The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-16
THE WORK OF A FIEND.
An Entire Family Murdered and Their
Dwelling Burued-The Murderer CaPtur-
ed After Attempting Suicide.

Dwelling Burned-The VI urderer Captur-
ed After Attempting Suicide.
Pascoag, r. l. April 14-News reach
ed here today of a tragedy at Oakland,
a small farming village a few miles
from Pascoag. About 3 o'clock this
morning. the house occupied by Edward
Reynolds and family, was burned and
Reynolds, his wife and adopted daugh-
ter were killed,
1t 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 it was removed. Although
burned SO badly that il was beyond
recognition, the appearance indicated
that it was that of Sylvina Reynolds.
the 20-year daughter of the family
A short time later Reynolds body was
also recovered, the Identification being
a general one, as the body had been
frightfuly 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 building. The place was Sc
curely fastened, the doors being bolted
and locked and the windows closed
tightly, SO that they were compelled 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 that
part OF the house where the Reynolds
family slept but were driven back and
only had time to take Mrs. Reynolds
body out before that section ofOthe
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-
nolds, 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. The
bed clothing, as we'll as the floor lead
| ing to the door, had been saturated
with some liquid, supposed to be kero-
| sene. Mowry's trunk and box belong
ing to him were open and his cloth
| ing 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 a
maniac. Buffum seized the man and
gave him up to one of the posse search
| ing for him. Mowry is a bachelor,
ABOUT DO years or age.
| From the position of the bodies, it is
believed 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 supposed, then
| went to Mrs. Reynolds room and after
| stabbing her twice in the face, battered
i 1. L,
| When MOwry left the house he went to
| the woods where he shot himself in the
| head. The bullet only stunned him,
| however, and he did not repeat the at
| tempt He then went to 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 appear
| ance and manner of expression it
seemed clear that he was insane.
Reynolds and his wife We're each
| about. so years of age. Sylvina was
| their adopted daughter, the child of
| Mrs. Reynolds deceased brother. Rey-
| nolds had little money and hence it is
| thought robbery could not have been
| the object of the crime.
Medical Examiner Wilcox examined
the bodies this afternoon. The wounds
on Mrs. Reynolds head were made by
| the butt of a musket. While there We're
| no less than seven bayonet wounds on
| the body. The muSket and bayOnet
| were both found in the ruins Of the fire
| and are known to be the property of
| Mowry.
Immediately after the autopsy Judge
| Spear Of the district court, signed a
! warrant for the arrest of MOwry and he
| was at once brought into court for ar
| raipnmont He plead not pniltV. He
! was then committed to Jail without
bail, to await the preliminary trial on
| April 21st
The only thing like Confession made
| by Mowry tonight was when DR.. Will
cox told him he proposed to etherize
! him and then abstract the bullet which
| is now in his head.