Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-11
Sketches from the Life of Nillain-An
Luwritten Chapter in Edwin w Reed's
TFrom the Hartford Times. January S. ]


[From the Hartford Times January5
The fulI history Of Edwin ". Reed rascali-
risS has never been written. and we propose
h.,re I" supply y chapter that will throw more
lgh: on the real character of this accomplished
-rluccr and most plausible rogue. We derive
the facts from authentic sources
i - fact not generally known. that his
VIE. who ii'es at West Springfield, is not his
tTSt wife, but a woman with whom Reed many
NcarS ago rl"pel. leaving his wife to die OF
neglect and his children to the chances of the
World Reed married when he was very
y"Ung. His wife was young lady of WiIbra-
..Iui, Massachusetts, ard by her he had three
"hih.Ten-One OF them is now a young woman
married. and a resident of New Haven; the
other two were boys, now grown up, and clerks
IN Springfield. The wife of Reed who lives
now In West Springfield, was a pupil Of his,
years ago, in one of his music ciasses-as his
late victim, Miss Laura Kendall of CRANKY,
wqS; and "a. il il believed. several others have
heen, at various times. This young woman,
before Reed married her. was at his solicta-
tIpn, taken into his family, as n 'boarder" and
s""n afterwards Reed ran away with her to
tInnla, 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.
whom, hearing Of the death Of his wife. he came
hl"k tn Wilbraham, bringing with him his
'omplnnn now his wife AT what time he
married her. does not seem quite certain; but
she i> "f very respectable connections in Will
braham. anl bore TO Reed three children
Reel has accustomed no little scandal in
own. where he had classes III music He has
he reputation Of being regular lady killer
md very great bypocrite, using his profess
.Ions Of religion a mask to favor his vile pur-
poses His manner was very frank and hearty,
md he carried such an air of earnestnesS, hon
rnd women alike Is tn his real character. He
would shake hands with all friends in so hearty
and whole -sOuied n manner. and appear so full
"t fresh, overbrimming human good feeling,
as to disarm all suspicion, and win hosts of
frIends among the most influential classes of
society.
When Deacon Kendall daughter Miss Laura
kendall, disappeared suspicion began to fasten
upon him; but he put on air of injured inIO-
cence, and contrived to put down the suspicion
m most cases. All this time Miss Kendall was
living ut South Boston, where she had child
by Recd-the little girl of your years, whose
recognition OF her father in iIil a fortnight
since, So affected the byStandcTS who witnessed
that scene. Hearing at length of Deacon Ken
dull ; death and that he had willed 10 Laura a
handsome share OF his property, Reed induced
the poor girl, who still loved him with all a
woman affection, to 60 home TO CRANKY and
get her portion cf the money. This he subse-
Iuently got possession of.
When Lauras brother, Howard Kendall of
CRANKY, went to South Boston to get the body
"t his unfortunate sister he directed to
premises occupied by another victim of Reed :
pa@'Inns-s yond-lOOkin5 Irish girl, who was
there living with her babe the evidence OF
her shame and Reeds guilty arts. Finding
how things were, Mr.. Kendall told the girl
that Reed then had wife and children living
IN West Springfield; but the girl refused to-
believe word of this. Mr.. Kendall then told
her that his own visit to South Boston was to
recover all that was mortal of his own sister,
mt that moment laying corpse in that neigh
boThOod. and who hal been rs she ithe Irish
girl MAS, victim of Reeds debaucheries
The poor girl was completely overcome by this
revelation ot her seducer guilt and her own
DOOM
The little daughter Of Laura Kendall. now
about four years old, will probably; he adopted
int" a family living in TarifTville near Gran
by-friendS of the little girls dead mother
Reeds married daughter in New Haven
seems still to love her father. and clings to
him with all filisl affection, in spite of the
revelations of his YrOng-loinv