SEASIDE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 193, 14 August 1909, Page 15

SEASIDE TRAGEDY.

YOUNG WOMAN'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH. SUSPECT COMMITS SUICIDE. America Is being regaled with another tragedy, this time a double one, and quite In keeping (writes the New York correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") with the country's reputation for first-class sensation A beautiful, accomplished young woman, named Mrs. Woodill, a ward of Mr. Lyman Gage, formerly Secretary to tho Treasury, was found murdered on the shore of a small inlet opposite Annapolis, on Chesapenke Bay. Wheu the police tried to arrest Emmet Roberts, a journalist and close friend of the victim, he escaped arrest by shooting himself with a revolver. Mrs. Woodill was only 20 years old, and had had a romantic career. She was a Miss Edith May Thompson, of Los Angeles, California. Three years ago she married a Boston doctor, left him the same week, went to Paris to study music, and upon her return was invited to sing at the White House. She met a Californian, named Gilbert Woodill, eighteen months ago, and married him within five days. A few weeks ago she left him at Los Angeles, and came east to visit her foster father. Colonel Thompson, at St. Michael's, Maryland. DISAPPEARANCE AND DISCOVERY. While staying there she was Introduced to Emmet Roberts, a Washington newspaper correspondent, who was enjoying his holidays at a neighbouring farm. The two appear to have been good friends, and they were constantly motoring together. Last Saturday they were seen in a motor-launch near Colonel Thompson's home. Mrs. Woodill did not return, but Roberts did, explaining that the lady had gone to visit friends In Bal'tlmore. Four days after ber disappearance her relatives grew anxious, and a search was made, resulting In the discovery of a woman's body, with the skull smashed in, lying in the creek hard by. Attached to the woman's waist was a stout cord, and to this was tied au old kettle with stones. A DRAMATIC DEATH. The body was Identified as that of Mrs. Woodill. At first Roberts said he would investigate the mystery as a newspaperman, but wheu popular rumour suggested that he might be implk-ated, ho suddenly disappeared. The police were hunting for him all night. Next morning the detectives saw a boat stealing up the river opposite the Roberts' home. A man In his shirt sleeves was languidly rowing. The police jumped Into a launch, aud followed him. When they got near enough to see thn't the man was Roberts, they called to him to throw up his hands. Roberts never spoke, but rose in the boat, levelled a revolver, and fired. The posse of police quickly discharged their weapons In return, Roberts falling In ,', heap In the bottom of the boat. On his body was found a bottle of poison, and subsequently In his bungalow this note in Mrs. Woodili's handwriting:— Dear Wobby—Can't come down; haven't even had my morning abjntlons, and I know how men hate waiting. Why, I'm arraid you'd wear out the parlour rugs plus your temper if you tried It. Even without imagination, you Luow I must be thinking of you.—iSlgued) Doll Baby. A FUGITIVE STOCKBROKER. The theory of the police is that Roberts lured her to his bungalow, killed her, disrobed the body, carried, it to his launch, and attempted to bury it In the creek. Nobody seems to be aware that Roberts and the dead woman ever bad quarrelled, or that the Woodllls lived unhappily. Later news Indicates that, although the aileged murderer was known as Emmet Roberts, a newspaper correspondent, of Washington, his real nauie was Robert Eastman. He was a fugitive Wall-street ' broker, and was nicknamed -Lame Bob." In one letter found on him he expressed bis intention of committing suicide. He said he had been put in a boat with four other people, two men aud two women, that all had been druuk, and that one of the women bit another on the head with a -wine bottle, and killed her. LATEST POLICE THEORY. Some doubt still exists as to how exactly she met her death. In Roberts' pocket was found a vial of poison sufficient to kill a dozen men. This tragedy Is still exciting enormous attention in New York (states the correspoudent there of the "Daily Telegraph"), not only because of the social position of Mrs Woodill, but also because of various letters involving men aud women of high social standing aud unblemished reputations In the United States which have been found in Eastman's bungalow. The theory chiefly favoured Is that Mrs Woodill went to Eastman's bungalow after much persuasion, that she was killed there, and that someone took her jewels and pawned them in Baltimore. A PRIVATE GRAVEYARD. The robbery of tho Jewels adds a fresh mystery to the tragedy, and will, It is hoped, furnish the police with an Important clue. According to several telegrams from St. I Michaels, Maryland, tl s police suspect thnt ! F.astman committed many crimes, and they have begun digging for human bodies around the bungalow of the fugitive Wall-street swindler. Eastman's past, bis dual character, and the savagery of his nature, and the letters received from mothers of missing girls, have, according to these telegrams, suggested a belief that Eastman, like the notorious widow, Guiltless, had a "private graveyard." Freshly-turned earth In various places has already revealed various feminine belongings, nnd an unusual number of empty champagne bottles. DESCRIBED AS AN "ANGEL-CHILD." For the first time the identity of Mrs Woodili's parentage has been established. Born twenty-two years ago, she was the daughter of an obscure couple named Wltz, and at the age of three years she was adopted by Colonel Charles Thompson, of New York. After the death of her father, I'eari Wltz, as she was called, was surrendered by her mother to the custody of the fosterparents. She was a child of such marvellous beauty and precocious mind that many wealthy Americans sought to adopt her, and the newspapers have published her portrait, showing a face which warranted the description of "angel-child." She was twice married, and her first husband was divorced four years ago.

When Pearl Witz was twelve years of ago Mr Lyman Gage, Secretary of the Treasury under President McKinley, first became Interested In her. Mr 'Gage, who is now in California, has issued a statement to the I'ress declaring that nothing connected with the life of Mrs Woodill gives the least loophole for scandal.

"She was my ward," he says, "since she was twelve years of age, and I always knew ber to be upright. I knew nothing of her parentage, nor did she, although she frequently told mo that she had tried many times to ascertain their identity. I met her first in Washington. She was at tlie time practically a parentless waif. Her sweet voice and disposition attracted nie. 1 took an interest in her, and aided in her education. I was not legally appointed her guardian. Mrs Woodill was not convivial. Her married life with Mr Woodill was happy. It is a lamentable state of society," concludes Mr Gage, "when newspapers will dig up the past life of this murdered and

| mutilated young woman, and twist and torture It Into a vile scandal, Instead of paying attention to the Investigation of a coldblooded murder." EASTMAN'S STORY. In a letter to his wife, Eastman says:— "I had no hand In the tragedy. I was there, and removed the evidence after the two other couples had fled. I did this for selfpreservation, and I am haunted. The victim was my particular friend, and we were well mated. I have only known her three weeks. We all—that is, two men and two other women—went to the bungalow for a time. Everyone got full, except Edith and myself. Edith tried to win one of the other girls' fellows, and was hit three times on the side of the head with a full bottle of champagne, and the fellow was hit once. She fell oyer on the floor and died. I was left with the crrpse, and cannot take a chance for trial. Life to mc is very bitter, and I will pull down the blinds and say good-bye. You can claim my property, and say as little as possible, but get it,"