The New York herald., 1870-02-02
THE FIFTH WARD MURDER.
Inquest and COmmittal of the Murderer to
the TOmbs-Proposed Subscription
for the Townsend Family.

Yesterday the inquest as to the death OF William
Townsend, who was 80 fOulIy murdered at 1872 Hud-
son street, on Saturday night, by man giving his
name as Jack Reynolds, but whose real name ap-
pears to be Sylvester Bream, was held by Coroner
Flynn at the Fifth precinct station house.
Townsend, as has been already stated was an Eng.
lBhmaD, native OF Birmingham ana he has been
ruthiessly snatchod away from q large family that
could Ill afford to lose Its head ana support The
wife, Mrs. Townsend. an English woman, is
about forty three years of age. OF nve daugh-
ters one is married, Mrs. GORDON. The others are
OF the respective ages OF fteen thirteen eleven and
eight. The youngest child is q boy lwillam) and Is
only ten months old. 1t is difficult to realize the
des0ate position in which this family has been
placed by this tragedy. The sympathy OF the public
has, however, been aroused, and a start in lie Will
no doubt be made for them by public subscription
very speedily.
Mrs. Townsend had not confronted the murderer
OF her husband until yesterday At the inquest AS
sne entered the room she lnstlnctivey singled him
out and with mixed feelings Of horror and grief she
turned away from the sight OF The slayer OF the CON-
panion Of ner life and burst into food Of tears.
How great was the anguish OF her soul at that mo-
ment none on earth but herself could tell.
The brute who ls the cause OF all this misery had
even yesterday scarcely got over his drunken de-
bauch- His eyes had the heavy, lustreless look OF
the habitual drunkard; stoiid brutal expression
on hls features which were not in their natural con-
dition, particularly repulsive. His face had the
marks Of cuts and scratches, occasioned by his
murderous attack Saturday night. He has au-
burn hair, which has slight inclination to curl.
From his own account he is a waI on the muddy,
dirty stream Of tho 0utcasts Il society," He does not
know whether his parents alive not he has
seen or heard ANYTHING about them his relations
IVA hp hOrp in fb0 OYfh af 1ral4
he has told rgInarole story Of his life, manitesty
1iied With lies which seem TO come Aaturai and flip
PANTY TO ms iou!nouthed tongue. The only thing
certain about this wretchs fe-history Is that he
spent considerable part OF his time III prison. and
IL would seem tnat II ever man WAS born TO be
hanged 1t is the murderer OF poor Townsend II 1t is
possible to have any feeling or satlsiactlon about
tnat IN which there Is notninR but dissatisfaction
the mind of all well constituted people, II Is that 1t IS
impossible that there can be any misplaced,
morbid sentiment about this fellows ultimate doom.
10 hang 8 man may or may not be the worst use 10
lnand that he shall be prevented from roaming
about the cities in drunken frenzy, madly murder
Ing the first human being that may have the dread
lul misfortune to come across his path.
After the jury had been sworn the following testi
DR.. william SHINE testified that he made an exam
inaton OF the body OF Townsend on Sunday. In
pany with Drs. Fenne|l aud McEwen and found
wound seven-eighths OF an inch long IN the left
breast three inches above the nipple and three
inches to the left Of the medium line The knife had
penetrated the pericaraal and the right venrl-
Gle OF the heart. A second wound was found the
left forearm, near the wrist two and q half inches
IN length, and half an inch in depth, third wound,
very slight III character, was found on the left side
OF the neck, two and u half inches below the ear.
Lydia townsend girl Of fourteen and daughter
OF the deceased was sworn and testified as fol-
iows:-My father was sitting by table and sat
next to him holding the baby; the prisoner then
came into the store, winch was IN the basement,
and sald Rather, there Is a man." the prisoner
then advanced and sat near the stove, saying to my
father, "You know me, am your brother" ana
wanted TO stay all night my father said, mo, SIR,
you are not my brother at ALL I've hardly room for
my own family and cannot accommodate you-you
will please go out;'' the prisoner then moved and
sat on milk can; my father sald, "lt Is your
sitting down, You must go;' my father then aid ms
hand Lightly on the prisoners shoulder saying,
prisoner then drew knife. stabbed him, and dragged
nlm on the steps; do not know wnat followed
further; went round the room with the child IN
my arms calling murder" and some men came in
and sent me up stairs; the prisoner seemed slightly
stabnng my father he appeared perfectly sensible;
my sister Harriet was III the room with me at the
tme nv father came up stairs aud opened his shirt
! front: this displayed his wound, which bed pro-
fusely he then went into the bedroom and laid on
the bed; he died in about three minutes after doing
30; never saw the prisoner before the time Of the
murder.
Harriet Townsend, girl eleven years OF age, tes-
titled that mad the prisoner stab her father;
after stabbng him held the knife in his hand, ana
she noticed that 1t was broken; the knife shown is
the same asked her father what was the matter ana
saw his shirt covered with blood
Thomas Hudson. OF No. l6S Hudson street, testified
that he Is shoemaker; that on the evening Of the
noids, came IN and SAT down On a stool opposite
hls; he asked for Job; said be had been ac-
| cnstomed 10 90 peg work; said ne was Scotch
| man, ana mad been IN the country but nine
| months; SAID he had WORK Tor him, and
ne subsequently Went ont with coat on
| his arm; he was under the influence OF drink;
| afterward Thomas Arnold. workman, came In and
missed his knife; thought 1t must have been taken
| by the prisoner; soon aiIerward heard that Mr.
| Townsend had been stabbed, and identified the
! knife found In possession Of Reynolds as the one
stolen from his shop.
| Thomas Arnold, oi No. 1873 Hudson street. testified
that he Is In The employ OF ,he last witness; that
shortly before SIX o'ciock on the evening Of The ssh