The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-11
Confession is Secured From Man I'm
der Arrest at Fort Madison,
That He Stransied
Infant.
SAYS WIFE IS INNOCENT
State, However, is Going to Hold Her
With Him in This Crime,
According to Attor-
ney's Plans.

FORT MADISON, Iowa, April IL
That he killed his three weeks old
infant daughter, Florence Irene, by
administering carbolic acid to he:
and also by strangulation was stated
in confession made to States At
torney j. M. G. Hamilton by OrvilH
Reynolds and which fact was brought
out in the testimony of the hearing
before the grand jury which closet
here Tuesday. He absolves his wife.
Fern Reynolds, from all blame in
connection with the death Of the In
FAINT in confession, declaring that she
was sound asleep when the life OF
the infant was taken.
Notwithstanding the presentation
of the confession before the court as
evidence, the grand jury indicted
both Reynolds and his wife on the
charge of first degree murder.
The story of the confession as
made known here outlines one OF the
most brutal murders in the annals OF
the local courts.
That it was premeditated is in
ferred strongly in the confession. The
general fabric of the confession is
such that it entirely bears out the
findings Of the prosecution. Chief OF
Police G.. J. Kennedy and States At
torney j. M. c. Hamilton. through
their extensive Investigations built
ND a case, without avoiding any OF
the minor points, which when unfold
ed before the prisoner caused him to
break down and make confession
that corroborated in detail all the
circumstances suspected.
And the details of the crime as
unfolded to the hardest officers or
the law, appalled, even them. 1t was
the confession of broken man, but
made with apparently little remorse.
Whether the authorities believe
that the complete absolving of the
young and attractive girl vile from
all connection with the crime was
based on facts or engineered through
the love for her on the part OF the
husband. cannot be determined, but
she will be brought to trial in the
local courts and the facts will be
brought out then.
No attempt will be made to pub
lish in detail the confession made by
Reynolds but the following points
were brought out in the confession:
1. Baby born on February II at
Sacred Heart hospital.
2. Obtained bottle of carbolic
acid at Axt drug store on March %.
Signed for it under name OF Orville
Walker
8. On March 8 obtained a small
box at Charts grocery in which baby
was thrown after death. Baby was
still alive then.
4. Awoke during night Of Satur-
day, March 8, and administered car
bolic acid to child from an eye
dropper squirting the liquid into its
throat. AS baby was awake he held
throat. did not know he strangled it.
Held baby in arms as it was dying.
5. Wife awoke to find baby dead
and he took the remains and placed |
it in box and carried it to Illinois
side Of river where he left 1t.
The story of the confession showed |
the awful details of the crime and |
has furnished the prosecution with a |
claim Of generalization regardless of |
other statements.
In his statements Reynolds said In !
part:
my wife. the baby and I retired |
at 1890 o'clock. We all slept in one
bed. During the night the baby cried |
and my wife awoke and gave 1t
nursing bottle After my wife and the |
baby went to sleep l arose and Sc
cured the carbolic acid. The acid was
placed in an eye dropper and squirted |
into the mouth of the baby. l in
tended to take it's life but did not buy
acid for the purpose. I did not realize
I held neck of baby so tight that l
strangled it. I held body of baby In
arms while dying and held it after
relapses."
From all Indications an effort will
be made to delay the hearing Of the
case until the September term of
court Both of the couple will be
forced to remain in Jail until that
time as murder is not bailable
offense.
REYNOLDS is a broken man but his
wife appears to be in fair health and
spirits. The days in Jail for both of
them have been lightened by scores
of visitors who have come here from
their home communities
That the attendance at the hearing
of the cases here will break all re-
cords is certain. Hundreds are al
ready making queries as to the date
of the trial which as yet is not known
To anyone connected with the case.