The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-11
The Burchen Murder Case.

Especial to THE Observation-Disclosures Dispatchl
NIAGARA FALLS, March 10.-Reginald
Burchell, who was found guilty by the
coroner's jury of the murder of Frederick
Benwell, mystifies the people of Ontario
by his actions. He appears entirely indif-
ferent to the verdict and the possible con-
sequences. He treated the whole thing as
a huge joke, andElaughed at the perform
ance; never once since his incarceration
has the accused referred to the murder,
and he has parried every approach to the
subject by some inconsequential answer
Ontario is much excited still over the
action OF the jury, which included Mrs.
Burcheu in the crime. However, since this
rural tribunal is not regarded as one speak
ing with authority. its ultimatum does not
alarm the woman's friends. There is no
question but that after the conclusion of
the preliminary examination she will be
freed, unless some new evidence is ad-
duced, or the attorney general interferes--
Young Pelley, to day, is the most con-
spicuouS figure in Lower Canada. Every
where he goes he is pointed out and his
handsome English great coat is known
from Clifton to Ontario. The torture
which he has undergone during the past
two weeks will leave its impression on his
whole after life. He is alone here in
strange country innocent and without
friends except casual ones made by his
honesty, and through sympathy. A
careful examination of the private
papers of Burchell affords a curl
Gus insight into his life of the
eentlemanly prisoner, and establishes be-
yond doubt the partnership of t. S. Mel
lersh, who assisted Burchel in securing
his victims. Perhaps the strangest batch
of letters is the one which includes the
| names of such well known theatrical people
as Fred Leslie, of the London Gaiety COM
pany; Ellen Terry, Minnie Palmer, Ban
croft, the English actor; Sarah Bernhardt
and dozen others These are all autograph
letters, and were written to arrange the
dates for professional sittings for portraits
with the firm of Mayall & Co., No. 166
New Bond street, London. Burchell, il
| seems, was for time employed by photo
| graphers and to him fell the task of ar
ranging the sittings with the various dis
tinguished patrons. His salary was then
a trifle less than fifty dollars month. This
figure poorly satisfied the extravagant
tastes of the young man. But the most
important documentary evidence in Bur
chelps tin dispatch box, were letters from
Mellersh in relation tC the advertisements
they had inserted in London newspapers,
to insnare victims. Mellersh, who Is a
member of the National Union
club, was the man whose name
appears as the advertiser, and he received
letters from inquirers. These he turned
over to Burchell for investigation, when
he did not happen to be able to interrogate
the writer personally. That Burchell was
a theatrical member at one time, is borne
out by the quantity of letters from the
owners or lessees of various London the
aires. Another letter refers to the death
of Burchelps father, the Rev. Joseph Bur
chell, of Brlcote, or Buscote, Gloucester
shire, and some details concerning settle
ment of his will. From these it appears
that Burchell received patrimony of about
fifteen hundred dollars