Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-09

The GRANNY SEDUCTION CAsE.-Aa I'M
acrinen Chapter IN Ed1oin w. Reeds History
The full history of Edwin w. Reeds rascali-
ties has never been written, and we propose
here to supply chapter that will throw more
light on the real character Of this ac. omplish-
ed seducer and most plausible logue. We de-
rive the facts from authentic sources.
1t is a fact not generally known, that his
wife, who lives in West Springfield, and for
whom much sympathy has been expressed, is
not his wife, but Il woman with whom Reed
many years ago eloped, leaving his wife to die
of neglect and his children to the chances of
the world. Reed married when he was very
young. His life was a young lady Of Viii
braham, Mass, and by her he had four chill
dren-one of them is now young woman
married, and and resident of New Haven;
the other two were boys, now grown up, and
clerks in Springfed one, we believe, III a
bank, and the other in a store The wife of
Reed, who now lives in West Springfield, was
a pupil of his, years ago, in one of his music
casses--as his late victim, the beautiful and
accomplished Miss Laura Kendall of CRANKY,
was and as it is believed, several others have
been at various times. This young woman,
before Reed married her, was, at his solcta-
ton, ia en- into his family, as a 'boarder," and
soon afterwards Reed ran away with her to
Canada, abandoning his wife and three young
children to their fate. His wife was thrown
upon the town, and eventually died in the poor
house. Reed and his companion passed four
years in Canada and western New York, when
hearing of the death of his wife, he came back
to Wilbraham, bringing with him his compan-
lon,now his wife. Atwhat time he married her,
does not seem quite certain; but she is of very
respectable connections in Wilbraham, and bore
10 Reed three children. There is woman
now living IN Canton, in this state, who with
her husband, kept the poor house at Wilbra-
ham when Reeds first wife was thrown into
those quarters by her husbands base deser-
ton, and there she saw Mrs. r. die. The
sympathy which has been expended for the
present Mrs. Reed on account of her husbands
debaucheries, will not be increased by these
revelations for she is placed in the category of
guilty ones by her conserving TO aid in the
misery which the rascal inflicted on his limo
cent first wife. Much may, however, he par
doned, in her case, to the unequalled arts of
this accomplished seducer
Reed has occasoned no little scandal in
towns where he had classes in music, by his
illicit amours. We have accounts which it is
not well to publish now, because their publici-
ty could do no good, but mightsoccasion much
unhappiness. He has the reputation of being
a regular "lady-killer"- despoiler of female
virtue, and very great hypocrite, using his
professions Of religion a mask to favor his
vile purposes. His manner was very frank
and hearty, and he carried such an air of
earnestness, honesty, and good nature, that he
deceived men and women alike as to his real
character. He would shake hands with all
friends in so hearty and whole-souled a man.
ner, and appear so full Of fresh, over trimming
human good feeling, as to disarm all suspi-
clon, and win hosts of friends among the most
influential classes of society.