New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
BELLS BROTHER TALKS
TOUNSEND CASE CLEARS.
District attorney Hears Remarkable
StOry of Murder.

While the clock slowly ticked off an hour. the
man who shot DR.. Charles wnmot Townsend In
his home at No. westervelt avenue, New
Brighton, Staten Island. last Saturday morning.
debated in his mind whether or not TO avenge
his fanced grievance according to the story
told TO Inspector Schmittberger by Howard Bell
the half-brother OF John Bell, a former car con-
ductor' who is held on the charge OF homicide IN
the West Brighton police station. At the con-
ference. besides Inspector Schmittberger. were
District Attorney John ]. Kenney and Coroner
Cahill All Tuesday afternoon and night and
through the early hours OF Wednesday morning
the investigation dragged on. Just as the gray
morning light was beginning TO enter the uttls
room IN the Richmond Borough Hall Bells
family asked that they might have a few min
utes alone.
Father. stepmOther. sister and brother were IN
consultation for half hour. Fatigued by the
long strain. Howard Bell. the halfbrother of
the prisoner. who Is twenty years DID, then led
the witnesses before the officials.
we have decided to tell the truth about all
we know OF the Townsend MURDER" said tho
young man as he prepared TO make his state
ment. And then he made the following state
mept. according to District Attorney Kenney:
'On Sunday morning" no began, John was
at mothers homo when I called there. He told
me that he had destroyed the newspapers OF the
evening before and of that day because they
contained stories about the shooting OF Dr.
Townsend I did It because / did not want
the folks to know that Mamie's death had been
avenged. he said. The trick is up TO me-"
STORY TOLD BY HOWARD BELL.
Howard Bell then rected the alleged story
told TO him by his halfbrother when the two
We're apart from the family Sunday morning
ON Friday evening John Bell visited a neIo-
drama the Bowery. There his brother said
he received the inspiration for the deed which
he believed would pay the price for his wife's
death just a year before Then he went to
Staten Island and to tho surgeons home. How
ard continued He had difficulty I'm getting
into the house and making his way upstairs,
where DIR. Townsend. his wife and their children
We're asleep.
According to the prisoners story to his half
brother when he entered the room where the
children were in bed his conscience pleaded to
him to leave the house at once. AS he saw the
children he thought of their grief II their father
was killed. and then he turned and went away
Next he went 20 the Of the surgeons
mother. He fingered there moment and then
went to the room where slept the man who he
held responsible for the death year ago Of his
young wife.
His courage almost failed him he stood
beside the surgeons bed. According TO Howard
Bell, his half-brother said he went out Of the
room because he had not the nerve 20 shoot
DR. Townsend For nearly an hour tho appar-
entity insane man stood in the hail. debating
whether to fire the fatal shot. The half brother
told the District Attorney that John Bell said
at times he decided not to kill the surgeon be-
cause of the affliction it would bring upon the
family and then when he thought OF his wifes
death his courage returned and he was filled
with a spirit of revenge.
HOW CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
Howard Bell continued his story to the Dis
trict Attorney, Finally the former conductor
mastered his nerves, He approached tho bed OF
the physician he told his brother. and leaned
him. The surgeon awOke. DIR. Townsend
thought he burglar and shouted: lake
what You can find"
II want YOU" was the reply which accom-
panied the discharge of the revolver. After a
second shot was fired Bell, according to the
story told by his half brother hurried TO the
=. George ferry. There he boarded an early
boat for Manhattan and went direct to Brook
lyn where he stopped at the saloon Of his
brother-n-law at No. 347 Rodney street
This story OF the shooting. told by Howard
Bell he alleged his brother related 1t to him.
convinced District Attorney Kenney beyond a
doubt that the police have the right man under
arrest. AS It was repeated by the stenographer,
Samuel Bell. the ageh father OF the prisoner.
broke down. He had been TO the inspectors
office in the afternoon and had been allowed TO
go home. Later he was again taken to the in
spectors office, 10 be detained for the remainder
of the night His condition was so grave that
he was taken patient to the Richmond
County Jail, 70 be held as a witness. but finally
he was allowed TO so home. The old man could
p0f fell the district Attorney ANYTHING about
his sons actions.
The other members of the prisoners family