The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-15
MADE A MANIAC BY MURDER.
THREE PERSONS KILLED AND
THEIR HOUSE FIRED.

The Hired Man of the Owner of the
Plncc Found Insane in n Neigh
bOr's Barn-Hnd Tried to Commit
Suicide by shooting but Failed.
The victims of the Crime Man,
His wife ana Their Adopted
Daughter-uobbery Probably Noe
the Motive.
Pascoog, r. T., April H.-News reached
here to-day of a tragedy at Oakland,
small farming village few miles from
Pascoog About o'clock this morning tho
house occupied by Edward Reynolds and
family was burned after Reynolds. his
wife and adopted daughter had been kill
ed.
1t was several hours after the fire was
discovered before those, who were at the
scene could begin their search. At day
light 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 II was beyond recog-
milton, the appearance Indicated that 10
was that Of sylvna Reynolds, the 2O-year-
old daughter of the family. A short
time later Reynolds body was also re-
covered. the Identification being a general
one, as the body had been frightfully
burned.
When the neighbors. who had been
aroused by the fire, went to the Reynolds
house this morning they found that tho
| flames were confined to one part of the
building. The place was securely fasten-
cd the doors being bolted and locked and
| every window closed tightly so that they
usar al IN btfru ba tn
| gain admttance.
The house had been saturated with ker-
osene and the flames spread rapidly. The
rescuers attempted to reach that part of
the house where the family slept, but
were driven back and only had time to
take Mrs. Reynolds body out before that
section of the 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, 81 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 kerosene. Mowry's trunk and box
belonging 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 ma
MAC. Buffum showed the man and gave
| him up to one Of the posse searching for
him Mowry n a bachelor about s. years
| Of age.
From the position Of the bodies It is be-
| lieyed 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 this
TINA hfiaa RaVno1la was prDbablV Killed
The murderer, II is supposed, then went
TO Mrs. Reynolds 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 stunned him. however,
and he did not repeat the attempt He
went to Bunums farm. The revolver.
with two empty chambers, was found in
his possession, and an empty oil can was
found in Mowry's apartments.
Mowry was willing TO talk after his ar
rest, but, from his appearance and man.
ner of expression, it seemed clear that ho
was insane.
Reynolds and his wife we're each about
! so years of age. Sylvina was their adopt
ed daughter, the child OF Mrs. Reynolds
deceased brother. Reynolds 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 q musket. while there we're no less
than seven bayonet wounds on the body.
The musket and bayonet we're 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 war;
rant for the arrest of Mowry, and he was
at once brought into court for arraign-
ment He plead not guilty. lie was then
committed TO jail without bail TO await
the preliminary trial on April q.
The only thlngslike a confession made
by Mowry tonight was when DR.. Wilcox
told him he proposed to etherlze him and
then abstract the bullet which IS now In
his head. Nowry said: II won't be ether
lied. You think II you get me that way
will tell my whole story"