Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-15
Family wurdercd--Their Home Burn
cd->uppO~ed Murderer Iusnue


PAsCOAG. r.. L.. April News reach
cd here to-day OF tragedy at Oakland.
a small farming village a few miles from
Pascoag. About o'clock this morning
the house occupied by Edward Reynolds
and FANNY was burned, and Reynolds. his
wife. and an adopted daughter were
ki1cd
1t was several hours after the fire
was discovered before those who were at
the scene could begin their search. At
daylight n body was seen lying near the
centre or the ruins, and as soon as pos
sible this was removed. Although It
was burned so badly that Il was beyond
recognition. the appearance indicated that
IL was that OF Sylvina Reynolds, the
2o-year-old daughter OF the family. A
short time later Reynoldss body was
also recovered. the identification being a
general one as the body had been fright
fully burned.
When the neighbors who had been
aroused by the fire went to the Reynolds
house this morning they found that the
flames were confined to one part of the
building. The place was securely fast
ened. the doors being bolted and locked.
tnd every window closed tightly, so
that they We're compelled TO burst open
had been saturated with kerosene and
the flames spread rapidly. The rescuers
attempted 10 reach that part of the house
where the Reynolds family slept, but
were driven back, and only had time TO
take Mrs. Reynoids's body out before
that section of the house was in a blaze.
Her head had been crushed in, and the
upper part Of the body was horribly
mutilated.
Martin Mowry, who worked for Rey-
holds. slept In another part Of the house,
and the villagers hurried to his room to
alarm him. The room was empty. and
from the hasty examination made it
was evident that the bed had not been
disturbed. The bed-clothing, as well as
the floor leading TO the door. had been
saturated with somo liquid supposed 10.
be kerosene. Mowrys trunk and box
belonging to him were open. and his
clothing was strewn about the floor.
Mowry was found in Leander Buffum's
barn, some distance from the scene OF
the fire, chattering and laughing like
maniac. Buffum seized the man. and
gave him up to one of the posse search
ing for him. Mowry is a bachelor, about
6 years old
From the position of the bodies it is
believed that Reynolds was called to
his daughters room by some unusual
sound. and that when he reached the
side Of her bed he received his death
blow. AT that time Miss Reynolds was
probably Killed. The murderer. it is sup
posed then went to Mrs. Reynolds's
room. and after stabbing her twice in
the face. battered her head in with some
blunt weapon.
When Mowry left the house he went
20 the woods. where he shot himself in
hull him
however, and he did not repeat the at
tempt He then went 10 Buffum's farm.
The revolver. with two chambers empty.
was found in his possession, and an
empty oil-can was found in Mowry's
apartments. Mowry was willing to talk
after his arrest. but from his appearance
and manner Of expressing himself 1t
seemed clear that he was insane.
Reynolds and his wife were each about
80 years old Sylvina was their adopted
daughter. the child of Mrs. Reynolds's
deceased daughter Reynolds had but
little money. hence it is thought that
robbery could not have been the motive
for the crime.
Medical Examiner Wilcox examined the
bodies this afternoon. The wounds on
Mrs. Reynolds's head were made by the
butt Of musket while there were no
less than seven bayonets wounds on the
body. The musket and bayonet were
both found in the ruins of the fire, and
are known TO have been the property OF
Mowry.
Immediately after the autopsy Judge
Spear. Of the District Court. signed
warrant for the arrest of Mowry, and he
was at once brought into court for ar
raignment He pleaded not guilty. lie
was then committed to Jail. without bail
to await the preliminary trial on April
2lst
The only thing like a confession made
nv Nowrv tonight was when DR.. WILCOX
told him he proposed to etherize him and
then abstract the bullet which is now in
his head. Mowry said: Il won't be ether
lied. You think if you get me that way
I ,rfll talI my whole story"