Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-11
FAMOUS TRIALS
Reginald Birchall,

One of the most extraordinary trials.
ever held in Canada was begun on Sept.
23, 1890, when Reginald Birchan was
brought to justice for having killed
Frederick c.. .Benwell on the previous
Feb. IT, at Princeton, Ontario. The in
terest in the trial was as marked in
England as it was in America. Both
the criminal and his victim were born
in England, where the latter was well
connected. The crime also took on in
ternational interest in the fact that It
! was conceived in London.
At the time of the committing of the
crime. Birchall was rs years old, and
was a son of the rector Of Church Kirk
and rural dean of Whalley. The muir
derer had been educated at Harrow and
| oxford. The scheme which resulted In
the murder was conceived by BirchaiI
J early in the summer of 1889 when he
had the following advertisement printed
IN an English paper:
Canada = University man having
farm wishes to meet a gent1eman's son
to live with him and learn the business
with view to partnership. Must have
| $4,000 to extend stock. Board, lodging
ana 5 per cent. interest until partner
| ship is arranged"
Benwell, who was a son of Lieut.. Col.
| the advertisement and in reply, Birch
| all stated he had a large farm. a mile
| and half from Niagara Falls. and
made it appear that his business was
| the buying Of horses in the rough and
grooming them so that they could be
sold at a profit.
When they arrived at Buffalo, accom-
named by Mrs. Birchall and another
English friend, it was decided that
Birchall and Benwell should proceed ito
the farm to prepare for the others com
| ing. On the following night Birchal re-
turned alone and informed those wait
ing at Buffalo that Benwell didn't like
the farm or the people, and refused to
stay there. In order to mislead his wife
/ he told her that Benwell had started of
alone to see If he could find a place
that he liked in another part of Canada
On Feb 81. four days after the muir
der. BenwelPs body was found In thu
tangled growth of a dark swamp on tbs
/ edge of MIDDLE Lake. Ont. with tvs
| bullet holes in his head. At the trial
which began on Monday, Sept. %, tht
I crown attempted and succeeded In es
tablishing the fact that Birchall's farm
being pure myth. he walked his victim
/ Into the swamp on some pretext ant
there deliberately shot and killed him
Il There were no direct witnesses to prov
the deed but there were those VIII
Il swore that they saw Benwell and Biz
chali going in the direction Of tn
swamp. and that he was seen returning
from It alone.
Il The murderer's reward was small. 70
7 Benwelrs father testified that when hi
I boy left England he had only $500 wit
/ him. Birchall sent letter to Ben
low Of f6o
der. stating that the son liked the farm
and requested that the $500 be sen
over Immediately.
In no Canadian criminal trial wa
there greater array of legal talen
than in that which sat in judgment owe
Reginald Birchall The trial took plac
at Woodstock. Ont. Perhaps no ma
charged with murder was ever before i
such apparently easy frame Of min
4 when he Jumped from the carriage a
the entrance of the court with a Spin
in his step and smile upon his fact
The trial was presided over by Judg
; Hugh Mcmahon. Birchali pleaded nc
guilty. The case was opened by B.
y Osier, the attorney for the crown. II
began by CHANGING over part of youn
Birchallfs life and picked up his caree
| and Followed It step by step until
was arrested on March 2, seven day
after the commission Of the deed.
The trial was continued until Sep
20, when the Jury returned verdict 9
. guilty and the court sentenced the pris
ioner to be hanged on Nov. IA. tn
Jury had deliberated close to two hour
! before they came to a verdict.
When Bircha1f was led to the gallow
! on the morning of Nov. II his face wa
as serene and his step as firm as
J was merely going about an ordinar
hut serious duty There was not $
mdch as tremor of an eyeIid or tn
!. auivering for an instant Of the muscle
Of his face His death and the manne
he went. to meet It was simply rnarve
Gus and an almost unbelievable exhib
ton OF stern, dauntless courage. Mr.
BirchaII showed her witely devotion
] the last, and at the actual moment
! the execution she was quietly sleepint
! under the influence Of an opiate. in
hotel nearby.