Evening star., 1897-04-14
Murder Of a Rhode Island Carpenter
and His Family.
HOUSE FIRED TO CONCEAL TEE CRIME
Suspicious Movements of the Hired
Man, Who is Arrested.
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY

PASCOAG. R. l.. April 1.-THE COM
munity about this place was greatly
startled early this morning when news
was received of what is believed to be a
tragedy at Oakland, a small farming vii
lage a few miles from here, where, at
about o'clock this morning, the farm
building occupied by Edward Reynolds, a
carpenter, and family was burned, and in
the ruins of which at least two bodies are
thought to be buried Evidence which
leads to the supposition that the fire was
the result OF arson after murder had been
committed was also discovered. and Mrs
Reynolds body. mutilated and blood
stained, was taken from her bed by those
who discovered the fire and were first to
enter the house. They found copious
blood stains and what is believed to be
kerosene about the room. They were pre-
vented from making thorough search Of
the premises by the heat and smoke A
tWenty-year-old daughter of REYNOLDS
ReyEolds himself and Martin Mowry. who
boarded with the family. were missing
Inc buildings were destroyed, entailing a
loss of about 5000.
Two Bodies Found.
1t was several hours before those who
were at the scene could begin their search
Az daylight body was seen lying near the
center of the ruins, and as soon as possible
this was removed. Although it was butncd
SO badly that it was beyond recognition,
the appearance indicated that it was that
OF Serv1lla Reynolds, the daughter of the
family. A short time later Reynolds body
was also recovered, the Identification be-
ing a general one, as the body had been
frightfully burned.
The bodies were taken to a nearby build
ing, where they will be left until the after
noon, when Medical Examiner Wilcox will
perform an autopsy.
When the neighbors, who had been
aroused by the fire, went to the REYNOLDS
house this morning they found that the
names We're confined to one part of the
house. The house was securely fastened,
the doors being bolted and locked, and
were compelled to burst open the door to
gain admittance. From what they saw.
however. the house had been saturated
with kerosene thoroughly. The flames
spread with marvellous rapidity. The res
cuers attempted to reach that part of the
house where the Reynolds family slept
but were driven back SO quickly that they
had only time to take Mrs. Reynolds body
out OF the doors before that section of the
house was in blaze. From what could
be judged by the appearance of her body
a brutal murder had been committed the
head had been crushed in, evidently by an
ak, and the upper part Of the body was
horribly mutilated. Those who brought out
the body say the bed which she occupied
was covered with blood. An attempt was
made to locate Reynolds body, but it did
not appear to be in the room.
Search for Mowry.
1t was believed that he had been alarmed
by noise, and had left the room, and had
met his death in another part Of the house
1t is stated that the position of the body
in the ruins bears out this theory. Martin
Mowry, the man who worked for Rey-
nolds, slept III 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.
Mowry was found hiding in barn near
Harrisonville this forenoon, and was at
once placed under arrest, on suspicion of
having been involved in the affair.
The bedclothing as we'll as the floor lead
ing to the door had been saturated with
some liquid supposed to be kerosene. Now
rvs trunk and box belonging to him were
open and his clothing was strewn about the
floor. 1t was intimated that his body mig hit
be In the ruins but this seemed impr OF a
bic in view of the suspicious circumstances
A careful search Tor him was begun, and
he was found, as already stated, hiding in
barn near Harrtsville. He will be held
pending the examination Of the bodies at
the Reynolds place by the coroner this af-
ternoon.
Reynolds and his wife we're each about
fifty years of age. Servilla was their
adopted daughter, the child of tdrs Rey-
nolds' deceased brother. Reynolds mad
berry could not have been the object Of the
crime