River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-03-04

Niagara Falls, but never in Canada
replied Birchall, and having thanked
him for the information given, Muir
ray withdrew
On his way to the telegraph office
he reviewed the conversation that haC
just taken place. He had already
reached the conclusion that Birchal
had lied to him.
Shadow this man." the message
read, "but do not arrest him unless
he tries to cross the river to the
United States l will be there Sunday
night"
Murray then took the train for Lon
don, and visited acquaintances there
in search of traces of the Fred Ben
well described by Birchall. From
Edward Meredith, lawyer, he learned
that Barrister Hellmuth of London
Ontario, had returned from England
on the same steamer that had had
Benwell and Birchall for passengers
He ascertained that Benwell had not
called to see Hellmuth, and a thorough
search of London, Ontario, proved
that Benwell had not been there at all
Birchall and his wife, meanwhile, had
returned to Niagara Falls, Ontario;
his wife being taken into custody two
days later. They were remanded un
til March IL.
Further investigation revealed that
Mr.. and Mrs Birchall and a young
man named Douglas Raymond Pelly
were guests of Baldwin's boarding
house at Niagara Falls, and had ar
rived there the day after the murder.
Murray called on Pelly, who was a
handsome young fellow, five feet nine
inches tall, of slight build, with
small, light moustache and decided
English accent. Pelly declared that he
was the son of the Rev. r. P. Pelly of
Walden Place, vicar of Saffron Wal
den, Essex, England. He was 25 years
old, graduate of Oxford, and cousin
of the beautiful Lady Pelly, who was
one of the suite of Lord LansdOwne,
formerly governor general of Canada.
He informed Murray that he knew
both the dead man, whose picture was
in the papers, and Birchall.
"Benwell Birchall, Mrs. Birchall,
and / all came out from England in
one party" said Pelly. "Birchall and
Benwell left us for a day and Ben
we'll never came back. | saw the pic
ture of the dead man a few days later,
and | told Birchall it was Benwell and
that he ought to go and identify the
body and make sure"
Murray spent several hours convers-
ing with Pelly who was perfectly will
ing to tell all he knew regarding the
suspect and murdered man. Among
Birchall's papers, found in searching
his effects, were letters corroborative
of what Pelly said The latter, with
his Oxford course finished and the
world before him, was looking for an
opening in life, when, in December,
1889, he read an advertisement in
London, England, newspapers as fol-
lows:
Canada man, having
farm, wishes to meet gentleman's son
to live with him and learn the bust
ness, with view to partnership; must
invest $500 to extend stock;
board, lodging, and five per cent. in
terest till partnership arranged. Ad-
dress, J. r. Burchall, Primrose Club,
Park Place, st. James, London"
Pelly wrote to the above address,
requesting further particulars. In re-
ply he received a telegram from ]. r.
Burchall, stating that he would visit
Walden Place, Saffron Walden, on the
following Thursday. Pelly answered
with a note, which was found with
other letters in Birchalls effects, hop
ing that he would stay all night as it
was a long way to come for such a
short interview, and also he desired to
have his father meet J. r. Burchall.
On the appointed day Burchall ar
rived at Walden Place, and later met
Pelly in London, and won over both
son and father.
He pictured to them a large farm
one and a half miles from Niagara
Falls, Ontario, farm with large
brick houses and barns, the former
heated by steam and lighted by gas
and the latter by electric light, with
lights placed around the farm. He
told of the big and profitable bust
ness, and mentioned the fine fishing,
shooting and other sports to be en-
ioyed on the estate. He explained
that the business carried on was buy
ing horses in the rough and grooming
them to sell for profit; that the farm
was used to raise horse feed; that
during j. r. Burchall's absence his
overseer, a Scotchman named Melon
aid, and several hired men looked
after the farm and business: that he
had a branch business at Woodstock,
Ontario, and had rooms there, where
he and his wife lived at times He
said a number of Englishmen lived
around Niagara Falls, and that a club
had been created in which the mem
bers lived in English style and had
English servants. Burchall said he
had organized the club. The country
was an earthly paradise, with wealth
to be had for simply sojourning in
the land.
Completely captivated by this glow
ing description, on January II, 1890,
Pelly wrote from Hollington, ST. Leon
ard's-on-Sea, to ]. r. Burchall, say.
ing: please consider all settled. II
you will have the agreement drawn
up, will sign it and forward you a
cheque for 9170 at the same
time. | shall look to meeting Won on