The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-24
SLAUGHTER OF THE INNocENTs.
WHOLESALE NUMBERING OF INFANTS AT
''BABY FARM" IN HoLLIsToN, MASS.

WHOLESALE NUMBERING OF INFANTS AT
BABY FARM" IN HoLLIsToN, MASS.
BOSTON. Mass. Jan. o. 1875.
The usual quiet town OF Holliston, in the south
ern part OF Middlesex county, the scene OF
considerable excitement to-day upon the an.
nouncement that a case OF wholesale poisoning
had been brought TO light, the alleged guilty par
ties being an old couple named Nelson and Mary
Reynolds, who, during the past three years, have
Kept sort OF "baby farm" In that part OF the
town known as Bragville.
From what can be learned in regard 10 the mat
ter, 1t appears that the Reynolds, who occupy
small Iarn, nave been constantly receiving
young children. more particularly during the past
three months. The majority OF those received
during the latter period were infants OF illegiti
mate birth, who were in most cases very sickly
and feeble. Some OF them died rom time to lime
a natural death, as was supposed, and no serious
SUSPICIOUS were entertained until lew weeks
since, at which time the character OF the old cOu-
p PIE became subject OF discussion among the
very good opinion OF them. 1t was
town and other places in the vicinity were In the
hablt Of visiting the lniants IN the care OF the old
couple, and lnis facs In itself III many instances
served to al;ay suspicious entertained by mauy
people that the deaths OF the nants IN some cases
were the result OF cruelty. A lew days ago Onicers
almost convinced In their own minds that some Of
the iniants tnat MAD died mad been loully dealt
when yesterday they were Afforded
VALUABLE INFORMATION
from source the least expected, through the per-
sonoi MISS Mary Colby, young woman VINO
had been IN the employ OIL the old woman Reig-
noldS, IN helping TO take care OF the children. From
statements made TO the officers by this woman
the utmost wantonness and depravity OF human
feeling appeared on the part oil the Old couple 1t
was charged that IN many cases infants, IN an
apparently healthy condition. were actually muir
dered by poison in tue form OF laudanum. Between
the LIST OF November up to the 18th OF the present
month
FIVE INFANTS WERE GOT OUT OF THE WAY
In this manner. The last child that died was
called Fredilini PIERCE and was brought from Bos-
ton In the early part OF January. 1t was alleged
by Miss Colby that the Reignods, 10 prevent
detectiOn, buried The INFANTS without notifying tine
Town Clerk or receiving burial certllca es. She
positive tins was the case III the death OF three or
the children. Her statement when includes nu.
lnerOu5 details could not be GOT at, owing to the
desire OF the ocers to keep tne matter quiet until
an examination could be had III the case. MISS
colby, lt Is SAID, was the mother oil a cnlld that
has Deen cared for a. tie ReignOlds' larm.
she belongs to Maine ana Is quite young and pre-
possessing.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
bearing on the alleged cruelty and heartlessneSs OF
the PAIR Is gwen by an elderly woman named Miss
Eliza Sneehan. who mas been employed by Mrs.
Reynolds on the farm Tor about q year. Her story
Is mainly cOrrObOratve OF That OF the Colby
woman. but more Important, from the TACT that
she furnishes the bottle containing portion OF
the poison said TO have been given TO the iniantz.