The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-28
Knew AssaiIant's Name But
Died Without Telling It
DIR. c. W. TOWNSEND VICTIM
The Case Is Surrounded by Much Mys-
terry Believed the Doctor Was
Victim Of Man Who Sought
Vengeance

4 at.
New York, Jan. 2s.- DR.. Charles WI
Townsend, who was shot early Satur-
day, died yesterday morning. He
knew his assailant, but would not give
his name.
DIR. Charles W. Townsend, one Of the
best known physicians and surgeons on
Staten Island, was shot while lying in
bed in his home at Brighton. S. +, early
Saturday The ease Il surrounded By
mystery, but from the meagre details
which have been permitted 10 leak out
BY the officials, it Il believed that the
doctor was the victim Of man who
sought vengeance from some real or
faueied great wrong.
DIR. Townsend at first declared that
his wounds were afflicted by burglar,
but later said he knew the man who did
ii.
II know perfectly well who shot me, Y
he told the police, but / shall not tell
you his name. ] do not want the man
arrested. There II no need Of sacrificing
stiil another life
The coroner has declined to make
known any Of the information obtained
from Dr.. Townsend and his wife. He
declares that to do 50 would tend to
defeat the ends justice.
Ii Is inferred that the identity of the
assailant Is at least suspected and that
the officials hope to make an early ar
rest.
Dr. Townsend and wife were awaken
ed shortly before o'clock Saturday
morning by d sound III their sleeping
room, and moment later they were
startled by the flash Of match. which
revealed a man holding lighter match
in one hand and a revolver in the other.
Lcveling the revolver at nr. Town
send, the intruder ordered him to arise
at once, and then without waiting a
moment, fred.
The bullet grazed the doctors body
and buried itself in the bedclothes.
Another shot followed almost in
stantly. the bullet entering the doe
tors abdomen and piercing the intes-
tines. The assailant then ran down
stairs and escaped, but how he got out
of the house Is not known as every
window and door was closed when help
arrived.
When Mrs. Townsend tried to call
assistance, she found that two of the
three telephone wires to the house had
been cut.
The third, which was in thedoctor's
office in the lower part Of the house,
apparently had been overlooked.
Oppr the wire a servant In tho stable
was notified Of the shooting, and word
also was given TO the police.
While awaiting the police. Mrs
Townsend, who herself is a physician
dressed the doctors wound and pre-.
pared for the operation which she knew
was instantly necessary in the effort
to save his life.
II is feared, however, that even with
the prompt attention the wound will
prove fatal
The police were unable to find any
trace Of the assailant. All the doors aut
windows were locked and no marks hat
been left by the fugitive.
The Townsend home Is in the resi-
Dental section Of New Brighton, scarce
! " half q mile from the home Of Charlie
l.. Spear, which, not more than yeai
ago, was the scene Of d tragedy strange
! ~ like that of today.
Spear was shot in his home during
the night and died from the wound. II
was at first believed that he had beer
the victim OF a burglar, but an investi
cation proved that he had taken his
own life.