The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-03
HER DEATH
DUE TO POISON
Miss TownIsy's Demise Exposes
Long, Standing Family Feud.
MOTHER DIED YEARS AGO.
Aunis Say The Young Woman DlslIksd Step
mother Refused 10 Be Treated For Mel
anchoIIa From Which She Suffered


which started ten years ago has been re-
vealed by the death of Miss Annie Austin
Townley, twenty-five years old. at the
home of her wealthy father. James Henry
Townley. in Westheld. n. j.
The young woman committed suicide by
taking poison In a statement which she
made shortly before her death she gave
no reason for her act The family physi-
elan attributes 10 10 a temporary aper-
ration OF the mind, but relatives OF MISS
Townley say she lived unhappily with
her stepmother.
Miss Townley's own mother died In
1850. The mother also left son. FRANK,
who Is now eighteen years old ana Is
serving az naval apprentice on the pat
tleship Alabama.
When the first Mrs Towuley died her
brothers widow, Mrs. A r. Austin, TOOK
her place as head OF the household. MT
Townley, who was then connected Win
a prominent firm OF backing manuThc.
turers, was accounted one Of the most
prosperous men In Westiicld. There was a
local sensation when, about two years al /,
ter his first wife's death, he returned
from "a Western trip with bride.
Mrs. Austin az once moved 70 cottage
in Orchard streetI Westtiold. only
stones throw from the handsome Io~h-
ley home IN Elm street lt & - saio tna' Irs
Robert Clark of No. 2M pulaski street
Brooklyn. and Mrs. James BonsulI' VINO
lives in Eighth avenue, MAMMA ttah-WeIss WEI = :
marriage. ana that this was Inc COM
mencernent OF the family trouble which
has continued ever since
SEEMED A HOUSEHOLD DRUDGE.
Mr. Townleys son finally went 20 sea
against the wishes OF his father. Annie
Townley was "A shy. shrinking girl, VINO
avoided society as she grew 10 young
womanhood. To the neighbors. who saw
her only in the garments of kltchep
maid working about her tathers hohe'
she seemed 10 be a household drudge.
Her father and stepmother told thelr
friends. however. that she had plenty OF
fine clothes. which she would not wear,
and that they had urged her In vain 10
make friends among girls OF her own
\ close friend of the family told the
following story of the young woman
death 10 a reporter yesterday afternoon
MISS Townley had not been I'm her
right mind for several weeks. Tier symp-
toms were those of melancholia, anu
! there wag talk of taking her to New
York To be treated by a specialist Last
Friday was selected as the day FOR the
trip but when Miss Townley arose the!
morning she told her stepmother tha'
! she would not 60
''The girl did not appear at the break
! fast table. A search was made Tor her
| and she was found in the laundry vlo-
/ lently H. Dr. Kinch attended Miss Town
/ ley, but at n. m. she sank into stupor
| from which she never revived.
| Before becoming unconscious she CON
fessed in the presence of her "a ther step
mother and Dr. Kinch that she hao
! taken rat poison. Her symptoms Were
| those OF arsenical poisoning. Dr. West
| cott of Fanwood. the county physician
| was summoned, and with his consent Or
| Kinch issued "A certificate OF death IRON
acute mania"
| KEPT RELATIVES IN DARK.
| Miss Towniey's maternal relatives were
| not notified OF her death by her rather
\ They learned of It, however, through Mrs
| Austin. and Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Bonstil
| arrived i'm Westfeld Monday afternoon
| only 20 find that their niece had beer
| buried Mrs Clark learned in some man
! ner that Miss Townley had died from poi
son. and declared that she would cause
! an investigation.
She has not vet brought the matter &
the attention OF the authorities. but y
| making inquiries on her own account ~
| Westfeld. When seen yesterday AT IN
| home of Mrs. Austin she said:
81 am not ready 10 make any charge
regarding the death of my niece. J wan
to know all the facts before l do any
thing | do not even know that she wa
the victim OF poison. but my suspicion
have been excited by the reports | hay
| heard and by the fact that and my SIS
ter were not notified OF her deatn. ~
| II have every reason TO believe IN
dead sisters children were ill-treatec
Frank ran away from home and cam
TO me more than two. years ago. II
told me that he and Annie did not gf
| enough TO eat. He Is now on the Ma
bama at Hampton Roads, and ] am tol
that his father has not notified him
Annies death"
Mr.. and Mrs. Townley expressed grea
! Indignation when informed OF MIR
Clark's statements. They refused 10 at
init that Miss Townley had died froi
poison. but confirmed the story that ne
mind had been affected for some time :.
Mrs Clark Is only too glad 10 max
, trouble for me-" said MIR. Townle'
! ! "WhCn my first wife was living she an
her family used 60 be here half the time.
There IS no truth in her story thi
my children were starved. My boy d
! not leave home until she coaNed hi
! away, and ne did not stay long with he
, IIe came back here before he entered u
, | navy"
Z, In proof OF his words Mr. Townley pr
duced "a letter written by his son
board the Alabama on Sent. a. IL WI
[ | such letter as any amecuonate 80
. might write 20 his father. and contain'
e many friendly expressions toward MI
: Townley.
MIR Townley II ffty-nve years old b
= looks ten years older. He has suUer'
2 from epilepsy for seven years. His WI
= is "A handsome woman about ten yea
1 IA. If.v Nttf fa