The San Francisco call., 1897-02-12
TAKEN BACK EAST
FOR WIFE MURDER
The Checkered Career of a
Prominent Citizen of
Ritzville, Wash.
Disappears From His Home in
Wisconsin After the Crime
Ten Years Ago.
Marries Again and Is Divcrced-His
Capture Effected Through
Clever Attorn-y.

SPOKANE, WASH, Feb. 11.-Mark w.
Townsend, well-known schoolteacher
and prominent citizen of Rltzville Adams
County, near here, was arrested at that
place to-day and started Immediately for
Grant County, Wis, where he is wanted
on charge of numbering his wife ten
years ago. The arrest was made by Sheriff
McGonigaI of Grant County, who ar
rived on the eastbound overland train
with extradition papers he had secured at
the State Capitol.
AS the Sheriff stepped off the car
Townsend happened to be standing on the
platform. While the train was waiting
the Sheriff. in passing to the hotel bus,
recognized lis man, made the arrest, put
him aboard the train and in five minutes
from the time he landed in town was on
the way East with his prisoner
Attorney J. II. Harrison of Ritzville, on
whose information the arrest was made
thus details the facts that led to il:
Eight years Townsend came to Adams
County. Nothing was known OF his ante
cedents. He taught school, became we'll
known in educational circles, took up two
pieces OF Government land and tried farm
Ia hAi1O hC iCu MISS MARY w aI-
son, who before long complained to her
family OF her husbands brutal treatment.
Last summer she instituted divorce pro-
ceedings and a fierce feud sprang up be-
tween Townsend and mem bers OF the
Watson family. The court granted her a
divorce and gave her the custody of her
two children
Since the divorce was granted Town
send has made threats repeatedly against
the lives OF the Watson family, and has
further threatened TO use dynamite again st
them. He had her brothers arrested re-
Gently for defending her against his at
tacks.
While the divorce proceedings were
pending letter came TO his address from
MS old home. 1t was from former
friend, urging him to send money for the
support of his children. This was the
first knowledge his wife had that he was
ever married before. Upon this ctew l
went to Grant County, Wisconsin, two
weeks ago and learned the facts of his life
there. In that county he had marlied a
young country girl. One day he was
cleaning loaded revolver aad was stand
ing three feet behind his wife with the
muZZ;e pointed at her head. The ham
mer was up, the pistol was discharged
and his vile fell fatally wounded. The
Coroner's jury returned verdict of acci-
dental death and no proceedings were
brought against him.
"Soon thereafter Townsend left Ethe
country. After he had disappeared other
circumstances came to the surface which
created strong presumption that he had
killed his wife. 1t was further alleged
that he had taken one of his children and
hits its head violently against the wall and
that from these injuries the child died a
few days later. But he had disappeared
from the country and no active steps were
taken by the authorities TO search out his
whereabouts. When l went 10 his old
home and told the story of his present
troubles the authorities promptly took
steps TO secure his arrest and extradition
from the State OF Washington"