Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-06-25
Mrs. Edith May WoodiII of Los
Angeles, Ward of Ex-SeCre-
tary Gage, Victim of Pecu-
IiarIy AtroCious Murder.
SUSPECT SURROUNDED
NEAR SCENE OF CRIME
Mystery Shrouds Early Life
of Young Woman Protege of
Former Head of Treasury
Department.

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire
St Michaels. Mr.. June 24-Jchn I
Roberts, charged with numbering Mrs
Edith May Woodill of Les Angeles
was surrounded in the house of JOIN
b. McQuay, at Coyman. seven mile
from here. tonight. A posse left il
automobiles to aid in his capture. Ro-
bcrts is said to he heavily armed.
Roberts called at McQuay's hous,
for water. McQuay invited him in ant
then sent his wife secretly to notify
neighbors. by whom the house was
surrounded
Practically the entire eastern short
Of Maryla land joined in the hunt. The
police say they have evidence con
Meeting Roberts with the murder.
Mrs. Woodill's nude body, the skull
crushed in, and the face disligured
was discovered yesterday by boys who
were grabbing IN Back creek not fan
from the home Of Mrs Woodills fos-
ter father. Captain Charles T. Thomp-
son, a few miles from here
Roberts was with Mrs. Woodil
when she was seen last He claimed
to be a magazine writer ana genera
correspondent of newspapers. He is
even said to have returned to this
locality after short absence for the
express purpose of writing up the
murder which he is now accused OF
having committed. Mr. and Mrs
WOodill came here short time ago
the latter with the intention of pass
ing the summer with her foster faith
er Her husband remained only q
rev days. leaving it is understood
for Detroit whence he intended t.
return to Los Angeles. From that
time Mrs Woodill and Roberts ara
said to have seen much of each other
Last Saturday Mrs. Woodill went 60
Easton to have some dental work
done, and it had been arranged that
Roberts should meet her at Royal
Oak and go home with her Roberts
drove to Royal Oak. met Mrs. Wood
III and drove with her back here In
the landing. where his launch was
moored They entered the launch
and Mrs WoodiH was not seen again
alive. SO far as has been learned
Since her disappearance Roberts
went to Baltimore, from which point
a letter was received by Captain
Thompson. ostensibly from Mrs
Woodill, saying she was in shat city
and would shortly return. Roberts
remained in this neighborhood until
after the finding of the body. He
had previously endeavored to allaY
the growing uneasiness Of CAPTAIN
Thompson i'm connection with his fos-
ter daughters absence and used the
letter as evidence in support of MS
contention that she soon would re-
turn When the body was brought
ashore, it was SO swollen that Captain
Thompson could not at first, believe
that it was the body of Mrs. Wood
ill., Last night Justice Wiley tele-
phoned to the boarding house oi
George Taylor made inquiries about
Roberts and mentioned that he was
suspected OF the murder. Roberts
was beside Taylor during this con-
versation and upon learning OF the
suspicion against him. remarked; -
that is the case. | viii not go 20
Baltimore" A few minutes later nc
was found to have disappeared ana IL
was afterwards discovered that ne
had taken Taylor's skin
Investigation indicates that WHEN
Roberts aud Mrs. Woodill left here
they went in the launch to bunga p
low that is being built on Roberts
small farm. near that of Captain
Thompson. and that on this bungalow
the murder was committed. Thetr
were found a bloody sheet and mat
tress and portions OF the woman 5
clothes. partly burned. These ha e
been identified as belonging to Mrs
Woodil There were also found in
the bungalow pair Of corduroy
trousers. in the pocket of which were
two letters one believed TO have
been from Mrs. Woodill and to have
some connection with the meeting al
Royal Oak. was dated une Is and
read:
Dear Wobby; Can't come down
Haven't even had my morning abula-
ton and | know how men hate wait
ing. Why I would be afraid you
would wear out the parlor rug-plus
YOUR temper-if you tried IT, It IS
only an intermittent delirium and now
you had better go and wash your
DISHES Even without any imagina-