New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
A LAWYERS SUDDEN DEATH.
JOHN D. TOWNSEND EMPIRES AFTER
DINING WITH FRIENDS.


STRICKEN WITH HEART DISEASE IN THE HOUSE
OF A NEIGHBoR-HIs CAREER AS A LAW
YER AND REFoRMER-soME INCL
DENTS IN HIS LIFE.
A merry Christmas dinner party was start
lIngly broken up last evening by the sudden
death Of John Drake Townsend. the well-known
lawyer of No. 3i3 West Thirty-fourth-st.
Mr.. Townsend and his wife and daughter, with
a few intimate friends, were dining at 6:3O
o'clock with their neighbor, Mrs Thomas Ells
Brown. at No. 337 West Thirty fourth-st., only
a few doors from their own home. AT noon they
had taken luncheon with Mrs Henry Beeckman.
Of No 137 West Forty -ninthst. who Is Mr..
Townsend's eldest sister Although Mr.. Town
send had been suffering from heart and kidney
trouble for a year two he was in excellent
spirits and feeling fairly we'll yesterday. When
he returned from his sisters house he said ne
fatigued and lay down. His wife reminded
him Of invitation to dine. which he had ac-
cepted, from Mrs. Brown, and he said that II he
could get little rest he would go. When his
wife went to call him about J:3O o'clock, he was
dressed.
The dinner had been finished when Mr.. Town
send seen By his daughter and the Few
others in the room 10 grow pale. His daughter
ran to him. and he said to her that he would
like to leave the ROOM She helped him out,
while his wife to her home to get some
medicine which he used when i'll. When she re-
turned he w;.s dead. AS Mr.. Townsends death
was 80 sudden, it was necessary to summon
Coroner before his body could be removed to his
home
Mr. Townsend was born in iris city In lS''3
and was a son OF a lawyer. who was a wealthy
man and president Of the New-York Life ana
Trust Company He entered Columbia College,
but withdrew before completing his studies ami
for five years travelled in many parts or the
world He then inherited from his father con-
siderable fortune much OF which he afterward
lost IN mercantile business In 1884 he mar
ried Miss Eliza A. Delano Swan of Boston. VINO
is now a school inspector in this city, and was
| the originator OF the movement for law 10
| compel children to be out OF the streets at d"
early hour in the evening. lie STUDIED Id" i'll
Buffalo In the office Of Sprague & Fillmore the
latter being a son OF President Fillmore. he
| then went TO the Harvard Law school, anu
afterward completed his studies In the oHce vi
| Henry A. Cram of this city. He was ad'iii'teu
20 the bar in 1850. ard settled in Astoria
| Queens County. Long Island. He was AWAY
Democrat and was elected as an Assembly
man from Quoena County in ls0l. Oh '',e
breaking out OF the Rebellion ne was pronh-
nent in organizing reginielt. whlch went HUI"
| Queens County to the front.
,s 2 LAWYER Mr. Townsend was exceedingly
aggres ii se and persistent. The hrst INSTANCE ."
witch no became conspicuous was in the case
OF Judge Cardozo. a member OF the l"eeo ms
who had sent two women TO the Tombs for
contempt He took up The case as matter OF
Justice. but was told by Judge Cardozo that II
,aol slx for
Mr. Townsend did continue and fought the mat
,.r ,o , hitter end Il resulted in the in1peach-
,-.rt ~ cardozo a Supreme Court Judge. Po-
too Justice Bowling and Judges Barnard ana
Nccunn CardoZo and Dowling resigned. put
| barnard and McCunn were convicted. seven
other Police Justices were driven from the
bench
tre was one OF the counsel in the trial OF Ed
ward $ Stokes for the killing OF James FISK Jr'
He took an active part in the movement 10 over
throw the Tweed Ring. but undertook TO detehh
Woodward and Tweed. in order that their cases
might be settled for the benefit or the state
H., u.,s the fayorte counsel Of the late John
I,.llv and added to his reputation by securing
the release of many persons VINO hau peeh IL
,.o,,,,. committed to lunatic asylums. one OF
nt, 'os, recent appearances In public was an
a,,ac,, an Surrogate Arnold which would have
he.r settled I'm a few days The surrogate hao
refused a hearing. Mr. Townsend declared III
ono ~ his cases Mr.. Townsend also ueclareu
AGAINST the high prices paid by the city Tor as
mai. having. These instances are stiii iresh
in the public mind
Mr. Townsend wrote book called New
vork I'm Rondage" a municipal history or this
ci,v from the time Of Fernando Wood 10 ua'e'
hut was never able to get ii published Pupish-
org wore afraid to handle il. His law Office was
with y TAYLOR Phillips. at No. 80? Broadway
Mr. Townscnd became conspicuous In pohUcs
again IN the campaign Of 1894 He joined the
7, I,dcpendent County (Stecl<ler organization
and his singing attacks upon the Tanmahy
administration for its acknowledgement or mu-
ricinal affairs attracted considerable attention
, snocch bv Mr.. Townsend at Cooper Unioh' III
which he undertook an exposure or the way III
vhich asphalt paving WIS carried on ny tn tnc
D"',r,rnent Of Public Works under Tammany
| officials brought bitter controversy pe-
,rcen Nr Townsend and Thomas +. Groy
IRAN Mayor of the city. Libel suits Followed
! Ian, tbev never came to trial.
| ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral have nor yet
been made.
ANOTHER VICTIM or A MAD DOG DEAD.