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JANE TUCKER: A TRAGIC EVENT
In the History of Welland County Recalled by the Death of
MRS. BARUCH TUCKER/MRS. CHARLES RITCHIE
[Welland Tribune, 10 February 1899]
The death of the late Mrs. Baruch Tucker, sr., at Allanburg, on Tuesday this week, recalls a tragic and sensational event in the history of the county of Welland. Before her marriage to the late Mr. Tucker, deceased was the widow of Constable Charles Ritchie, who was murdered by Townsend at Port Robinson in November, 1854.
Townsend and two of his companions had robbed Jacob Gainer on the highway, then gone on to Port Robinson, where they had supper at Mrs. Jordan’s hotel. Franklin Hagar went to Port Robinson and told Constable Ritchie and others and they all went to Jordan’s hotel where the robbers were known to be at supper. It was in the dusk of the evening. Townsend had finished his supper and stood on the verandah. The constable went up and arrested him, but he was not prepared for dealing with such a desperate character and Townsend quickly drew and shot him in the head and affected his escape through the church yard, although pursued by many. Townsend’s bullet had entered Ritchie’s head about 3/4 of an inch above the left ear and he died about an hour later.
The murderer was never brought to justice. The Townsend or so called Townsend trial at Welland, it will be remembered, resulting in an acquittal of the prisoner on the ground that the crown failed to prove the identity of the prisoner as Townsend.
Mrs. Ritchie afterward Mrs. Baruch Tucker, lived nearly 45 years after the tragic occurrence, being in the 80th year at the time of her death this week.
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