New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-02
WHO KILLED MIR TOWNSEND f!
HIS DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENT. TO
SUICIDE AND TO MURDER.
MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE FINDING OF TIE
BODY OF THE wELLKNOwN LAWYER AT

MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE FINDING OF THE
BODY OF THE wELLKNOwN LAWYER AT
THE FOOT OF THE PALISADES.
The body Of the man who met his death at the
Palisades near Englewood ~ j.. last Friday, has
been positively identified that of John d. Townsend
retired lawyer, who lived at lnwood directly opposite
Englew0Od, with his brother.inlaw, f. l.. lloves. MI
Iowes's two sons went on Sunday TO the morgue At
Englewood, where the body taken as sooh as ii
discovered They partly identified it as that OF
their uncle, but not prepared 50 make any positive
statement. They said that their father would go over
on Monday and decide the matter definitely Mr..
loweS himself went to Englcwood yesterday and fully
identified the body.
There is strong objection the part Of some OF the
dead mans friends to the verdict Of suicide brought
IN at the Inquest held at EngewOOd saturday morn
Ing Mr.. Townsend was a man Of genial disposition,
possessed of good health abundant wealth and pleasant
social relations and his friends no reason for
his killing himself. II has been discovered that the
revolver found near his body had not been used In
some tmc the two chambers that were empty showing
evidence of having been In that condition for several
weeks 1t IS therefore evident that this revolver did
not inlet the wound in the mans head.
The hole which looks as if It had been made with
bullet Is one inch back Of the right The fore
head was crushed when the body struck the rocks at
the foot OF the Palisades. II the wound at the back
Of the head IS where bullet fired Into the forehead
emerged Mr. Townsend may have done the shooting
himself; bat II that wound /; where the bullet entered
the head, It seems probable that the shot must have
been fired by another person man could not shoot
himself in such manner without extreme difficulty
owing to the public sentiment I'm regard 10 the
matter Prosecutor Campbell has ordered the body to
be held at Engcwood. and has instructed Coroner
Hill to take charge Of for medical examination and
autopsy Mr. lIowcs made provisions for the burial
Yesterday and as soon the autopsy IS over, funeral
services will be held at EngewOOd. The body will
be taken to the dead mans home at Iuwood but after
the funeral services will be taken 70 Yonhcrs. and
buried in the family plot in st. Johns Cemetery.
II /, now known that the boy who first saw the body
was standing at tho foot Of tho cliff. He hearl the
report Of weapon and. looking up saw the body
come whrling through the air. The precpice at that
point is nearly 200 feet high. The boy who him
fall Is little fellow the OF fisherman living in
that nciglborhood. The sight such shock TO
him that he has been confined 70 hi; he'd most Of the
time since. 1t IS Wild, lonesome spot where the
tragedy took place. Few people 60 there, and if tho
boy had not CHANGED to be In that nciglbOroOd the
body might have remained there undiscovered for an
indefinite period.
Mr. Townsend was sAtylour years old. lie was
lawyer by profession but retired from practice about
twenty five years ago after accumulatns a considerable
fortune. lie was n son Of the late Judge John
Townsend Of White Plains. and graduated from tho
University Of the city OF New York. Ills wife died
twcnty,ix years ago. She died In Europe. where no
was travelling with her for tho benefit Of her health
He spent many years in travel. lie had childfcn
lie lnwOod to live with his sister. NJ. Iowes
three years ago and ha, remained there ever since
~, lie al Inwood had been quiet and to AL appear
ancc, pleasant. lie spent his time in study or in
roaming about the country. He member Of
overall library societies in this city. one Of his
hvorIte pa. times 10 the ferry from III
wood 10 EngicwOod, and walk for miles
along IN" Palisades. His friend, LAY he had
often walked from Enecwood TO Dobbs Ferry and
back again.
lie took grat Interest in real estate the Pal sadeS
He did not own any there. but contemplated making
purchase and took hi, brother I'm law. Mr.. Howce.
over some time ago To- show him the piece Of land
ac had -'l.otcd. lie chung Ia hi, resolution to make
purchase, in spite Of hi, brother in.law's d.>,ut
sion. and Of his friend, believe he went over on
Friday for tho purpose Of making farther inyc,tisa
tons and that vagrant, about the Palisades. who
had noticed that he came there periodically, and who
believed that he had money with him. responsible
for h, death. In subsnutauon Of this it i, said
that buch,Nn purse that Mr. Townsend usually
carried s. missing. lie always kept sum Of gold In
th., purse. TIE money found Ia his pockets was In
bills. and wa, smaller quantity than h USUALLY car
ri-t with him.
The people about luwo,d who knew Mr. Townsend
iuorcdupu7 ~ tie report that hc committed suicide
llr Wa Away, IN Il genial mood. they say he We
fond of flowers and untl the pistol shot Wa dl>"ot
cr'd many people believed D." had come q hi> death
vaiie reaching ov'r Ie can for some paIt ihl,
had tlhcu hi, fancy. ~ present many suspect
fogl play, while other, believe II possible Nat
Mr Townsend WaS irving HI, SAN nj 'hootn,
D. rl,. and shot himself hy accident. Nr. Townsend
La, Two brothers. one living In Aihcn, y. c. and tie
other Il Boston.
~. Ferry made an examination Of Townsend body
lat night aud expressed the opinion that tire wound
ia tho head was not made by bullet. bat probably by
The head striking sharp stone rock the elf.
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