The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-08-01

uLOBE3 lIC Oll1 DcHlOCIdtlC III VIC A'totI,
and able journal in the northwest.
From the Daily Globe, 25th.l
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 beng charged with 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 a GLOBE representative for the purpose OF
gathering the particulars of the alleged crime.
She is rather good looking woman OF abou
IS years of age, with bright, clear and
Notwithstanding dark brown eyes.
Without being strictly handsome her face is
decidadly prepossessing, and her intelligence
being above the ordinary type, she told the
history of the assault with remarkable .precl-
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 married Il year ago on
June last to Mr.. Townsend, who is 81
years of age, and since that time she has con-
tinued to live with him at his farm lii Comma
township, Wright county. Both had been pre-
yiously married he being widower before
wedding her, and she had separated
from her first husband in consequence
of his infidclity. Mr.. Townsend has
daughter Augusta, aged 1t 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
in their ages. Early last spring, however, a
man named William Durham, 81 years of age
obtained position in the Townsend house
hold AS the hired man. He slgnahzed 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 lady in Chicago, to whom
he was evidently engaged to be married. Others
of his epistes led Mrs. Townsend to believe he
had left Chicago deeply involved in debt. and
that he had probably departed thence under
disrcputahIe circumstances. She, moreover
became possessed with the idea that Durham
had either accomplished Augusta : rum, or
would encompass it, all of which doubly
stceled 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 Augustus re-
moval to Clearwater, Wright county, where the
latter has since remained, Mrs. Townsend
fatuatIon.
OF late. Mrs. Townsend had noticed whis-
pered conferences between her husband and
Durham, which would take place when
the two were the barn and out
of other peoples car-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 was the object of talk
in these secret, barn-door concaves She then
insisted that Durham must be sent away from
the house not only to forstall his designs upon
Augusta but because he endcavoring 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 Townseud's consent, that
Durham should board at II neighbours but was
to continue to work on the Townsend farm.
This arrangement was perfected week ago
last Sunday, and Durham was given Il seven
days notice to enter into II. Last
Sunday Mrs. Townsend packed up Dun
hams clothes and placed them Mt
the door of the house he had failed
to thus prepare for his departure, which Mrs.
Townsend fully determined should be ac-
complished that very night in accordance With
the programme. Toward evening" while she
was PLAYING Homo. sweet home on the organ.
Durham came in. His presence caused her to
tremblc violently, but she continued the music
for some minutes She then told him he must
quit the premises to which he replied in effect
that. if he left, she would have to leave also rs
he would tell her husband something about her
that would lead TO her being driven ont. With
that, she ran down To the lake, where her htss-
band WAS. and told him what Durham had
threatened to SAY. Townsend said Durham
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
lieved Dunham, and Townsend said he did.
viii YOU not bsl;cse M, your own wife
before him? she frenziediy asked.
Il don't know be answered vacilatiugly
Here, ON my knees before yon. she plead
ed II assure you by all that Is holy ana good
that Durham has lied to you Instead of be-
heving him YOU ought 10 defend your wiie's
honor. have always been true TO You have
always loved You. and have been good wife to
YOU. Save fro.n this disgrace. Ii is lie
from beginning ,0 .Ne ~ad.
This did not see4. 10 soften the ohdara.e
husband. She that his mind had bcea
poisoned by Dunham. and she became Wild
with passion.
Il know" she said II was crazy and We. |
remcmember every little thing did
She then went back to Ike house preceding
her husband through the gate. Dun
ham was sitting on the steps, aud
two or three ne!ghbors were present.
Lying a. the foot of tree near the house We're
two &Nes doubie-hitted and the other
up to where Drnham sitting. and threw
the douhls> bitted axe at him. but he avoided
the muraerousl Unprotected missile and came
toward her. eudcavorlug 70 wand off with ms
arms the blows she made AZ him with the re-
naming axe in her hand. In the struggle
which cnsaed she gashed him terribly on the
left side or the neck. but he clasped her round
her neck and held her while the blood from, his
frighsfni wound saturated her cloth
ing through and through. Letting her
50 at length. her husband grasped her by the
threat. ana clicked her till size was breathe IS
and black III the faee, his finger marks being
yet visible under her chin. Somebody called
out Stop this bloodr' which caused Townsend
To loasen his hands, or he might have killed
her there and then.
Standing in font of the reporter yesterday.
she. at this point of her story, stretched her
arms widely and wildly, then clasped her hands
in agony over her forehead and burst into .
dood of uncomfortable tears. through which
shc exclaimed My God! sir. what vss l to do
when iny v.s. E,-.a-s fused tc defend my