Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-07
Judge Shot Dead at
North Scituate, R. |.
ASSASSIN FIRED FROM BUSHES
BY ROADSIDE.
LOOKING FOR SUSPECT
Housekseper Heard q Mans Voice Call
Out "Now Have Got You. JudseI"
Followed by Three shots-Had Been
Shot at Before.

Providence. r. L. Sept. 6.-wiIlis S.
Knowles, for the past seven years
justice Of the eighth district court
was shot to death near his summer
home on Lake Moswansicut in North
Scituate today. The assassin. who
fired from bushes by the roadside, es-
capped
Was Unmarried.
Justice Knowles, who was born at
Hockingport. Ohio. in 1858. was ad-
mitted to the Rhode Island bar in
1898. He was unmarried. He had an
Cranston- This summer he had oe-
cupied bungalow on the lake and
employed Mrs. Cora Wardell as a
housekeeper.
Mrs. WardeIl said that her employer
left the bungalow to catch a trolley
this morning. He had about a quart
er of mile to walk and had been gone
about a minute or two when she heard
mans voice calling:
Two Bullet Wounds in the Back.
''Now / have got you. judgel" Three
shots followed. Running out on the
lawn, Mrs. Wardell saw the Justices
head above a hedge that shuts on
the lawn from the highway. Before
she could reach him he had fallen
dead. There were two bullet wounds
AA@ NAO 00~A 0@AI SAO III NhC jaw
Justice Feared For His Life.
The police inquiry quickly developed
that the Justice had for some time
feared for his life While not re-
porting the matter to the police. he
had confided to intimates that he had
enemies who had written him threat
ening letters. Recently to avoid the
walk between the bungalow and the
car line he had ridden in a carriags
with his brother, Horace Knowles. a
real estate broker Of New York. The
latter returned home last Thursday
and since then the justice had had
companions on his walk until this
morning. On Saturday night he
drove home from Providence in a tax
Had Been Shot Az Before.
A month ago Justice Knowles had
said he narrowly escaped being shot
when approaching the bungalow.
Publicly he said that he thought
the shot had been fired by a careless
hunter but he admitted to his friends
fear that the incident had a more
serious Significance
Police Looking For Motive.
Two Italians found in the vicinity OF
The murder were detained but later
were exonerated OF any connection
with the crime. The officers Their
tivities Of the justice which might
have directed enmity towards him
They learned that he was furtherins
the organization OF society that
planned systematic campaign
against violators Of the fish and game
laws Also he had taken part in q
movement designed to bring about q
closer police supervision of drinking
places that had become objectional to
summer residents in his Judicial dis
trict- It was recalled that some time
ago the justice instigated the deten-
tion Of a man. who. he alleged, had
threatened his life. This man form
erly had been committed to an insane
asylum by the justice, upon whom he
sought revenge. it was alleged. follow
ing his release.
Had Reputation as a Hunter.
The dead man mad been a great
lover of outdoor life. and had some
thing of a reputation as a hunter
foxes being his favorite game. From
some of those who had associated
with him in the pursuit of these sports
Il was thought might be learned in
innate personal experiences pointing
TO an enemy.