The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-07-01
EDITH W00DlLL
KILLED IN BRAWL
SAYS LETTER
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 %
Special. l-Sensation after sensation de-
yeloped in the mysterious murder Of
Mrs. Edith May Thompson Woodll,
protege of Lyman j. Gage, today.
The first was the death Of Emmett T..
Roberts or Robert l.. Eastman, the sup
posed slayer, who was followed by a
shcrif's posse on the Back creek, at
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 a letter ad-
dressed to Miss Winnie BraXcume care
Klaw x Erauger, New York, in which
he writer asks the girl to come 10 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
corouers jury. The letter throws a dis
tiuctly new light on the situation, and
while the authorities are not prepared
10 accept this theory of the murder, they
are working upon it diligently. Mrs
Woodill, when last seen, was alone III
Roberts company. \ letter found in
Roberts bungalow, dated June 10, ind.
Gated that there had been visitors, and
possible party at the place early last
week.
The letter was dated from Easton
Md. June IL, and said Ryan and
Short together with the writer, How
arth," would be down at l. O'Clock that
night, but would have to leave shortly
afterward and were sorry Roberts could
not 20 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.
Il 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 missivc the contents Of
winch ne tIpS'iS EuuIttu, hbutIlS -
said to have declared that when the hor-
ror Of the crime in the launch dawned
upon his companions they all took to
flight, leaving him to make what DISPOSE
ton he could of the body. That he
realized that the natural suppostion Of
the authorities would be that he had
done the deed and he sought to conceal
IT, That he had finally learned that con
cealmcnt 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 have
an important bearing.
Father Disbeleves Story.
Col. &. II. Thompson, foster father of
Mrs. NOudill today said: The girl was
not capable Of wrOugdOing. She was the
sweetest and most lovablc character that
ever lived. 1t was not wonder that
those who came into contact with her
loved her, She possessed that happiness
Of disposition and checrfuncsS that won
her friends everywhere She went
For dramatic features, TIE death Of
Roberts, or Eastman, could hardly be
surpassed. 1t was in the blacklist part
Of u muUnlrSs night-the half hour Of
darkness just before dawn-that the
posse came up with their quarry who
had during the night taken to- row
boa and -culled up Back creek toward
the scene, the spot where the body Of the
young woman Was found.
Shortly after midnight, n mysterious
looking craft was seen moving up the
waters Of Back river, along the shores
Of which are the homes Of Cot ThOmp-
son and Roberts. Ii is unusual to see n
small boat cut in the river at such an
lt,,t,r anil I.I,r, ,,.l. Ia
a farm on n point making out into the
creek near BO2man, notified Sheriff Nor
timer and Magistrate Willy, who were
nj st. Micha"ls. McQuay said the boat
looked like the one in which Roberts cs-
capped from Mcdaniel and that the man
in it looked like the missing author
Wait for Good Shot.
Sheriff Mortimer, MAGISTRATE Willy
and q posse Of six men hurried 10 the
scene, reaching the river shore at | a.
M All were armed. They crept down
to the waters edge under the cover of
darkness and made out the outlines Of n
man in his shirt sleeves langudly row
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 McSSrs Hooper
and Harper obtained "A hunt ard followed
Roberts losurely Ia create the impress
sion on Roberts mind that he was not
being chased. Roberts seemed annoyed
by the boat following him and FASTENED
up III" river at "A faster pace, the shor-
ifs boat following. Magistrate Willy
and others followed along the shore line.
The Corncrlug mnncuver began shortly
after ! Il. IN.
For one, two and three hours the two
boats and the sheriHs party proceeded
up 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