Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-07-02
TRAGEDY MOST SENSATIONAL,
Death of Roberts elimination of Story
of Life of Young Woman

of Life of Young Woman.
BALTIMORE. Nd. June 25.-The
death of Roberts at st. Michael's, marks
the elimination of the most sensational
tragedy ever occurring in Maryland, with
ramifcations that have become country
wide in their extent. Some facts of the
meteoric career of Mrs. Woodill, in
whose brief life, love and romance played
such a great part were related today by
an intimate friend of the slain woman
who said they were told by Mrs. Woodill
herself.
Mrs. Woodill said she was born in
Minneapolis about twenty years. ago.
Her mother. who called herself Mrs.
Ames. died when she was about 3 years
old. leaving her in utter ignorance of her
parentage or forbears
Mrs. Charles Fl. Thompson of McDan-
lei. Md, then took her and brought her
up, telling her that she (Mrs. Thompson
was her mothers intimate friend, but
never disclosing to her the name of her
father.
Becomes Lyman Cages Ward.
When she was about II years of age,
they went to Washington, where they
lived for some time in the house of Ly-
man j. Gage, who took great interest
in her. When she was about Is he sent
her. with Mrs. Thompson, to Paris,
where she studied music, Mr.. Gage pay
1uS jill SApCuSeS. Ou u6T TeluFu 1TOm
Paris she went to Boston to complete
her studies. and while in Boston she
was married to a Mr.. Caswell, who was
an osteopath. When she was about
II. she came to Baltimore to continue
her studies at the Peabody conservatory,
here as Miss Edith Thompson, conceal
ing her marriage from all but few in
| innate friends.
In very short time thereafter she
entered suit against DR.. Caswell TO" a
divorce. She left Baltimore last Easter
to Harry Adams of Mount Vernon. n.
Y. After a brief stay in New York she
| went to California, where in less than
| thirty days after her divorce from DR..
Caswell she married Gilbert Woodill Of
| Los Angeles. It has also been rumored
son, the son of her foster mother and
| father, being a rejected sutton, commit
| ted suicide on her account.
During her residence in Baltimore, Mr..
Gage sent her checks continually, some
| of them amounting to $500, and when
| her $4,000. At the time of her death,
Mr.. Gage was also building her a house
| in Los Angeles, with the understanding
| that. he was to come to live with her and
| her husband.
| All of these facts, it is asserted, were
SLdlcu ny MIS-. w QUILL 10 Ill
Baltimore prior to her death.
Story of the Murder.
A few weeks ago Mrs Woodill left
| her home in California to visit at the
home of Capt. Thompson. She was oft
en- seen In company with Roberts, who
| took her for launch rides on the river.
| Last Saturday Roberts told Capt.
| Thompson that Mrs. Woodill had gone
| to Baltimore and would be back in
| few days.
Suspectins that something was wrong
Capt. Thompson gave voice to his belief
| that the woman had met with foul play.
| Roberts heard of this and disappeared.
A search was made for Mrs. Woodilps
body and it was found in Back river, the
| skull crushed and the corpse weighted
with an iron post.
A search of Roberts bungalow re-
vealed a bloody bedroom, but everything
| indicated that the young woman had
| been killed outside and the body dragged
| into the ROOM
for men. In stature she was rather
petite with beautiful figure, an ex-
pressive face golden brown hair, brown
| eyes, and features that are usually called
piquant. She was unusually well read
| and musical and artistic In tempera
ment.
Mystery Surrounded Her.
There was always more or less mys-
terry surrounding her. No one ever
seemed to know exactly who she was.
She referred to Capt. and Mrs. Thomp-
son of Mcdaniel as her father and moth
er, but was supposed to be an adopted
child. She constantly talked. of and
referred to ex-Secretary Gage and
seemed fonder of him than anybody else.
She always spoke of him as Papa
Gage" Mrs. Gage seemed to take the
greatest interest In her welfare, and,
| besides visiting her while she was study
| ing music in Baltimore, frequently met
her in New York. Through the intiu-
| Woodill sang at the white house for
President Mckinley and some guests.