The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-07-01
At BAY, KILLS SELF
ROBERT EASTMAN, SLAYER OF
LYMAN J. CAGES PRoTEGE
COMMITS SUICIDE.
DEATH ADDS TO THE MYSTERY
Leaves Motive for the Murder Of
Pretty Edith May Woodill Unex-
plained-Traee Of Victims Parent
age Is Found In Minnesota.

st. Michaels, Md, June 25-The
last tragic chapter in a story of crime
unparalleled in this section of the
country was written in the half light
OF an early summers dawn when the
man accused OF the heartless murder
OF pretty little May Edith Thompson
Woodill-a specter-like form fleeing in
a skiff from posse of determined,
relentless pursuers-stood for mo.
ment facing the men who had cor.
nered him on the waters of a narrow
creek, then fired bullet crashing into
his heart and fell lifeless lump into
the bottom OF the boat which he
hoped would carry him to a landing
place where flight might be possible.
Taking his fate into his own hands
and blotting out untold the story OF
the death OF girl who had moved in
the highest social circles of Balti-
more, Washington and Los Angeles
"A beautiful, talented girl who had
been protege of Lyman j. Gage and
OF former Gov Frank Brown of this
state-the man known here as Emmett
+. Roberts, but who in reality was
Robert Emmett Eastman, a failed
broker of the Consolidated Stock ex.
change of New York, passed beyond
the reach of the law, and with his go.
ing there vanished the hope OF clear.
ing up the motive and the battling de.
tails of this strange tragedy
Suffered Many Tortures.
For hour after hour, Eastman, suf.
fering the tortures of the damned for
want of food and water during the
night and day OF his hiding in the
marshes OF the many shallow tidal
streams which put in from the bay,
tried to shake off his pursuers
Hemmed in on all sides, Eastman
tried to steal out through one of the
many branches of the creek but the
slight noise of his oars was detected,
and the eagle-eyed watchers saw the
dark form of his boat over the water.
There was sharp command to halt,
which was unheeded; then another
command. Then Eastman fired,
whether at the posse or at himself
Is unknown.
In answer the posse sent a fusllade
in the direction of his boat
After the hail of lead the man.hunt.
ers paused in their work for mo-
ment. They peered into the darkness
and all was quiet. They rowed out
TO the skiff cautiously but there was
no sound. Alongside the boat they
found their quarry lying in the bot.
tom, and look showed he was dead
Letter Tells Of Murder.
A letter found upon Eastman's
body, addressed TO his wife, an
actress known as Winnie Brad
come, in New York, gave East.
mans ill-sustained excuse for the
crime. 1t was a rumbling ac.
count of how he had been out in a
launch with party of men and WON.
en-, all Of whom had been drinking to
excess with the exception of himself
and Mrs Woodill; of how one of the
women in a fit of jealous frenzy had
attacked Mrs Woodill with a wine
bottle and killed her, leaving him to
dispose OF the body
The authorities, after a thorough
investigation, apparently have cast
aside this theory. The first word re.
ceiVed from Miss Bradcome conveyed
the somewhat battling information
that she knew nothing of Eastman
but later admitted having married him
a yea rago
Her Parentaee a Mystery.
Mrs. Woodill, the wife of Gilbert
Woodill, an automobile dealer in Los
Angeles, though twice married, was
but a slip of a girl, vivacious, petite
and immensely fond of pretty clothes,
always Immediately dressed and
weighed only about 100 pounds.
Where the girl sprang from and who
her father was, are clothed with much
of the same deep mystery which sur
round the details Of her death. She
was adopted by Col Charles III.
Thompson, a well-to-do farmer of the
eastern shore of Maryland, 19 years
ago, when she was tot of three. The
baby was in the custody of a Mime.
apolis street car conductor and his
wife, who said they knew nothing of
her parents.
The records in Minneapolis show
that the baby was entered in the rec.
ords OF adoption as the daughter of
Matthew and Zetella Knight WITT of
Lewiston, Idaho Indications seem to
point to the fact that WITT was not
her father
A report from Spokane, Wash, says
woman who is supposed ID be the
mother of Mrs. Woodill lives near
Lenore, in Nez Perce county, Idaho. |
She married her present husband
after Matthew Witt was killed by
Henry Grayson.
She married Dr. Walter Wells
Caswell, believed to be from Boston.
before becoming of age The mar.
riage was annulled The girls foster
brother is said to have committed
suicide because of love for her.
llllnoisan London Bride.
TOndOn Tune 2h-Roharf 7 q NJ