The Denver star., 1917-07-07
RACE MAN FALLS At MS POST
Lawyer Townsend Succumbs
Tuesday Morning After a
Brief Illness.
(Continued from page ~

Mr.. Townsend graduated from the
law school OF Kansas State Univer-
sity in 1891, as Valedictorian of his
class and the degree Of L. L. B. was
conferred by the faculty. He prac-
ticed in Leavenworth, Kans., ten years
with great success when he removed
to Pueblo, Colo, in 1901, where he,
after being admitted to the U. s. Cir
cult and District Courts, won great
distinction and being the only Colored
lawyer who was ever admitted to prac-
tice in that county, also won much dis
tinction as a criminal lawyer. He tried
and won many complicated murder
cases in Pueblo and appeared before
the Board Of Pardons in the famous
Heck double murder case, also Trusty
case. 1t was in the latter case where
he had shown the failure Of the cor
pus delicti," but the Judge would not
grant his motion for acquittal which
the Pardon Board later did. Lawyer
Townsend located in Denver in Octo-
Der, 1909, and since that time he has
won much praise for his successful
efforts in conducting many difficult
criminal and civil cases. The Smith,
Robert Harris and Jett murder cases,
as we'll as the McClain and Gertie
Ross Civil Rights cases, getting $50
damages and costs in the one and
$500 damages and costs in the other.
| Leading the Birth of the Nation fight
he finally secured a dissolution Of the
temporary injunction forbidding the
city to further restrain such plays.
| He arranged and was constantly ac-
tive in perpetuating our old abolition
celebrations, honoring Lovejoy, Garri-
son, Lincoln and Douglass. He caught
Lawyer Joseph Stuart's spirit in his
civil rights bill and at every oppor-
tunity he tried to force its executions.
Lawyer Townsend was our ablest law
yer and strongest race man in Colo
RADIO and his place will be hard to fill.
The mighty oak has fallen. ikened
to the unwinding of a ball of useful
ness and achievement, his life un-
wound to the end and then came the
( finishing of his earthly tolls and re-
sponsibilities. Lawyer Townsend
stood against all kinds of segregation:
J he fought incessantly and with undy-
ing vigor. He seemed to have heard
the cries of his people beneath the
vindictive lash and their bewailing
means amid lynchers' voices surround
ed by the cracking flames. 1t was
this beating and ever present ire
sistible impulse which caused him to
ever be on the firing line for the race.
Did he fail? No honest effort in a
derstood. criticised and abused. may
not be crowned with the applause of
men: while replete with honors, sun
shine. shadows and painful sorrows.
II may not seem to touch the goal OF
worldly success. but II is not lost.
His life helps to strengthen the weak
| with new virtue and resisting vigor !:
to animate all with devotion to duty.
which in the end conQuers all. Fail,
Did the Martyrs fail, when. with pre-
cious blood. they sowed the seed of
the church? Did Sumner. Lovejoy,
Wendell Phillips. Lincoln. Douglas and
Paul Lawrence Dunbar fail when they
gave freely their heartstrings to the
cause of liberty and justice? Did the
discounted champions of freedom
and equality of all mankind fail. who
have left their names in history that
can never die? Tho the paths may
look dark assurances appear tangible
that the great cause OF liberty. JUS
tice and equality to which Townsend.
with the galaxy OF others have dedi-
Gated themselves will soon sweep the
heartstrings OF the people in a world
wide movement. Then the principles
for which Lawyer Townsend fought
will still live and be perpetuated by
us. Having gained the confidence and
respect of the community. bench and
bar. he was regarded as a good law
yer. Lawyer Townsend leaves a wife
surviving and two sisters and one
cousin. Mrs. Lille Moore. His funeral
will be at Shorter Church at 2:30 y
m. with the knights of Pythias in
charge and Douglas Undertaking Co.
will have charge of the body. He be-
ing a Grand Officer. all branches of
the order will turn out with the Queen
City aBnd