Thread: Murderer's Fate

Hi everyone



I am trying to find out information about a murder which took place in Red Beach , Maine in 1906.



Earl [possibly Fred] Reynolds killed his wife and two small children with an axe.



I want to know as much detail of who his wife and children were, particularly names and ages.



Any court details would be welcomed.



I also want to know what happened to Earl, whether he was executed, locked up in jail or a mental institution and when he died.



I am distantly related to the victim, but there is a discrepancy over her name and age!!



Any help or ideas would be gratefully received.



Best wishes

If you changed your thread to show the murder was in America you might attract someone who could help.

Thank you, Jeuel



Done

Hi Mark,



Earl Reynolds is quite a common name in the U.S.A. There is one born in Maine on the 1900 census. In 1920 another appears born around the same time but without the middle initial so may or maynot be the same person. Without a date and place of birth it is impossible to say if this is the one.

Hi There



Things have moved, but are still pretty sketchy.



Must get to the bottom of this... it's infuriating!!



I always thought his name was Earl but it seems he goes by the name Fred. We need Maine birth about 1854.



We've discovered that in 1910 Fred Raynolds widow is in the Maine State Mental Asylum in Augusta.... not surprising really!! He is 56 yrs old and b in Maine as are his parents.



Also discovered that the deed took place in 1900 and the Grand Jury took place in 1906. It also has been reported that the victims were buried in Robbinston, Maine, where her brother lived..





Calais, Maine newspaper for 29 Mar 1900

Calais March 29 - A horrible crime, due it is thought to insanity, was committed by Fred Reynolds at Red Beach, a small settlement about 10 miles from here, this forenoon. Mrs Reynolds and one son having been killed with an axe, another son being seriously injured and the house burned to the ground.

After completing three actions Reynolds ran up the street brandishing the bloody axe, but he did not harm anyone else. The man finally was taken into custody, offering no resistance and he was brought to this place for safekeeping.

Reynolds had been employed lately in chopping wood and in doing odd jobs of any kind that would bring him in a little money.

Little is known of his former life except that at one time he lived in Pembroke.

Several years ago he married a Miss Bearman, an English girl whom had not been very long in America. The family moved to Red Beach almost three months ago. They lived in a secluded place and were know to be very poor.

The family consisted of Reynolds and his wife and two sons one between six and seven years of age and the other about three years old. The property of the family had become known to the townspeople and a few days ago substantial assistance contributed by the citizens placed them above immediate want.

According to the account received here, Reynolds appeared as usual during the early hours this forenoon. At about 10 o'clock however, he entered the house and with an axe assaulted his wife. She was almost instantly killed and the older son was treated in a similar manner, being killed outright. The 2-year-old boy apparently also was an intended victim of the father and although he was seriously cut he survived the attack.

After having committed these deeds, Reynolds set fire to the house and it was burned to the ground. As the flames swept through the small structure, Reynolds rushed up the street of the village still dripping with blood. As he proceeded he flourishedthe implement wildly so that no one who saw him dared approach.

At length however, his fury seems to have waned and the authorities succeeded in putting him under restraint. The axe was taken away without his making any resistance.

Owing to the lack of facilities at Red Beach for caring for a prisoner of an apparent desperate nature of Reynolds, it was decided to bring him to Calais. The only reason, which the authorities of those who knew the Reynolds family are willing to accept for the tragedy, is that Reynolds is insane.

By prompt work on the part of the neighbours and citizens of Red Beach, the bodies of Mrs Reynolds and the eldest child were recovered from the burning dwelling before they were badly scorched and taken to the house of a neighbour, where they were cared for and where they will remain until the coroner's arrival.

The little 2-year-old boy was found in the building with his scalp entirely torn off by a blow from the axe in the hands of his maniacal father. He was removed to another house and there doctors from Red Beach were summoned to care for the child but at noon it was announced there was no chance whatever of his recovery.

After Reynolds was arrested on the street at Red Beach, he was placed in heavy manacles and bought to Calais by train. On the way he appeared very quiet and took little notice of what was passing and of the occupants of the car. He was quiet and tractable until Calais was reached and he was placed in an express wagon at the required station under guard of two of the local police.

Then his ravings commenced again, and in spite of his hands he caused the two men considerable trouble and attracted very large crowds, which followed the wagon along the streets.

Reynolds at this time was raving, punching and crying out in a loud voice, and his language was utterly unintelligible to any one. In spite of the liability his manacles were for him the carriage had to be driven with great ease and his two guardsmen were taxed to their utmost to ward of the attempts of the lunatic man to thrust them away from him.

He was finally taken to the police station and placed in a cell still manacled for fear he might do some injury to himself.

The sudden collapse of Reynolds mentally was a complete surprise to those in this city and at Red Beach who knew him well. It is not known that he has ever drunk liquor while at Red Beach and he was known as a quiet, inoffensive man. He was about 42 years of age and his wife was about 27.

The coroner who is at Machias has been sent for and will arrive this afternoon. Meanwhile the county attorney at Cherryfield has also been notified and will take charge of the case as far as any criminal proceedings are necessary. Until the report of the coroner upon the bodies of the two victims at Red Beach is had, further proceedings are somewhat indefinite, but it is presumed some legal action will be taken to properly care for the man tomorrow.



Calais, Maine newspaper for 29 Apr 1906

1906

WASHINGTON GRAND JURY



Report 43 Indictments. Three Being Against

Murderer Fred Reynolds



Calais, Maine, April 29 - The grand jury in the Washington Supreme Court Saturday read its report for the April term finding 43 Indictments. Among them were three for murder against Fred Reynolds of Red Beach, who March 29 it is alleged killed his wife and one child and fatally wounded another child and afterwards set fire to his house. The injured child died during the evening of the same day. The other indictments include assault, breaking and entering and larceny and further indictments.



Having said that it was reported the day of the crime that she was 27.



Eleanor Jane Bearman was b Dec Qtr 1856 and went to the USA with her mother, to join her brother George Benjamin. That is definite. In 1900 she would have been 44.



Any further ideas would be welcome.



Best wishes