The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

SL AlCNdelS, NlU.s lIlS -.
flame Bob Eastman murdered the
protege of Lyman J. Gage-Edith
May Thompson Woodill his
own hand. robbed the dead woman
,of a large amount of money and
jewelry, and planned cunningly to
throw the crime on New York
friends who knew him in his pros
gperous days and visited him over
Saturday a week ago.
Eastman's intricate scheme to in
wolve others and save his own neck
If possible is being exposed hour by
hour.
There was a gay party at East
mans bungalow on the shore Of
Broad Greek, where he hid for FIVE
snonths from the New York police,
but every scrap of information that
the police Of three States can gather
points to the fact that Eastman was
alone with young Mrs WOodill
when she came to her death. The
cunning methods the broker used
to cover the girls death are being
ianalyzed bit by bit, every trick and
strategy indicating that Eastman
alone was guilty.
Pawned WOman's Jewelry.
The day after Mrs. Woodill was
Killed Eastman went to Baltimore
and pawned her jewelry, two dia-
mond rings and a pearl pin.
On Thursday he was back again,
smiling among his acquaintance at
St. Michaels and Mcdaniel, paying
debts, and jesting about the gay
time his guests had on Sunday.
Now that the story is out and East
mans neighbors know the sort of
man he was, they are amazed at the
cheerful nerve the crook showed in
returning to the scene of the muir
der and cracking rustic jokes.
One thing the authorities have
not been able to trace clearly are
the movements Of Robert E. East
mans friends who came to visit
him and brought gay women with
them. The names Of three men
are in the hands Of the Maryland
police.
They would like to have a talk
with Thomas Shotwell. a financial
writer; another man named Ryan,
and another who signed himself
"Howarth. 1t is believed here
that several of Eastman's old
friends in New York CITY. men
who knew that he was hiding on
the Eastern Shore, made up a party
10 visit him, came to St. Michaels
all the way from New York in a
launch, stopping at Annapolis to
pick up two women.
Urged to Join Party.
Il is believed that Eastman. having had
news OF the coming OF the party from the
man who signed himself 'Howarth." and
who wrote. on June IS. from Easton that
Ryan end Shotwell VIII arrive with OK
ford boat at u o'clock tonight" and
"Girls are all at Annapolis. Here is 10
the one you sent for me-" was anxious
10 give Mrs. WoOdill chance ar the fun.
and that he persuaded Mrs Woodin to
visit the bungalow and meet his friends.
II is known that at first she protested.
and said she was too well known bv
everybody TO take the chance. but finally
gave IN on condition that Eastman get
her heavy veil to wear.
There is nothing to show that East
mans guests were in the bungalow when
Mrs. Woodill was struck down, but MANY
things to indicate that they had boarded
their launch and gone away The hour of
the murder has been fixed pretty def
nitely al 6 O'Clock on Sunday evening.
NeigbbOr Heard Voices.
One Of Eastman's neighbors went to the
shack 10 ask Eastman TO go to church
that evening, heard the sound Of wo-
mans voice upbraiding the lame man. and
hurried away. There was no use In ask
ing a man 10 go to church who kept a
woman in his place. concluded the neigh
Dor. and promptly scattered the gossip
wherever his tongue would reach.
From a hundred and one trivial Incl
dents, and the testimony Of people who
Continued on Page 4, Column 4.