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Show RHODE UD JUDGE VICTIM IOFJSSASSIN Justice Willis S. Knowles Shot on Leaving Home to Take Trolley Car. PROVIDENCE, R I., .Sep'- 6 Willis B. KnowleH, for Hie past woven ytarw justice jus-tice of the Eighth district court, was shot to Jath near bin eu miner home on Lako Moawansii ut, In North Kcltuate, today. to-day. The aeBaKHln tired from butiheH by the roHdelde. Tonight thfi police were fte&rvhinc for a man who formerly acom-panled acom-panled the Justice on hunting expedition. In the hope that he may throw come light "n the personal affairs of the dead man that will suggest a motive for the kJUtnc JtUndB Knowles, who was born at Hocklngport, Ohio, in 1868, was admitted to the Rhode Island bar In 1898. Me was unmarried. He had an office in thls-city and a home In Cranston. This summer he hart occupied a bungalow on the lake and employed Mrs. Cora Wardell as a housekeeper. Mrs. Wardell said that her employer left the bungalow to catch a trolley car leaving for Providence at o'clock this morning. He had been gone only a minute min-ute or two when she heard a man'n voice calling: "Now I've got you, judge!" Three shots followed. Running out to the high-! high-! way, Mrs. Wardell found, the judge dead. There were two bullet wounds in the back and one in the Jaw. The police inquiry in-quiry developed that the Justice had for some time feared for his life. He had confided to intimates that he had enemies, ene-mies, who had written him threatening letters. A month ago Justice Knowles had stated to a friend he had narrowly escaped es-caped being shot when he was approaching approach-ing the bungalow. Publicly he said that he thought the shots had been fired by a careless hunter. Two foreigners found In the vicinity of the murder were detained today, but later were exonerated of any connection with the crime. Justice Knowles was furthering the organizing or-ganizing of a society that planned a campaign, cam-paign, against violators of the fish and game laws. Also he had taken part in a movement designed to bring about a closer supervision of drinking places In his judicial district. The dead man had been fond of outdoor out-door life and wild game hunting. From some of those who had associated with him In the pursuit of these sports, it was thought, might be learned intimate personal per-sonal experiences pointing to an enemy. |