New-York tribune., 1907-06-03
". K. TOWNSEND DEAD.
Judge and Yale Professor Tictlm
Of HemOrrhagc.

New Haven. June . (SpecaD.-Iudee William
kneeland Townsend Of the "a District, Cnlted
States District Court died at his home in Grove
street this city. early this morning The immedi-
ate cause OF his death was a hemorrhage he hai
while entertaining Elihu Root. who was his guest
here three weeks ago. Judge Townsend had been
a sufferer frcm tuberculosis for fifteen years and
spent the summers in Colorado and I'm the Adiron-
dacks during that time When he first contracted
tho disease he remained In the West for a year
and returned greatly improved in health. Al
though advised several years ago 10 retire from
lis active judicial duties, he preferred, however
to continue In active service
Judge Townsend OF the most disti1-
euished sons Of Connecticut. and he had for
quarter Of n century been regarded as one of
Yale's most brilliant leaders.
lie born in this city June 70, 1Si9. and was
the son Of James NJ Townsend his ancestors hav-
/ ing been closely identified with New Haven ami
Connecticut affairs for century. Judge Townsend
was Yale graduate of the class of Il, a law
graduate the class Of -. and received tho de-
gree 90 Doctor Of Common Law in 1850. In 1874 he
married Mary Leavenworth TrowbridGe, of this
city. Four years later he appointed Corpora
ton Counsel for the city Of New Haven, and IN
1892 he appointed Judge of tho United States
District Court for Connecticut by President Har-
riSon This place he held for ten years. when ne
was advanced to the United States Circuit Court
bench i'm 1909 ny President Roosevelt. Since his
appointment Ia that place he had lived in New York
City during court sessions Judge Townsend was
the dNiboT or New connecticut civil t1TfcSiS
and History of American Law Of Patents, Trade
marks CopyriShts and Admiralty"
Soon after heing graduated from Vale Judge
Townsend accepted an appointment as member
Of the faculty. and he had been professor Of the
law of contracts for twenty years. He fire.
quent contributor to magazines on legal matters
For many years Judge Townsend elected the
most popular professor in the Yale Law School, and
n was tradition that no student ever cut one Of
Billy Townsend's classes.
E'eEiieS his wife no ono II
Townsend. His son was elected 20 the senior
secret society, skull and Bones last week. and will
b" the manager ~ the Yale track team year.
His daushter NoHe, who was the wife of Dwight
Huntington Day. a graduate Of Yale OF the class
Of o. died three years ago. His oldest son. Win
ston. was killed by fall from Il bicycle in 1891.
Although he had decided many important cases
rs United states Circuit Court Judge the opin-
ion Of his which was probably most widely read
was handed down on June H. 1900 when Judge
Townsend sitting I'm customs cases in the
United States District Court in New York City.
This was the decision. In which Judge Townsend.
IN ruling on the appeal Of John II. Goetze & Co.
New York. from the decision Of the Board of Ap-
ceded 10 the United States by Spain I'm the Treaty
of Paris. was for tariff purposes foreign terri
tory. Goetzs & Co imported from Porto Rico in
June. 1893. one hundred bales Of leaf filler to-
hacco, on which the appraisers assessed duty of
81 cents a pound in accordance with the schedule
oi the Dirgley law The tobacco importers pro
tested against the duty. the ground that Porto
Rico had by the Treaty Of Paris been declared to
be a part Of the United States. Judge Townsend,
while upholdirg the contention Of the importers
that Porto Rico rishtfuuy belonged to this coun-
Try pointed out that It had come into the posses
sion OF the United States by force Of arms, before
Spain admitted Americas claim To the island in
the Treaty ot Paris. but held that the President
had no authority 20 enlarge the bounds Of the
Union extend the operation Of American In
sttutions ana laws beyond It's limits before
signed them by the legislative power The
which specifically Incorporated the island into the
United states clothed its inhabitants with all
tie rights "t citizenship I'm this country. Judge
Townsend held that was for Congress deter
min" Just what status should he accorded Porto
Rico as an American possession. and that. he
pointed out. 1t had not far done.
Tn hts opinion Judge Townsend said 10 would he
manitestly improper and injurious +" the country
to extend th" operation OF the Constitution and
tf' laws 10 any territory OF which IL might obtain
possession in II. ne held. every piece for
IN the course or war were To be Incorporated at
ono" into tho Union, 10 meant that the United
states could not he nm unfettered sovereign I'm for
rEn ahars- Tor u would be the EraNeSt folly. both
10 IN" citizf of the United States and of the
conquered country. bunch them together at
without nfst giving proper consideration the
effect Of such action hOth
As "a presiding officer Judge Townsend at
HIS OeSi.'aHl his addresses ar Yale intercollegiate
debates. alumni reunions and dinners furnish reC1l-
leruonS for thousands OF Yale alumni which viii
never loo forgotten For several Judge
Townsend had been obliged decline many in
Fttatons 20 speak, although urged persistently by
The funeral viii he held on Tuesday afternoon in
Battel Chapel The services viii be conducted by
IN" R"v. Ur- Newman SMITH. pastor of Centre
Church. Of which Judge Townsend was member