The Curious Case of Not Townsend
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- Getting away with murder has always been a difficult, and ultimately, unlikely affair, even in the 19th Century, before DNA analysis, fingerprint databases, or even any real, proper detective agencies, it was still a challenge that many criminals tried and failed. There were some however, that did manage to achieve the feat, whether it be through cool calculation, or dumb luck, there was always opportunity for the enthusiastic murderer willing to think outside the box. In Canada during the mid-19th Century, one man, William Turner managed to commit and get away with murder, either through dumb luck, due to an unlikely double being framed for the crime, or through an incredible talent for acting. After more than 150 years, the question has always remained, which was it? Luck, or the long game?
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Sources:
Townsend The Murderer. (1857, June 10). The Montreal Gazette, p. 3.
Stewart Wallace, W. (1931, April 15). The Townsend Case. Maclean’s, p. 19.
The Alleged Murderer Townsend - The Singular Circumstances of the case - And the Proofs of his Identity. (1857, June 10). The Montreal Gazette, p. 2.
The Alleged Murderer Townsend - The Singular Circumstances of the case - And the Proofs of his Identity. (1857, June 17). The Montreal Gazette, p. 2.
The Townsend Excitement on the Wane! (1857, September 26). The Montreal Gazette, p. 2.
Arraignment of McHenry alias Townsend. (1857, September 28). The Montreal Gazette, p. 2.
Gault, Robert H. (1918) Journal of the American Institute of Law and Criminology Vol. IX. Chicago. Northwestern University Press.
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Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017
Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that. - บันเทิง
He could be Townsend, or he couldn't be Townsend. Someone get some pumpkin pie....
Bill Townsend was my fourth great uncle. There is so much more to this story, and so much more to discover! He was an exciting find while doing my family research, and his arrest and trial changed the course of history for our family in many ways. It's crazy to me that you found him and did this podcast. Odd to hear the story coming all the way from the UK!
Oh wow, that's crazy! If youd be willing to share more about his story, do get in touch! As an aside, your fourth great uncles story has been really popular amongst listeners and got a lot of positive feedback sent to my inbox! 😁
What a great share. I encourage a detailed update - and a Part 2.
Thanks!
That Pumpkin Pie part of the testimony, priceless.
Sounds to me like the smooth guy on the train pretending to be a gentleman to make his escape ("Dear sir, I just look like Townsend!") and the guy in jail writing flowery letters were definitely one and the same.
It was Townsend.
My thoughts too!
I only started listening to the podcasts and the length put me off at first but after 5 minutes I was hooked and I think this is my faith in a row I love them and will be recommending
Great subjects and Ben is a friendly and dedicated narrator. Brilliant!
42:39
Wish I could have been at this man's trial to bare witness to all these bizarre ongoings lol
The most welcomed audios. I wish they went on for hours.
Excellent work!
Enjoying this channel so much. Great storytelling. Always interesting, always easy to listen to. Thanks for your research and time in preparation.
Love your videos, man!
I'm not convinced it was Townsend, but that's because there's about a 25% chance he was actually McHenry and his birth records are in some way occluded by history, a 35% chance he was in fact a deserter (in which case he's still McHenry, because that's the name by which he was known in the new world). That only leaves a 40% for Townsend.
The reason I think McHenry actually remains a plausible answer is that on being acquitted of a capital charge, who can say what their reaction would be. Dostoevsky writes of his stay of execution and the sensation of believing every sensation is the last, and I think it's a mistake to put too much stock in an assumption that who one is before, during, and after the fight of their life is going to be the same person.
The idea of a British deserter appeals to me more than someone named McHenry because of the lack of records for McHenry. Such a person could have been telling a lot more truth in their obfuscation than Townsend posing as a Scottish immigrant. Maybe Townsend was an even more talented and brazen actor than history can recognize, but these two theories have a very close line of best fit, leaving just enough loose ends that we'll never know if either of them are true.
Brilliant con man either way. Thanks for such a mysterious story!
What? Are we NOT supposed to constantly talk about pumpkin pie?!
🤐🥧
This was such a good episode!
Great episode!
The not-Townsend who went to so much trouble to write about his accusations was clearly loving the attention. He knew the longer the wait went on, the weaker the arguments against him must be. He knew he would get away with it and was enjoying the opportunity to set himself up for 'compensation.' What an arsehole! But, he would see himself as a fast talking 'wise-guy' - a very popular figure in early American society. The confident, snake-oil seller, more artful than dodger.
Oh how I miss those times.
I've recently found ur channel n I love it. I'm binge watching n then I hear this case. Wow I'm puzzled about the guys identity n the way the trial went? Great job covering it.
I think he was not Robert Townsend. I think he was someone else of importance or a wanted man for something else. He had something to hide.
We all have something to hide, something serious. Nobody grows old innocent, he isnt old, but thats the best way i can put it. 🤔🇦🇫
That was probably not his name.
On...tairio