Evening star., 1909-06-24
Two Boys, Grabbing, Make a
GhastIy Discovery.
KILLED BY BLOW ON HEAD
Corpse Weighted Down by Iron Pot
Filled With Bricks.
LOOKING FOR A MISSING MAN
Farmer Last Sc With Deceased
Absent From He. Screams
Heard on River.


BALTIMORE. Md, June pa brutal
murder. not unlike that of the Elsie Sigel
crime in New York has been revealed by
the finding of the body of Miss Edith May
Thompson in the river near st. Michaels,
Talbot county.
The body was discovered by Edgar and
Hamilton Grace. while grabbing. 1t was
found that the woman, who was partially
nude, had been killed with a club or
other blunt article and had probably been
in the water about two days. Tied around
the womans waist was a heavy iron pot
containing six bricks. The face was bad
ly dis1gured, but identification was by
the gold filling in her teeth.
The disappearance of a man named
John T. Roberts. who was seen with Miss
Thompson last and search of the man s
room. which revealed a boody sheet and
some of the woman's clothing, have
aroused the community.
States Attorney j. Frank Turner early
this morning sent out kilograms asking
that Roberts be arrested and charged
with the crime, and at the same time the
Baltimore police were urged to search for
the man, on the possibility he is in this
city.
Together Sunday Night.
Roberts and Miss Thompson, it is de-
clared, were last seen together Sunday
night, when they went out on the Miles
river in motor boat. Roberts was seen
about the village as usual Monday, but
seemed nervous. AT the same time some
of the residents declared that the night
before they had heard screams from the
| river and woman's voice had cried out
"Oh, you're killing me-
Although Miss Thompson was not seen
Monday nothing was thought Of it and
the report of a womans screaming was
forgotten by night
Edgar and Hamilton Grace were crab
bing yesterday morning in Back river. JUS
| behind ST. Michaels. when they found the
body. The corpse was only half clad. the
skull crushed. the face badly mutilated
and decomposition was starting.
The murderer had apparently beaten the
woman over the head with a club. Not
withstanding the weight attached to the
&ody it had been moved by the tide and
drifted into shallow water.
Dentist Identifies Body.
1t was not until Dr. T. J. Smithers, a
dentist, saw the remains this morning
that identification was made. DIR. Smith
ers said that he recognized the woman
by her teeth, which he had filled only a
few days ago.
AS soon as the dentist told who the
woman was 1t was at once recalled tnat
Roberts had associated with her more
than any one in the village and a score
of men hurried to his farm which is only
a short distance from st. Michaels.
| When the party reached the farm it was
deserted. The house was entered and a
rapid search made. In the kitchen the
men found womans clothing that had
been partially burned. A sheet covered
with blood was also located.
| Search for Roberts was begun. but it
was learned that he had not been seen
around the village since about s o'clock
last night.
Horse Is Missing.
j. 3. Wrightson, who resides near st.
Michaels, reported that about o'clock
last night some one had stolen one of
his horses 1t is now believed that the
man wanted took the horse, rode tl
Easton point and there boarded the mid
night steamer
Miss Thompson was the adopted
daughter of Col. Charles A. Thompson
well-to-do farmer and landowner, who
resides near st. Michaels. She was at
one time noted as singer and musician
and during President Cieveland's admin
istration played in the Whi,e House be-
fore the President and party of gov
eminent officials.
Little is known here of Roberts, who
| went to St Michaels from Baltimore a
farm not far from that town.