Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-15
MURDER LARSON.
Oakland, r. l., Stirred to Very
Depths by Triple Murder.
Edward Reynolds, Wife and Daughter
Killed and Burned in House.
Supposed to Be Deed Of Martin Mowry. Sud
denly Gone Insane.

Pascoag. H. l.. April IA horrible
tragedy was enacted. early this morn
! ing. at the home of Edward Reynolds,
on the Elisha Matthewson place, near
Sweet Hill. in the town of Oakland.
Mrs Reynolds and probably her hus-
band and daughter, We're brutally
murdered. and the house was then set
on fire presumably to cover the crime
Martin Mowry, the hired man, en-
ployed by the Reynolds, who seems to
be crazy. was found hiding in barn
near Oakland. and was at once placed
under arrest.
The neighbors were aroused, early
this morning, by the fire. and they had
no sooner effected an entrance to the
house than evidence which led to the
supposition that the fire was the result
Of arson after murder was disclosed.
Mrs. Reynolds body. mutilated and
blood-stained, was taken from her bed
by those who were first to enter the
house They found copious blood
stains and what is believed to be traces
of kerosene about the bedroom. They
were prevented from making a
thorough search of the premises by the
heat and smoke.
1t was quite late. this morning, when
the ruins became cool enough to enable
those who had been drawn to the scene
to continue the search. At daylight q.
body was seen lying near the center of
the ruins, and as soon as possible this
was removed. Although burned SO
badly as to be beyond recognition, the
appearance indicated that it was that
Of C,rlx Pnrnntic the 90 TG-Ol6
daughter of Mr. Reynolds. A short
time later Reynolds body was also re-
covered. The Identification was a gem
eral one as the body had been fright
fully burned.
When the neighbors who had been
aroused by the fire. went to the Rey-
nolds house, this morning. they found
that the flames were confined to one
part of the house. The house was
securely fastened, the doors being
bolted and locked and every window
closed tightly so that they We're COM
PEELED to burst open the door TO gain
admission.
From what they saw the house had
been saturated with Kerosene so thor
oughly that the flames spread with
marvellous rapidity. The rescuers at
tempted to reach that part of the
house where the Reynolds family slept,
but were driven back so quickly that
they had only time to take Mrs. Rey-
nolds' body out of doors before this
section of the house was in a blaze.
From what could be judged by the
appearance of her body, brutal muir
der had been committed. The head had
been crushed in, evidently by an axe.
and the upper part of the body was
horribly mutilated The two men who
brought out the body say the bed which
she occupied was covered with blood.
An attempt was made to locate
Reynolds body, but it did not appear
to be in the room.
1t was believed that he had been
alarmed by noise and left the room
and had met his death in another part
of the house. II is stated that the po-
sition of the body in the ruins would
appear to bear out this theory.
Martin Mowry. the man who worked
for Reynolds, 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 that
could be made. it was evident that the
bed had not been disturbed. Moro's
trunk and a box belonging to him, were
open and his clothing was strewn about
the floor. 1t was thought his body might
also be in the ruins. but a careful search
was nevertheless made of the neightor-
ing villages.
No trace of him could be found at first
and his disappearance was regarded as
one of the most mysterious features OF
the case. All the officers in TINS section
of the state were summoned ana with
the aid of the neighbOrs. the country
about Oakland was thoroughly secured.
At last. he was found hiding in a barn
near Harrisville. and was al once placed
under arrest. He was taken to Harris
VILE where he will DC held pending the
medical examination
Mowry is Il bachelor about So years of
age He was always well liked in this
section of the State and has borne good
reputation. although of late he has been
very peculiar. From evidence discovered.
TODAY. it is learned that he has been pay
ing considerable uncalled-for attention
to Miss Servilla Reynolds. the murdered
girl and adopted daughter of Edward
REYNOLDS during the past few W Elk. and
il is believed that her failure to respond
to his advances has had something to do
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