Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-25

Kills Him---Her Piteous Appeal to Her
Husband---A Story in Real Life That
Reads Like Romance.
On Tuesday evening last, Sheriff Nugent, of
Wright county, brought to this city Mrs. Jane
Townsend, whom he lodged in Jail to await the
action of the next grand jury of that county,
she being charged with an assault that may
vet prove the death of the victim. 1t may here
be promised that Wright county prisoners are
incarcerated in St. Paul in consequence of
their being no Jail in the former shire.
Mrs. Townsend was visited in jail yesterday
by GLOBE representative, for the purpose of
gathering the particulars of the alleged crime.
IS years of age, with bright, clear and
ughtful-looking dark brown eyes.
Without being strictly handsome, her face is
decidedly prepossessing, and, her intelligence
being above the ordinary type, she told the
history of the assault with remarkable preci-
sion and apparent veracity. If what she asserts
is true, it must be confessed she has strong
case to present to a Jury in her favor.
Mrs. Townsend was married year ago on
June last to Mr.. Townsend, who is 60
years of age, and since that time she has con-
tinued to live with him at his farm in Corinna
viously married, he being a widower before
wedding her, and she had separated
from her first husband in consequence
of his infdelity. Mr.. Townsend has a
daughter, Augusta, aged l6 years. The
relationship between this man and wife has been
of the most cordial and happy character until
recently. She has always entertained for her
husband the sincerest affection. which he re-
ciprocated, notwithstanding the wide disparity
i'll their ages. Early last spring, however, a
M, ho,, orfo
obtained position in the Townsend house
hold as the hired man. He signalized his en-.
trance into the family circle by commencing
the most devoted attention to the young
daughter, Augusta His attentions to her were
extremely distasteful to the step-mother. Mrs.
Townsend, who had seen some letters of his
which conclusively proved he was carrying ON a
correspondence with a lady in Chicago to whom
he evidently engaged to be married. Others
of his epistles led Mrs. Townsend to believe he
had left Chicago deeply involved in debt. and
that he had probably departed thence under
disreputable circumstances she moreover,
became possessed with the idea that Durham
had either accomplished Augustus ruin, or
would encompass it, all of which doubly
steeled the step-mother against the match, and
led Mrs. Townsend to warn Augusta of her
impending fate. Her cautions did not, however,
seem to effect their intention, but on July 8,
last, she succeeded in causing Augusta's re-
moval to Clearwater, Wright county, where the
latter has since remained Mrs Townsend
hoping thereby to wean the girl from her in
fatuation.
OF late, Mrs. Townsend had noticed whis-
pered conferences between her husband and
Durham, which would take place when
the two were near the barn and out
of other peoples ear-shot. Prompted by the
curiosity inherent in every daughter of Eve,
she stole down upon them on one occasion, and
heard some fragmentary remarks which in
duced her to believe she the object of talk
in these secret, barn-door conclaves. She then
insisted that Durham must be sent away from
the house, not only to forstall his designs upon
Augusta, but because he was endeavoring to
breed mischief between herself and her hus-
band. In view, however, of the near approach
of harvest and the scarcity of field laborers, it
was arranged, with Townsend's consent that
Durham should board at neighbours, but was
to continue to work on the Townsend farm.
This arrangement was perfected week ago
last Sunday, and Dur ham was given seven
days notice to enter into it. Last
Sunday Mrs. Townsend packed up Dun
HAMS clothes and placed them at
the door of the house, as he had failed
to thus prepare for his departure, which Mrs
townsend was fully determined should be &C.
compiished that very night in accordance with
the programme. Toward evening, while she
was playing Home, sweet home on the organ
Durham came in. His presence caused her tc
tremble violently, but she continued the music
Quit the premises, to which he replied in effect
that, ii he left, she would have to leave also,
ne would tell her husband something about hel
that would lead to her being driven out. With
that, she ran down to the lake, where her hus
band was, and told him what Durham hac
threatened to say. Townsend said Dunbar
had already told it. Durham had accused Mrs
townsend of unchastity to her husband. Sink
ing down upon her knees in the sand of the
lake shore, she asked her husband if he be
ieved Durham, and Townsend said he did.
will you not believe me, your own wife,
before him?' she frenziedIy asked.
Il don't know" he answered vacilatingly.
Here on my knees before you,' she plead.
ed, II assure you by all that is holy and good
that Durham has lied to you. Instead Of be-
lieving him you ought to defend your wife's
honor. have always been true to you, have
always loved you and hare been a good wife to
you. Save me from this disgrace. 1t is lie
from beginning to the end"
This did not seem to soften the obdurate
husband. She that his mind had been
poisoned by Durham, and she became wild
with passion.
Il know" she said, Il was crazy, and vet
rememember every little thing did,
She then went back to the house, preceding
ner husband through the gate Dun
nam was sitting on the steps, and
two or three ne!ghbors were present
Lying at the foot of a tree near the house were
two axes, double bitted and the other
sIngie-bitted. She seized them BOTH walked
up to where Durham sitting, and threw
The double-bitted axe at him. but he avoided
the murderously-projected missile, and came
toward her, endeavoring to ward off with his
arms the blows she made at him with the re-
manning axe in her hand In the struggle
which ensued she gashed HIM terribly on the
left side of the neck, but he clasped her round
her neck and held her while the blood from his
trlghtful wound saturated her cloth
ing through and through. Letting her
go at length, her husband grasped her by the
throat, and ckoked her till she was breathless
and black in the face, his finger marks being
yet visible under her chin. Somebody called
out Stop this bloodn' which caused Townsend
to loosen his hands, or he might have killed
her there and then.
Standing in front of the reporter YESTERDAY.
she, at this point of her story, stretched her
arms widely and wildly, then clasped her hands
sn agony over her forehead and burst into a.
Hood of uncomfortable tears, through which
she exclaimed, My God! sir, what was to do
when my own husband refused to defend NV
honor or bis CHILDISH
Released by her husband Mrs Townsend
went down to the lake, got into a boat and. af
ter rowing about therein for short time, went
to neighbours house and said: Il have killed
VIII Dunham Take me to the sheriff at Buff
talo,' and thus she came into custody. After
her preliminary examination on Monday. he
was committed as already stated. Durham is
hotyet dead, but his recovery is a matter of
very grave doubt.
In reply to several questions, the prisoner
yesterday said she believed that Dunham's in
tent1on was to drive her from home and Thus
succeed, through d marriage with Augusta, in
obtaining in the end possession of Townsend's
property. She confessed she had, at various