MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8885, 19 September 1890, Page 3

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN LONDON.

SUPFOSED DOUBLE POISONING CASE. On August Ist, the wife of Dr. Knowlson Townsend, was found lying dead at 14, Park-road, Amersharu-road, New Cross London, by tbe side of that of " Dr." De la Motto, whose name does not appear in tho medical directory. Dr. Townsend and his wife were about to leave for America, and the carmen who were to remove their effects found the two bodies, death having apparently been caused by poison, there being no appearance of a straggle. Dr. Townsend and his wife had lived some years at New Cross, and were popular in the district. Among the friends of Dr. Townsend was a gentleman known as Dr. De la Motte, a young man of fair complexion, stout build, and clean shaven, except for a reddish moustache. He was afrequent visitor to Dr. TowDsend's house, where he was regarded by Dr. Townsend's two boys with great affection. Some time recently Dr. Townsend determined to retire from practice and to leave with his wife for the United States. Dr. Ezard then occupied the house in the Lewisham-road, and attended Dr. Townsend's patients. About ten weeks previously, when this arrangement was made, a suite of rooms was taken by Dr. Townsend in the house tenanted by Miss Ann Cracknell, 14, Park-road, in which he and his wife were to reside until their final departure. Heie they lived until August 1, when tho doctor left home in the best of spirits at seven o'clock, attired in a gray check suit, to join the steamship Ludgate Hill, which sailed for New York on Saturday. Mrs Townsend was to remain behind in order to see the baggage safely despatched, and to go on board on Saturday. An hour after the doctor had left two men drove up to the house in a cart, one a carman and the other a friend who had come over to assist with the boxes for the purpose of conveying the luggage to the Albert Docks. On making their business know they were at once admitted, and proceeded' under directions to a back bedroom on the first floor. Upon entering the room the carmen noticed Mrs TownBond lying on the bed fully dressed, but apparently asleep, and Dr De la Motte in an insensible condition halfway under the foot of the bed. One of the men called attention to the peculiar colour of Dr De la Motte's skin, felt his pulse, which was still, and expressed the opinion that he was dead. An attempt was then made to arouse Mrs Townsend but it was unsuccessful, and the fact then dawned upon those present that they were in the presence of death. As soon as the tragic occurrence was known, the police were communicated with, and possession was taken by them of the room.

It appears that shortly before the discovery of the bodies in the back room, a woman named Barclay saw Mr De la Motte and Mrs Townsend sitting down in a front room. After this one of the children, a boy about twelve years of age, ran downstairs, and said to the servant, " Mama and Mr De la Motte are asleep, and I cannot wake them; bat I'll go up again and try." No notice appears to have been taken of the child's remark, probably because just at the moment the carter arrived for the goods, and proceeded upstairs, where the bodies were found. This servant also states that on Friday morning Mrs Townsend looked " wild and ill," whilst it has transpired that the lady on one or two occasions showed a great aversion to the idea of going abroad. At present, however, there is no evidence to Bhow that she and De la Motte had reBolved to die together, thongh many persons intimately connected with the case have been led to this conclusion. It now appears that upon Dr Townsend leaving his wife on Friday afternooj, he did rot proceed to London, but we at to the house 217, New Cross Road, at which Mr De la Motte and several other gentlemen, who were friends of his and Dr. Townsend, lodged. Here Dr. Townsend met some of his friends from the country. ! He saw De la Motte at the house at halfpast five o'clock, and thus while Dr. j Townsend was under De la Motte's own roof, as it were, De la Motte went forth on the visit to Mre Townsend which had so fatal a termination. It was at this house (217, New Cross Road), that Dr. Tpwnsend received the news of the death of his wife and Mr De la Motte. Dr. Townsend, on Saturday afternoon, telegraphed to the agent of the ship in which he was to have embarked with his wife, saying that he could not join her; and for the present he and his children have taken up their quarters in the house in which De la Motte lived. ! Mrs Townsend was the daughter of a | Birmingham manufacturer, and when i living in Birmingham was considered to J be one of the handsomest girls in the neighbourhood. Her sister married _Dr. Townsend's brother, who went to America. It was to join them that the doctor and his wife were preparing to start when the tragedy occurred. j Mr De la Motte and Mrs Townsend, it is openly stated by some of the police in their unofficial capacity, died by taking prussic acid.] ______________