New-York tribune., 1884-01-09
ATTACKED IN THEIR HOUSE,
AN OLD COUPLE BEATEN NEARLY TO
DEATH.
PROBABLE MURDERS IN OYSTER BAY-AN AGEi
FARMER AND HIS WIFE THE VICTIMS
lRY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE rR[BUNE.l

| PROBABLE MURDERS IN O1hlEb DAi-N@' -
FARMER AND HIS WIFE THE VICTIMS
| lBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRrBUNE.l
| OYSTER BAY jan s-An attempt at murder ac-
companied as is believed, by robbery, happened at
this place last evening though the time is not abso-
lutey certain, some persons being of the opinion
that it may have taken place this morning Two
old people. James G. Townsend, age seventy-flve,
and his wife, Aurelia, age sxty-eight, were beaten
into insensibility by blows on the head with some
| blunt instrument.
When the negro Israel Potter, who works for
| Mr.. Townsend, came to the house this morning
as usual he found all the doors closed.
1t was then after o'clock and ne
was greatly surprised, as the two old people, who
lived alone were early risers The house stands
back a stones throw from the road, which is by
way leading to East Norwich and the entrances
are upon the side facing the south. He tried one
after another and found them fast Then he
tapped at the right hand window of the Kitchen
| which is at the north end of the house. 1t was
| opened little and he heard Mrs. Townsend
say feebly who's there7" He answered: Its me,
Israel marm." lie heard shutting noise and the
kitchen door was slowly opened. The negro was
| Mortified at the wOman's appearance. Her hair was
| down upon her shoulders and was matted with
blood her right eye was blackened; there was
cut upon her nose and a cut upon her right temple
| On the U00r OF tne Kitchen was VIedJ pun VI
blood in which lay Mrs TOwnsends comb. She
seemed scarcely able to stand and sank down upon
q chair.
! Potter said: "What ever is the matter, marm'"
She replied: "Oh, I'm sick Israel" "Shall go for
the DOCTOR marmi" "No, never mind" " Let
me 60 and fetch Miss Wright" la neighborl.
Mrs Townsend shook her head. but Potter at once
summoned Miss Wright and her nephew, Albert
| Wright To them Mrs Townsend said that last
evening Simon Rappalee called upon her and asked
for the money for the washing which his wife had
! done for her the week before. She went upstairs
and got her pocket book and began to count some
| money when she became unconscious.
THE CHARACTER OF TIE WOUNDS.
| "The Wrights found old Mr..
| Townsend unconscious on the lounge in the
| sitting-room which connects directly with the
kitchen Miss Wright then sent for Mrs. Coles
niece of Mr.. Townsend and Beelman Townsend, a
nephew, and they summoned the coroner and sent
for Drs Fallen and Frye The latter examined the
wounds of the two old people and found them
serious Mrs. Townsend by this time had relapsed
| INTO inscnsibility.
The old gentleman had upon his right temple
severe bruse and other wounds upon his head; the
thumb of his left hand was broken, as
If he had put up his hand to shield his
| head. The appearance of the wounds indicated
that they had been inflicted by some blunt instru-
ment
Potter, in clearing up the kitchen and washing
away the blood stains, found q stone masons round
hammer under the table stained with blood. This
cOuobOrated the statement of Mrs. Townsend, be-
| cause the negro, Simon Rapaee is a stone mason's
helper Coroner Bayis, on his arrival, empanelled
a Jury, though there was no body, but he immedi-
atcly adjourned the inquest until Thursday.
ANEGRo ARRESTED.
| In the meantime a search had been
made in the woods behind the house and a pair of
overalls, such as are used by masons was found
stained with blood. The evidence was considered
sufficient to warrant the arrest Of Rappaee, who
was found at his home at nine o'clock. He pro-
tested his innocence. and declared that he could
establish perfect aibi. He was locked up in
cellar, as there is no jail in Oyster Bay.
WHO THE TowNsENDs ARE.
James c. Townsend is the lineal de-
| scendant of the first patentee of
lands of Oyster Bay,which he obtained by purchase
| from the Matinn6cock Indians in 1868. The estate
then embraced 600 acres, and acres of the orig
| ina land stlll remain with the house occupied by
the family Mrs Townsend is the sister of the rebel
! General Winder, who had charge of Libby Prison.
| She is a lady of much culture has written a book
of poems and compiled history of the Townseuds
| of Long Island
There have been constant calls at the house all day
from neighbors and toUn,foks who feel the deepest
| interest in Mr. and Mrs. Iownsend's condition. At
| seven o'clock this evening the old gentleman re-
turned to consciousness and recognized Israel Pot
ter, but he is speechless and il is doubtful if his
/ memory of what has happeud Is perfect. DR.. Frye
! at eight o'clock SAID that there good chance
! saving Mrs. Townsend and faint hope of saving
! her husband.
Austin Corbin, the President of the Long Island
Railroad Co. has offered a reward of $500 for the
conviction of the assailant.
Public opinion is greatly divided as to
| the guilt of Rappalee, who has been
forty years in Oyster Bay, and has borne an excel
lent character. But there is certain resemblance
excites the people here greatly. Nothing is known
as to what has been taken from the house.