Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-29
BELL To FACE WIDOW
Suspect in Townsend Murder
Awaits Identification.
POLICE SEEKING EVIDENCE
Damaging Letter Found in Home Of
the Prisoner.
HARD TO ESTABLISH ALIBI
Said to Have Threatened to Kill the
Long Island Physician and Then
Take His Own Life.

NEW YORK, January o. - What the
police regard as an important piece Of evil
dence In connection with the murder of DR..
charles w. Townsend, at his home In New
Brighton, 8. l.. last Saturday morning, was
discovered today. It Is letter which was
found at the Brooklyn home Of John Bell,
VINO has been arrested in connection with
the case. The letter bears Bells signature,
Is addressed to his brother Howard. was
mailed In Brooklyn post Office late on
the evening Of January 20, and intimates
that the writer intended to take his own
life.
Pray that I may be justified in my act"
the letter concludes land that 1 may meet
sister in heaven" The sister referred
to In this letter was Bells wife, who died
Just year before the Townsend tragedy
Mrs. Bell was under the care of DR.. Towns
end when she died. and it Is said that her
husband blamed the physician for her
death.
Bell, like Silverman, one of the men ar
rested earlier In the case, had been a pa
uent OF DIR. Townsend. According to the
police, he had called at the PHYSICIANS resi-
dence January 25 a year ago and asked
the doctor to attend his wife. Although at
that time most of the patients in the Smith
lnnrmary paid for their accommodations,
DR.. Townsend had Mrs. Bell admitted to
the infirmary. There was some delay, and
she did not enter the hospital until mid
night. AT O'Clock in the morning of jan
to the shooting of DR.. Townsend, Mrs. Bell
died after having been attended by the ply
sician.
Bell. unlike slverman, did not spend Fri
day evening, the night of the murder, with
others, but went alone, he says, to a Bow
cry theater, after which he wandered up
and down that thoroughfare until morning.
Heard Prisoners Threats.
The police assert that they know of Wit
nesses who have heard Bell say that he
held DIR. Townsend responsible for his
wffe's death, and that he intended some
day to kill the physician, after which he
would shoot himself on his wife's grave.
Bell, during his married life, lived in
TOmpkinsville. S. l.
The police also found persons yesterday
who We're positive that they had seen Bell
on the island last week, but they coulI not
be sure that it was Friday. One witness
examined by Inspector Schmittberger
thought that he had seen Bell on trolley
car bound in the direction Of DR.. Town
sends house. There was also told to the
police story that a man had been seen
running from the physicians home shortly
after the shooting. This the police were
unable to verify.
Will See Bell Tomorrow.
The police had hoped to have Bell con-
fronted by Mrs. Townsend yesterday at
ternoon. At first an effort was made to
induce her to visit the Tombs in New
York, where Bell was for time locked
up, but relatives told Inspector Schmitt-
berger that she was too Ill to undertake
the journey. Later in the day, after Bell
had been taken to Staten Island from the
Tombs and was in the house of District
Attorney Kenney, which is but a LOCK
away from the Townsend residence, word
was again sent to Mrs. Townsend.
Again the statement was made on her
behalf that the physicians widow was too
tify the suspect. Then Bell was placed
in the custody of the coroner and was
locked up in the West New Brighton police
station, where he will be held without bail
until tomorrow at 10 am, when he will be
taken to the coroner's office, where Mrs.
Townsend will be asked to look at him.