Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-30
AWFUL KILLING.
R. J. Townsend Shot [. N. Wood
Last Night.
Died on tho Street In Five Minutes Mr..
Phillips Hold Up, Robbed and Stabbed
-Suspcnder buckle Saved His Life.

As result OF quarrel that occurred
last night at $3.50 o'clock. Mr.. Leander
n. Wood. u machinist lies dead and
Mr.. Il. Townsend is in the Berkeley
jail charged, with the murder.
The killing was as follows: At the
hour stated above the two men mat a :
the corner of Berkley avenue and Lib
erty streets. in FROM of the Berkiey
postonice.
Hot words arose between them and
Townsend drew revolver and frcI
three shots at Wood. One ball struck
the victim in the left side. Just above
the heart, one struck in the left side
OF the neck. just above his collar, and
the third struck him in the head.
THE TWO MEN
WOOD was machinSt, and was en-
pioyed in the ordnance departing MT Of
the Norfolk Navy Yard and had lived
in Berkeley for over twenty-five years.
He leaves q wife, three daughters. Mrs.
S. b. Upton, of Elizabeth CITY. y. c..
Mrs. William Guard. of Berkeley. n lit
tie small gin about Il years of age and
one son, Bernard, about twenty five
years old. who Is employed in the gov
eminent service in Washington. d. C.
Bernard is at present in Berkeley Oh a
visit to his parents. Wood lives az the
corner of Lee and Middleton streets.
HIS reputation was that of u quiet, in
offensive and good citizen.
Mr.. Townsend is employed rs mill
superintendent for w. NJ Tilley of
Berkeley. at his planning mill. He is
and three children. He lives on Ivy
street. Montalant. He also has borne
an excellent reputation as good cit
izen.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
1T is understood that the tloubla arose
ever signature to n petition that Town
send signeu calling for the removal of
Woods daughter, wife of Guard. from
the neighborhood where the Guard and
Townsend families both resided.
After the shooting Wood fell to the
pavement, and n crowd at once gath
cred. Wood died without making n
statement, and lived less than five min
utes. His body was removed to the po-
lice station and Coroner r. NJ Morgan.
| assisted by DR.. w. f. McConville. made
n post-portem examination. They dis
covered the wounds as above described.
a coroper's jury was at once summoned
as follows: Messrs c. T. Rudd, w. w.
Sylvester. A II. Taylor, w. II. Cory.
| A. S. Jones. e. w. McCloud.
THE VERDICT.
About midnight the coroner's tury
came to his death by pistol shot fired
by r. ]. Townsend.
Immediately after the shooting Town
send went to his home. where in about
thirty minutes he was taken In custody
by officer Q. It. Humphries and lodged
In the Berkeley station house. Townsend
at once sent for his attorney. Captain
John w. Hamper. of Portsmouth, and
The two went into consultation.
When arrncted TouncapJ ,,.o- rr,in,~
toward his hdmc. and was about ten
feet from his gate.
REVOLVER NOT FOUND.
officer HUMPHREYS asked him what he
had done with his weapon. Townsend
replied that he did not know what he
had done with It, He appeared much
excited. and told the officer that he was
hurt badly. The officer found that Town
send had been hit on the head several
| blows. 1t was reported on the streets
| that Wood struck him with n pair of
brass knuckles.
| The remains were taken in charge
after the post-mortem examination by
| Undcrtaker e. L. Cox. to be prepared
for burial.
Wood belonged to Midland Lodge,
I. o. 0. F.. Berkeley Lodge A. f. and A.
NJ. and Chesapeake Tribe r. o. r. NJ.
ROBBED AND STABBED.
Last night about O'Clock. as Mr.,
Phillips. m insurance collector. was
passing along a. street. near the old
Hope fire engine house. he was assault
ed by two colored mon. one short and
the other tall. They robbed him of 81
and cut him In several places. But FOR
n suspender button their knives would
probably have reached his heart and
killed him. Fortunately the knife blade
struck buckle and was turned. intlict-
ing a bad : md. The assailants ran
away and escaped
The matter was reported to the police
station. and in Il short time two colored
men answering the description of the
robbers were seen to take the ferry for
Norfolk. The Berkeley officials AT once
ielephoned to the Norfolk ferry Office