The evening world., 1912-12-09
HOSPITAL CHIEF
DIES BY BULLET
NEARSCK WARDS
Lieut.. Townley Pierced by
Missile From Revolver Found
Beside Him.

Lieut.. Richard II. Townley. 'supsrin. |
tssdsnt OF Lincoln Hospitsi at -Oes
Hundred saa Forty-nrst strsst and ccu-
cord avenue. Bronx. shot htmssaf
through ne heart Ia ne ba&hroom Of
~ private saits IA ~ hosratal to-day.
He dled without making . statement .
few mcments after Henry Henjahers.
the hospital Waterman. alarmed BY the
sound Of the shot found him On the
noor with revolver by his 80. Cor.
oner Jerome HsAly recorded Tn case
~ occidental shooting.
Clasped In the right hand Of ths dying
men whom HAmaksv found him WAS .
cloth smcsred with srsass. Although
Lteut. Townisy was an expert In band
ling nrsarms. II = believed hy the Cor.
ner ttat he accidentally pulled the trig-
ger Of she revolver while cleaning II.
Tue wr~pon was fully loaded except
~ the chamber In which had been the
bullet that caused death TAis bullet
wAs found N the wall OF Q closet. hav-
Ing passsd through the body Of Lieut..
rewnley ana ohs door. ...,
LAsut r6wulsy's home was 1t No. 6si
eS~V~n A0tS0SSs 8DSOyl4s kb6 uv00 VucFO
with his sstfe.. bait occasionally remained
over niSB N ~ suite Of three rooms
ad5olni6s the hospital ofliA
oupt Tovniey kept . collection Of
re~olvsrs and ride In Q store room IN
ths hospital. On Saturday be told
Hauiaksss no was getting sssdy 90 70
% . hunting trip and wasted 20 over
haul the ~,,eapons. Hamakers delivered
The revolver and Safis u Lieut.. Towaisy
vho discovSrsd that one OF the weapons
was out Of order. He instructed John
n1ahl. the Aospitai eisotrician. 70 ~
pair the weapon. 0tahl made the 70
pAirs and handed the revolver 70 Lisut
Towniey An hour before It vas nrsd.
The revolver was thsn not loaded.
From tho appearance Of the bathroom
when Coroner Heaiy and the police or
rived u was inferred that Lieut.. Town
ley had set about taking apart and
cleaning his firearms. The rife, IN two
pieces. was on . table. surrounded b!
rsvoivers. cloths and tools. None o.
the weapons on the table Wa loaded.
When he chot himseK Lieut.. Townle5
wore a sweater and a cap which wa
his habit while working st his area rms
attendants cay. He did not tell any o.
the hospital saf when he intended I.
start on his hunting trip or where b.
was going. lie told Hsmakers me ex
pscted TO go IN about q week.
As superintendent OF Lincoln Hosp1ta
and former superintsndent Of J. Hoo,
Wright Hospital. Lieut. rownisy wa
Widely known In Harlem and tn
Bronx. He was also well known 4
army and navy onicsrs. active and -
rrsd. in this city. having never Loo
he interest In military affairs.
Lieut.. Townley was born In Ohio. 4
10s. and was assigned TO the Nava
Academy from Nebraska, IN is70. In lst
he was retired. with the grade OF Hue
tenant. for physical disability contracte
In the service.
At the outbreak Of the Spanish Amer.
can War Lieut.. Towniey rejoined tn
navy and was sent to the Philippines
He was courtmar tailed In 1901 and ser
fenced TO dismissal. for his efforts
help fellow officer who was accused q
Grafting. In 1904 President Rooseve
set ABIDE the dismissal and pasOsd Leu
Towniey on the retired list.
In l90c. Lieut.. Towniey became supel
intendent Of J. Hood Wright Hospta
He remained IN that position until $50
when he went TO Lincoln Hosp1tsi Q
superintendent. Lieut.. Townley marie,
IN 1oD, Louise 0erke of San Fcancisc
They had one daughter. Mrs. Joseph J
Roach OF Baltimore.