning rascal who schemed
10 save his own neck by duplicating me-
who were his friends in the days when
he was supposed 10 De square.
Warned OF Danger OF Arrest.
Lame Bob was warned several days
before he persuaded Lyman = Cages al
rract;ve young friend % accompany him
70 the bungalow on the shore OF Broad
Geek that lie was IN danger CT arrest
Tie STATE police are absolutely cor
WINGED tlat the man was IN a desperate
panic.
In q heap OF rubbish back OF the bunga-
low there was found this morning part
of a torn letter II nad been ripDed II
three or four pieces. A dirty scrap. on
which the ink had run, bore tais writing:
You were seen in Baltimore Tuesday.
think the police know"
The rest OF the message was gone
torn away and scattered by tie winds.
What remained had been ground under
foot. ralued on. and half ooIte-ated
Killed Because she wouldn't EIoDe-
Little as IL was. th0-gh, il threw more
light on the tragedy than any single de-
velopment- Every biz Of information in
the hands OF the authorities fits squarely
into q whole that Lame Bob. infat-
uated with AIRS. Woodiu. murdered her
because she wouldn't fee with him. he
had 20 take Up agaia the old lie OF doGg-
ing around The world. OF doubling ard
twisting. anj turning 70 50 free Of the
police.
The leather trunk in his room was
checkered with the labels OF foreign
hotels. but there vas space for more. and
Lame BOD kneE almost certainly that he
would see them pasted on HIS passion
for Mrs. WOodiu had reached such q
-~-ro -f,.- ~r-. ---1- -.--r7 --- r.---..- r-s---
SELF 10 take 10 his heels without her He
was scared by TIE warnings that had
reached him. ont he delayed his fight.
trying 10 induce 1Irs- WOodiI 10 eIope.
Champagne Bottle the Instrument.
When she refused. It IS believed thar
Lame Bob lost his head completely. went
into a rage. and heat her 20 death with
the first weapon that cane 10 his hand.
an empty champagne bottle II was dis
covered to-day that ne killed her as she
lay IN bed The pillow. the sheets. and
the mattress had been burned. but two
pieces Cf flooring that Eastman had re-
moved and hidden in tie cellar were
found
They were stained red and The wood OF
the post which supported The floor OF the
bungalow was red IN places. although an
effort had been made 10 shave Il clean
with a plane.
A number CT letters came 70 Eastman
from Baltimore and New York for sew
eral DAYS before the murder. he SO SCI
dom received letters OF any kind thar
some OF his friends joked WiJh him about
IT, They suggested that he was getting
tlred CT the slow life on old Eastern
shore and his country friends and would
be Eoing away before long. a suggestion
that nicked the truth 50 wei that East
mans testing replies are remembered
here with establishment
Love MuddIed His Brain.
Certain it is that the refugee never
lacked for resourcefulness and craft until
his entanglement with Edith Woodnl
muddled HIS brain. X IS straight 70 the
point and an interesting commentary that
he began 70 display the cunning that had
characterized him only after Edith was
dead and her body weighted down in
Harris Creek.
lame Bob" lad been in the habit os
running over 20 Baltimore Frequently
that is 70 say. once every week or so.
he tratel5d on the steamer that crosses
Chesapeake Bay between Claiborne end
Baltimore He was a great patron OF the
ticket scalpers. he used 70 davdls on
the dock until the gangplank was going
Up. screwing Q scalper down IS cents on
the price of passage. L is believed now
that he was seen and recognized on one
of his recent trips 10 Baltimore. and that
Il had been tipped OF 70 the police that
Robert L Eastman might be found hiding
somewhere on she Eastern Shore.
Bought Supplies In baltimore.
Il Is positive THAI Eastman himself had
no mixing unn recently that his retreat
had been discovered. He bousht all OF
his supplies in Baltimore. He purchased
there the best OF his clothing. He was 10
great fellow for the country store keep
ers- he got his wines and WHISTLES from
Baltimore. ordering them IN person. and
his trips continued throughout his resi-
dence here.
The curious feature OF the business Is
why he took the risk OF going TO Balti-
mere the day after tae girl was killed:
but that IS explained On the ground O.
Continued on PAGE 2, CoIumz 3.