Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-09
HORRIBLE DOUBLE MURDER.
Henry f. Reed and Sister Blanche Found Dead
in Home al North Adams. Mass.

North Adams Aug. ga horrible
| double murder was committed in the
| very heart Of the city early Saturday
| morning, and Henry Il. Reed, 45 years
of age, and his sister. Blanche Reed.
aged so, We're the victims. The details
of the murder are sickening, both vie
Tins having had their skulls crushed
With heavy mallet. which was found.
b;oodstaned and grimy, near by.
The murder was committed at their
home on Webster avenue, off Holden
street. When discovered. the body Of
Nr. Reed was in his bed on the frs.
floor, a gag, made of a portion of the
bed clothes, was forced down his throat.
ard the bed clothing was Soaked with
blood. which was dripping To the floor.
He had been struck on the head with
a heavy instrument. and a hole over
the eye looked like a bullet wound. He
Vas covered with bed clothes and 4
pillow was forced down over his head
and body.
Miss Reed was found face down in
her room on the second floor. just Ia
the right of the head of the stairway
She had nothing on but an ola petit
coat and waist Evidently she met her
death as she tried To pass out Of her
BEDROOM The murdered womans
head lay in a pool Of blood. just as she
had fallen. her breast across the thresh-
old of the bedroomo her hand and hair
dabbied In her blood. and arms ex-
tended
An awful hole III the right side Of hel
head showed only one. perhaps. OF q
half-dp2en fatal blows. and her fa.,
vas distorted and disfigured. Thre,.
bullet holes were found, two in her left
arm and one In her throat
The discovery was made ct 1888 \
NJ. Saturday, by II, " Tenney. who
called to loan Mr.. Reed SIS His rap
ping brought no answer and he and
David Fairfield a neiEhb0r. decided 10
enter the house by a rear door, which
vas unfastened on discovering the
crime. the police were Immediately NJ
tilted, ard soon a squad ~ Offices
under Chief Kendall. commenced in
vesiigatI0ns. The house bore evidence
Of Q most thorough search, and every
thing was in confusion
Medical Examiner NJ. J. Brown hela
an inquest, this afternoon. The polio
learned that Mrs. David Fairfield hears
wagon go away from the house about
| o'clock, this morning. and later saw
4 man leave the mouse The officers in
that beat heard no disturbance. ara
stw nothing suspicious. The police
with Shcrns Maloney and Frlnk. arr
nard at work on the case. ana are fol
lowing every clew.
Mr. Reed came here from Manchester
= L.. y years aga. He formerly dealt In
sewing machines ana musical msfra-
mehts, but for the last few years he had
conducted a pawn shop at his home He
gave most of his attention 10 persona!
mortgages and was well known as a.
mercsless creditor. Tie made few friends
and was very penurious, allowing him
self no indulgeuces.
II WAS known that he had made many
enemies in his business, and il is gener-
Atiy believed that revenge or hatred in
stgated The crime. He kept large sums
Of money In his house and the condition
10 be favoraby considered. lie had re
Gently specialized in Sugar, and was
known to nave made considerable money
There Were no really important deVel-
opments. Sunday. in the case State De-
,ecttvcs Hammond Whitney ana Peeise
Deputy Sherifs Frink and Maloney
High Sherin Fuller and Chief Of Police
Kendall have been i'm consultation nearly
All day and paid q wish to the Reed hous,
Tor The purpose OF securing Il BossinlA
something that would strengthen their
theory that the murder was committed
BY some person in a spirit of revenge.
Many papers We're found bearing upon
Mr.. Reed business transactions but
nothing among them TO give the slightest
clue 10 the murdcrers, or 10 indicate thai
anyone had been victim of aunrehcn-
sion on the part of the murdered man.