The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-21
A VERlTABLE FlEND.
Murders a Girl, Her Father and Mother,
Burns Their Bodies.

reached here today of a tragedy at
Oakland, a small farming village a
few miles from Pascong, about 3
o'clock this morning. The house oc'
cupied by Edward Reynolds, his wife
and an adopted daughter, was burned.
It was several hours after the fire was
discovered before those who were at
the scene could begin their search.
At daylight a body was seen lying
near the centre of the ruins, and as
soon as possible this was removed:
Although it was burned so badly that
il was beyond recognition, the appear
ance indicated that it was that of Syl-
vina Reynolds, the 20-year-old daugh'
ter of the family. A short time later
Reynolds body was also recovered,
the Identification being general one
as the body had been frightfully
burned.
When the neighbors, who mad 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 building. The place was
securely fastended, the doors being
bolted, and locked and every window
closed tightly, so that they were com
pelled to burst open the door to gain
admittance. The house had been
saturated with kerosene, and the
flames spread rapidly. The rescuers
attempted to reach the part of the
house where the family slept, but
we're driven back, and only had time
to take Mrs. Reynolds body out be.
fore that section of the house was in
blaze. Her head had been crushed IN
and the upper part of the body was
terribly multilated. Martin Mowry.
who worked for Reynolds, slept IN
another part of the house, and the
villagers hurried TO his room 10 alarm
him.
The room was empty and from the
hasty examination tnat could be made
it was evident that the bed had not
been disturbed. The bed clothing, as
we'll as the floor leading to the door,
had been saturated with some liquip
supposed to bs kerosene. Mowry's
trunk and a box belonging to him
were opened and his clothing was
strewn about the floor. Mowry was
found in Lsander Buffum's barn
some distance from the scene OF the
fire. chattering and laughing like a
maniac. Buffum arrested the man
and gave him up to the officer. M.oWry
is a bachelor, about IS years If age. >.
From the position of the bodies, 1t
is believed that Reynolds was called
to his daughters room by some un,
usal sound and that when he reached
the side of her bed he received his
death blow. At that time Miss Rsy'
nolds was probably killed. The mur'
derer. it is supposed, them went to
Mrs. Reynolds room, and, atler STAB
bing her twice in the fac9, battered
her head in with some blunt weapon
When Mowry left the house he went
to the woods, where he shot himself IN
the head. Tho bullet only stunned
him, however, and he did no! repeat
the attempt. He than went to But
fum's farm. The revolver, with two
chambers empty, was found In his
possession and an empty oil caa was
found in Mowry' apartments. Mowry
was willing to talk after his arrest,
but from his appearance and manner
of expression it seemed clear tnat he
was insane. Reynolds and his wife
were each about so years OF age.
Sylvina was their adopted daughter,
the ckild of Mrs. Reynolds deceased
brother. Reynolds had little money ano
hence it is thought robbery could moi
have been the object of the crime.