The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-15
RURNBD THEM ALIVE.
4 Family Shut in Their Home and
Burned to a Crisp.

| Burned to a Crisp.
! Pascoag. II. l., April 14.-News reach
| ed here to-day of tragedy at OAKLAND
a small farming village few miles from
Paseoas. About three o'clock this morn
ing the house occupied by Edward Key
nolds and family, was burned and Key
nolds. his wife and adopted daughter
| were killed.
1t was several hours after the fire was
discovered before those who were at the
scene could begin their search. AT day
light a body was seen lying near the CEN
ter of the ruins, and as soon as possible
this was removed. Although it was
burned so badly that it was beyond re-
cognition. the appearance Indicated that
it was that of Sylvinia Reynolds, the
twenty year old daughter Of the family.
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 Key
nolds house this morning, they found
that the flames were confined to one part
of the building The place was securely
fastened, the doons being bolted and
locked. every window closed tightly so
that they were compelled to burst open
the door to gain admittance. The house
had been saturated with kerosene and
Il. ~ 4 1,A nrS
ATTEMPTED to reach that part of the
house where the Reynolds family slept,
but were driven back, and only had time
to take Mrs. Reyn0ids's body out before
that section of the house was in Il blaze.
Her head had been crushed in, and the
upper part Of the body was horribly
mutilated.
Martin AIowry, who worked for the
Reynolds family, 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 well as the floor
leading to the door, had been saturated
with some liquid, supposed to be kero-
sene. Mowry's trunk and box belonging
to him were open and his clothing was
strewn about the floor.
Mowry was found in Leander Buffan's
ham, some distance from the scene Of the
f~c. chattering and laughing liz"
maniac. Buffum seinzed the man and
gave him up to one Of the posse search
ing for him. Mowry is bachelor about
sixty-fve years Of age.
tbn Of hn
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 II
time Miss Reynolds was probably killed.
The murderer, it is supposed, then went
to Mrs Reynolds's room, and after stab
bing her twice in the face, 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. The bullet only stunned him, how
ever. and he did not repeat the attempt.
He then went to Buffums farm. The
revolver with two chambers empty, was
found in his possession and an empty
oil can was found in Mowry's apart
nents. Mowry was willing to talk after
his arrest, but from his appearance and
manner OF expression 1t seemed clear
that he was insane.
Reynolds and his wife were each about
40 wears of age. Servilla was their
adopted daughter, the child of Mrs. Rey-
nolds's deceased brother. Reynolds had
little money and hence it is thought rob-
cry could not have been the object or
the crime.