Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-07-02
SUPPOSED MURDERER DIES IN
FIGHT WITH POSSE OR BY
HIS OWN HAND.
WOMAN BLAMED FOR CRIME.
Roberts, or Eastman, Declares Lyman
F. Cages Protege Was Struck Over
Head with Wine Bottle.
SENSATIONS DEVELOPING FAST.

ST. MICHAELS, Md, June 25.-
Especial. l-Sensation after sensation de-
veloped in the mysterious murder of
Mrs. Edith May Thompson Woodill,
protege of Lyman J. Gage, today.
The first was the death of Emmett E.
Roberts or Robert E. Eastman, the sup
posed slayer, who was followed by a
sheriff's posse on the Back creek, at l
o'clock this morning, and killed in a
fusillade Of bullets. Roberts died either
by his own hand or the shots of the
posse.
In his pockets was found letter ad-
dressed to Miss Winnie Braxcome, care
hlaw & Erlanger, New York, in which
the writer asks the girl to come to Mary
land to take charge of his body and
property as he intended to commit sui
eide. Roberts added that he had been
out in a boat with four other people,
two men and two women, that all had
been drunk except himself and one girl;
that one of the women struck another
over the head with a wine bottle and
had killed her.
The full text of the letter will not be
given out until it is read before the
coroner's jury. The letter throws a dis
tinctly new light on the situation, and
to accept this theory of the murder, they
are working upon it diligently. Mrs.
Woodill, when last seen, was alone in
Roberts company. A letter found in
Roberts bungalow, dated June 16, indi-
Gated that there had been visitors, and
a possible party at the place early last
week.
The letter was dated from Easton,
Md, June 16, and said "Ryan and
Short" together with the writer, ''How-
| arth," would be down at II o'clock that
night, but would have to leave shortly
not go this time" as the girls were all
at Annapolis. The murder is believed
to have been committed last Saturday
| night, June 10.
States Attorney Turner holds to the
belief that the man committed suicide to
avoid capture.
Letter as Last Resort.
It is believed Roberts, or Eastman
wrote the letter when he found that all
avenues of escape were being closed
against him. Evidently he wanted his
version of the tragedy to be given to the
world. His life was ended, however,
before he had opportunity to mail the
letter. In the missive the contents of
which he closely guarded, Roberts is
said to have declared that when the hor
ror of the crime in the launch daTned
flight, leaving him to make what DISPOSE
ton he could of the body. That he
realized that the natural supposition of
the authorities would be that he had
done the deed and he sought to conceaG
it. That he had finally learned that con-
cealment was impossible, and in sheer
desperation was going to take his own
life.
1t is known that the authorities have
some other definite information about the
crime upon which the letter may nave
an important bearing.
Father Disbelieves Story.
Col. G. II. Thompson, foster father Of
Mrs Woodill today said: The girl was
not capable of wrongdoing. She was the
sweetest and most lovable character that
ever lived. 1t was not a wonder that
those who came into contact with her
loved her. She possessed that happiness
of disposition and cheerfulness that won
her friends everywhere she went"
For dramatic features, the death of
Roberts, or Eastman, could hardly be
surpassed. 1t was in the blacklist part
darkness just before dawn-th9t the
| posse came up with their quarry who
had during the night taken to row
boat and sculled up Back creek toward
the scene, the spot where the body of the
young woman was found.
Shortly after midnight, a mysterious
looking craft was seen moving up the
eaters of Back river, along the shores
of which are the homes of Col. Thomp-
son and Roberts. 1t is unusual to see
small boat cut in the river at such an
early hour and John McQuay, who has
a farm on point making out into the
creek near Bozman, notified Sheriff Nor
timer and Magistrate Willy, who were
at st. Michaels. McQuay said the boat
looked like the one in which Roberts es
capped from Mcdaniel and that the man
Wait for Good Shot.
Sheriff Mortimer, Magistrate Willy
and a posse of six men hurried to the
scene, reaching the river shore at / a.
No. All were armed. They crept down
to the waters edge under the cover of
darkness and made out the outlines of
ing a boat up the river. Fearing they
would brighten him off, they quietly
waited until the rover got into narrower
waters and within range.
Sheriff Mortimer and Messrs. Hooper
and Harper obtained boat and followed
Roberts leisurely to create the impress
sion on Roberts mind that he was not
being chased. Roberts seemed annoyed
by the boat following him and FASTENED
ifs boat following. Magistrate Willy
and others followed along the shore line.
The cornering maneuver began shortly
For one, two and three hours the two
boats and the sheriff's party proceeded
un the river, the shores narrowing all
the while. Roberts was nearing the
scene of his alleged crime. AS the
shores came together members OF the