The Portland daily press., 1897-04-15
MURDERED BY A MANIAC.
Frightful Tragedy in Small Rhode
Island Town.

Edward Reynolds, His Wife and Daughter
Horribly Mutilated and the House
Burned Over Their Heads-Insane Man
Arrested for the Crime.
Pascoag, r. l., April IA horrible
tragedy was enacted enrly tits morning
at the home of Eaward Reynolds, on the
Elisha Matthewson place, near Sweet
Hill, in the town of Oakland.
Mrs. Reynolds and probably her hus-
band and daughter, were brutally
murdered, and the house was then set on
fire, presumably to cover the crime. Mar
tin Mowry. the hired man employed by
the Reynolds family, who seems to be
crazy, was found hiding in barn near
Oakland, was at once placed under ar
lest.
The Deighbors were aroused early this
morning by the fiIe. and they had no
sooner effected an entrance to the house
than evidence which led to the SUPPOSE
ton that fire was the result of arson after
murder WAS disclosed.
Mrs. Reynolds body, mutilated and
bloud-stained, was taken from her bee
BY those who were first to enter the
house.
They found copious blood stains and
what is believed to be traces of kerosene
about the bed room. The buildings were
totally destroyed, entailing loss Of
about $4,000.
1t was quite late in the morning when
the ruins become cool enough to enable
those who had beeu drawn to the scene
TO continue their search.
All day body was seen lying near the
centre of the ruins, and rs soon as
possible this was removed. Although 1T
was burned SO bady as to be beyond
recognition tho appearance indicated
that it was that of Servila Reynolds, the
twenty year old daughter of Reynolds.
Reynolds body was also recovered. The
Identification was general one as the
body had been frightfully burned.
Mrs. Reynolds head had been crushed
In evidently by an axe, and the upper
part OF the body was horribly mutilaued
Mowry was found hiding In barn
near Harrisyille and placed under arrest. 4
Tho Reynolds home was located at
Oakland, very small village, and the
only fire protection was that which the
neighbors, a few farmers. could furnish.
When they arrived, however, the ire had
gained too much Roadway to be stopped,
and the buildings were completely de-
stroyed.
Medical Examiner Wilcox stated that it
would be almost impossible to tell
whether Reynold and Miss Reynolds had
been murdered until the autopsy could
be held, as the bodies we're moth ing moro
than oharred and blaokened masses.
In regard to Mrs, Reynolds. there
could be little doubt rs there was every
evidence that she had been chopped to
pieces before the fire was set.
Reynolds and his wife we're each fifty
years of age. Servila WAS their adopted
Frederick N. Norway, Mrs. Reynold q
brother. and when he died five years ago.
she was adopted Reynolds, was not
wealthy man and had little money, SO
that robbery could not have been the
object of the crime.
The arrest Of Norway was made by
Sheriff Imam of Burrillville. At 81
O'Clock this morning Leander Buffum
was notified that Norway was in his
maniac. He went to the barn and seized
the man. He started to take him back
to the Renclds place. At that time he
was not aware of tha murder, but on his
way he met Deputy Inman who was one
of the posse searching for Norway and
to him he was given up.
Norway is a bachelor about 65 years of
age. He was always well liked In this
seotion and has borne good reputation
Of late he has been very
peculiar.
From evidence discovered today it is
learned that he has been paying CON
siderable uncalled for attention to Miss
Reynolds during the past few weeks, and
it is believed that her failure to respond
to his advances has had something to do
with his present condition, and there is
no doubt that Norway is a mailman.
From what caa be learned 1t is evident
that the murder was committed some
time before the house was fred and by
some person who had the key to the
house. From the position of the bodies
it is believed that Reynolds was callsd to