The times., 1897-08-10
THE POLICE HAVE A CLEW
Think They Are ON the Trail of the
Reed Murderers.
The Robbery Theory Abandoned
A Clew From Many
Wild Theories Afloaf.

North Adams, Mass, Aug. 9.-Late to-
night the State local police working on
the Reed double murder case feel conf
dent that they are on the right track.
and that it will not be long before the
mystery will be cleared up and the assas-
sins captured.
The robbery theory has been abandoned
The police are now working on the belief
that revenge was the actual motive OF
the crime.
The detectives believe that if they can
find the men who dashed out Holland
street in a Concord buggy a few minutes
past O'Clock Saturday morning they viii
have the nurderers.
Said detective tonight: THE person
| ,or persons who killed Henry Reed and his
sister had a deep grudge against Reed.
Moreover, it is safe to ass ume that the
men who did the killing knew every inch
OF the interior of Henry Reeds house.
am sa atisiied that there were two Inen in
the case
The theory that Reed was kiIiad by one
man and Miss Reed by another is tonight
secuted by experts who have closel studied
: lilt tdSc III All It's mysterious aspects.
An important clew was furnished
from Bennington, vt, today. About
2:3o Saturday night Policeman John
Davis, of Bennington, found horse at
| tached TO a buggy on West Main street
| without driver and trotting along at q
| good gait He secured the horse and be-
| foIe he had ting TO take it to stable q
| stranger appeared, coming from toward
the center Of the village, and claimed IL.
He claimed TO be from williamstown,
Mass The man appeared to be about
| thirty years OF age, smooth-faced and
| weighed about 160 pounds. He was well
| dressed, and was considerably excited.
| The man started to drive toward Williams
| town as soon as he got the rig.
| Reed was a man notorious for his love
affairs. In fact, he loved to boast about
! them. He visited women in Boston and
/ nearby places. 1t is hinted that he may
| have been sl,ed by the husband OF some
| woman.
| A story was told today about his friend
! ship for Mrs. Henry Conrad, OF Hart we'll
/ Vile Reed had businesss in HartweiIville
| about five years ago, and boarded at the
| home OF the Gonr;tds. 1t is alleged that
/ he became very friendly Will Mrs. Conrad.
| Shortly after hisreturnso North Aeatlis Mrs
| Conrad came here and for SIX months lived
| in the Reed house. At the end of that time
| she left and went back to Harrwellville.
| Reed sent Conrad a bill for the woman y
board. Hiram ". Tinney knew Reed better
| than any other man in North Adams. He
! thinks that the man who killed Reed must
| have had some awful grndge against him.
| The inquest was begun shortly after noon
| today in the district courtroom before
| JJsjlce Woodhead. The inquest is being
| held hehiTi closed dDers and viii probah bly,
| last several days
| All kinds OF startling rumors are rife
| here tonight. 1t is said the police ex-
| pees to faster the crime on a man who
lives very close TO the scene OF the double
murder.
| Another rualor rs to the effect that u
man, said TO be lawless character, Is
| suspected. This man is a peddier. He
| is sail 60 have a Concord buggy Just like
the one driven out the lane on Saturday
| nlorr1nt-. He also wears 8 white hat
! like the cBe worn by the man whom Mrs.
Fairfield saw in the lane.