Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-10
TOWNSEND is IN JAIL
Promoter Arrested on Charge of
Forgery is Now in County Jail
in Default of Bail.

DOOInei' SpeCldl representative or the
Jackson county mining interests and
promoter of Planada real estate, is
apparently at an end in Ashland.
The end came Thursday evening
when he baceme a fugitive from JUS
tice on a charge of forgery preferred
by C. F. Siemsen, proprietor of the
Hotel Savoy.
Townsend has made the Savoy his
headquarters most of the time since
he has been in Ashland, and between
that and borrowed money his bill ran
up 10 $225. When pressed for money
few days ago he gave Mrs. Stem
sen, the landlady, a note for 1925
purporting to be signed by himself
and his wife. formerly Miss Belle
Anderson of this city. Mr.. Siemsen
presented the note to the First Ma
tional BaBnk for discount and an
inquiry of Mrs. Townsend revealed
the fact that she had not signed the
note. Mr.. Siemsen at once got busy
and swore out complaint charging
forgery and warrant was placed in
the hands of Chief Oien. Thursday
night. He and several other regular
and special Officers spent part of the
night Thursday an dmost of the day
Friday hunting Townsend, who had
disappeared, He went to the depot
at $3.50 Friday morning hoping to
get out of town on the I o'clock
train, but was frightened away by
the appearance of Mr.. Siemsen. He
was afterwards seer. in several places
around the hills above town that day,
and was finally arrested at Talent
Friday evening. Chief Oien and Dep
uty Game Warden Hubbard, who had
been securing the country, drove into
Talent to intercept the motor, and
Chief Oien saw him about three
blocks away trying to get into the
village to catch No. 16. He succeed
ed in overtaking him without his
knowledge and placed him under ar
rest.
He was brought back at once and
given hearing before j. G. Hurt,
justice of the peace, Saturday after
noon, Prosecuting Attorney Kelly
appearing for the state. Townsend
waived examination, but Mr.. Kelly
| called three witnesses to prove
prima facie case as required by law.
The first was Mr.. Multi, the cashier
of the First National Bank, but as
he was not familiar with Mrs. Town
sends signature he was excused and
j. w. Mccoy, cashier of the U. S.
National Bank, was sworn. He testi-
fled that he was familiar with the
signature of Mrs. Townsend and that
the signature on the note did not in
the least resemble her regular sigma
ture. He also swore that the sigma
lures of Cecil A. Townsend and of
Mrs. Townsend were apparently writ
ten by the same person.
Mrs. Siemsen was called and testi-
fled to receiving the note and to the
fact that it was in payment for board
and borrowed money. No other wit
nesses were called and Judge Kelly
in addressing the court stated that
in view of the fact that the defend
ant claimed to be interested in many
large corporations. the defendant
should not be put on shoestring bail.
Justice Hurt fixed the bond at
$1,000
The Tidings gave Mr.. Townsend
the benefit of the doubt throughout
all the controversies and charges
against him, but there seems to be
no doubt that his conduct has not
been in strict accord with either the
law or the gospel. He served two
terms in the county Jail before locat-
ing in Ashland, having, according to
the Medford papers, been sent once
for stealing a watch and once }or
~ costing young girls on the street.
he is also charged with having bor-
rowed money indiscrlminately, as
well as having been charged with
fraud by Mr.. Truss, his associate in
the Planada deal
Thanks to Mrs. Townsend, all or
nearly all of these debts were paid
and the people of Ashland have only
the kindest of feelings for and SYM
pathy with her in her time of trial.
Townsend was taken to Jackson
vile on the motor Saturday after
noon by Deputy Sheriff Good and
placed in the county Jail to await the
action Of the grand jury which meets
March II. No attempt was made to
get bail in this city, nor is it expect
ed that any will be made.