Huntsville gazette., 1888-06-23
REED TOWNSEND.
Makes a Determined Atte mpt
to Kill Another Jailer and
Gets Shot.
After Receiving Three Bullet
Wounds, one Of Which May
Prove Fatal, he is Disarm
ed and Disabled.
still Defiant, lie Threatens to XIII the
JaiIer on the First Opportunity.

/
Jaiier on the First Opportunity
Daily Mercury June 10Th
Reed Townsend is this morning liv'
ing example of the truth of the text
"WhO so sheddeth mans blood, by
man shall his blood be she'd" Yes
terday at the hour when the inmates re-
ceive dinner, he rushed wildly on the
cook, Jesse McKithon, and striking him
on the head with a piece of limestone
rock, he cut quite cash in the mans
cranium and seized hold OF the iron bar
which serves as hasp to fasten the
staple on the iron door of his cell, he was
about to dispatch him in the summary
way in which he took the life OF Tim
Anderson, last wear, but the timely ar
rival Of jailer Pentecost prevented what
would have been another tragedy, and
another victim added to the murderous
list already rolled up against the me-
thodically mad Reed Townsend.
When Pentecost entered the Jail cor.
ridor, he shouted sternly at Townsend
to drop the bar! = The commanding
voice attracted the attention of the pris-
oner and saved the life of Mckithon who
was bleeding profusely from the wound
received on his head by the stone.
Townsend turned upon Pentecost with
hateful glare and swinging the bar, be
shouted "D-n you I'll kill you!" AT
distance Of about ten feet, Pentecost
aimed steadily at the arm that held the
bar and fired. This caused Townsend to
wheel around, and he again made at the
jailer with a horrible imprecation on
his lips. Pentecost lodged another bul-
let in his arm, hoping it would disable
him,
This had no effect other than to make
perfect demon Of the man who shouted
that he may be shot but he would kill
his d-n jailer. Pentecost then fired a
tfard time, this time with steady aim
at Townsend's breast and the bullet took
effect in the near vicinity of the right
nipple.
But the last shot was effective, and
Townsend fell. With wonderful cool
ness and rare presence Of mind, the
jailer sprang towards him and secured
the iron bar This being accomplished
he Immediately locked him up in the cell
and sent for a doctor. DIR. s. IL. Lowry
accompanied by DR.. Scruggs was prompt
ly on hand, and examined the wounds
Shortly afterwards Dr. Dement, was sum-
moned ana the work OF probing for the
bullet commenced.
The medical gentlemen failed to find
the ball, and their supposition is that il is
lodged in the right lung. This supposi-
ton was verified later on when Town
send begun to spit up blood.
At a late hour last night, he was rest
ing easy. but DR.. Lowry, when he made
his last visit to the jail, expressed the
opinion that Townsend was sinking rap
IDLY and would probably die before
morning.
That Townsend was one Of the most
troublesome and vicious prisoners that
ever tenanted the cells OF our county
Jail, the records of that institution will
bear ample testimony. Several months
ago, he and another prisoner made good
their escape by knocking the jailer
down, disarming him, and scaling the
prison walls. Since his recapture he has
showed au ugly disposition Oh all occa-
sions, and but for the bold, determined
stand made by Pentecost yesterday, he
would have wrought dire mischief. His
brutal murder Of Assistant iailer Ander-
son last year, is still fresh in the minds Of
our readers,
The rock with which he struck Me-
Kithon yesterday was among some
Stacked lime which was put in his eel
on Saturday last. AS the result shows
he utilized the rock very effectively, and
Mckithon has very sore head in con-
sequence.
The general opinion of the citizens al
expressed to our reporter on the streets
yesterday afternoon was to the efec
that the jailer, Pentecost, performed hi
duty, stern and unpleasant though it was
strictly as he ought to have done, ant
/ we think that Sheriff McGehee made
wise selection when he appointed Pente
| cost as iailer.