The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-02
Was Copied From Dorothy YER
non of HaddOn Hall"
HE STILL DENIES 1T.
Father of Mrs. WOodi1I Saws She
Never Wrote It.
He Identifies the Jewelry Pawn.
ed by Lame Bob"

St Michaels. Md, July 2.-rbe l.tt..
made public and said to have been
found in the bungalow where Fohert
+. Eastman was Killed by Mrs. Edith
May Woodil, and which was taken 40
show that there was a love afrair oe
long standing between Eastman and ME
victim. was plagiarism and possibly, a
forgery. .
The letter was signed Edith" and
Dreamed the deepest affection, but IL
has been discovered that 1t was a con,-
paragraph by paragraph. and phrase
by phrase from Dorothy Vernon oe
Haddon Hail." a novel bv Charles Nss-
Jor' that was one of the best seliers's
at the time of its publication I'm 1a09
w netner the puagiarizing was done bv
Mrs Woodin or Eastman or 4Vhetber
the entire document was a forgery bts
third person, is not plain
The text Of the letter occurs. almost
tol pr ptete; at the end Of the second chap
Ter or Dorothy Vernon as observe
lions OF the fictitious narrator follow
ing MS first meeting with the heroine
ana the realization of her infatuation
Tor the hero of the tale
God exists because of that warmth
Inat the mawkish world Condemns -
Ihe novel says. and then: us iron i'm,
modest when it creeps to the lodestone
and clings to its side? Is a hen bird
brazen when she futters to her mate
responsive to his compelling vyoing.
song? Is a seed immodest when h.
sinks into the ground and sweIls vvitl1
budding life? Is a cloud bold vobs, it
softens into rain and falls to earth
because 1t has no other choice? or IL
II prazen when 1t nestles for a time
On the bosom OF heavens arched dome
sinking into The fathomless depths az
olue black and ceases to be itseIf?"
Father Denies Edith Wrote It.
Col. Charles II. Thompson foster
father of Edith May Woodill has
he a1Tv HaaT-- IL
were pawned by Lame Bob" East
man as having been worn by Mrs.
Woodill when she left home for the
last time.
ter to Eastman" is the Statement
made by Col Charles H Thomson
when asked about the love letter
found under the bungalow. s'Nothinr.
could convince me that she wrote IL
1t does not sound like her. 1t reads
as If it were copied out of a book
Only the testimony of experts would
make me consider the possibility OF IL
being written by her"
George B. Taylor. who is the
Thompsons' nearest neighbor. when
asked about the letter said:
Edith did write letters in that style
three years ago. I saw lots of them
and we all teased her about them ana
she stopped writing that way long
ago. I understand the letter has the
appearance of having been written
some time. I wonder If Eastman got
hold of an old love letter and
threatened to show it to her hus-
band"
Jurors Score Prosecutors.
Four members Of the jury which
originally passed upon the manner OF
the death of Mrs. Woodiu and who
were severely censured by States At
torney Turner for failure to bring in
what was considered by the prosecu-
tor a proper verdict. have drawn up
a reply and censure his conduct OF the
case. This paper. was signed by
Alexander Radcliffe. foreman Of tbs
jury. and three others. 1t says:
'"The states attorney had firmly
fixed in his mind the character Of the
verdict considered the only one q
jury could return: this before he
heard the entire evidence before the
inquest. We further state that the
examination of the witnesses by Tur-
ner was conducted in an Indifferent
and negative manner. We hold that
had Turner not lost his head Eastman
would not have escaped with the
small boat to Harris creek"