Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-26
MYSTERIOUS
 SHOOTING Dr Townsend Shot This Morn- ing While Laying in Bed
 at His Home
WAS MOTIVE
Hundreds of Dollars Worth of JeWeIry and SilverWare Lying Around But the Assassin Did Not
 Disturb It.

w. Townsend, one Of the pest known physicians and surgeons on Staten Island was shot and probably mortal- ly wounded while lying in bed in his home at New Brighton, s. l., early to-day. The case is surround ed by mystery, but from the meagre details which have been permitted to leak out by the officials 1t IS De- lieved that the doctor was the victim |of a man who sought vengeance from some real or fancied great wrong. That it was not the act or Ia burglar, as was first believed, ap- pears to be borne out by the fact that not a single article was taken from the house although hundreds of dollars worth of jewelry and sil- verware was within easy reach. This also is believed to be borne out by stories which have been told the coroner by both Dr Townsend and his wife. Mrs Townsend witnessed the shooting. The coroner has de- clined to make known any of the in- formation obtained from Dr Town send and his wife. He declares that to do so would tend to defeat the end of justice. It is inferred that the identity of the assailant is at least suspected and that the officials hope to make an early arrest.
 Dr Townsend and his wife were awakened shortly before 4 o'clock this morning by a sound in their sleeping room, and moment later they were startled by the flash of match which revealed man holding the lighted match in one hand and a revolver in the other. Levelling the revolver at Doctor Townsend the intruder ordered him to arise at once and then, without waiting moment fired. The bullet grazed the doctors body and buried itself in the bed clothes.
 Another shot followed almost in- stantly, the bullet entering the doc tors abdomen and piercing the in- testines.
 A third lodged near the doctors heart producing wound, which, in itself, may result fatally"
 The assailant then ran down stairs and escaped but how he got out of the house is not known as every door and window was closed when help arrived. When Mrs Townsend tried to call assistance she found that two of the three telephone wires leading to the house had been cut. The third, which was in the doctors office in the lower part of the house, ap- parently had been overlooked.
 Over this wire servant in the stable was notified of the shooting and word also was given the police. While awaiting the police Mrs Town send who herself is physician, dressed the doctors wound and pre- pared for the operation which she knew was instantly necessary in the effort to save his life. It 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 and windows were locked and no marks had been left by the fugitive. The coroner however appears to be satisfied that the man will soon be apprehended.
 The Townsend home is in the residential section of New Brighten, scarcely half a mile from the home of Charles l.. Spear which, not more than year ago was the scene of tragedy strangely like that of to- day. Spear was shot in his home during the night and died from his wound. It was at first believed that he had been the victim of burglar but an investigation proved that he had taken his own life.
 In the Townsend house at the time of the shooting there were. in ad- dition to the doctor and his wife. the doctors aged mother and his four children. All of them occupied sleeping rooms in the upper part of the house.