HORRIBLE OUTRAGE IN MELBOURNE.

Evening Star, Issue 3438, 27 February 1874, Page 3

HORRIBLE OUTRAGE IN MELBOURNE.

The following particulars of the explosion by which Mr Reynolds, of the well-known Victorian carrying firm of Reynolds and Jtngliso, lost his life, are furnished by the Age of the 9th inst. :—At 9.30 yesterday morning Mr English called at the office of Mr Reynolds; and meeting him on the stairc ~ e * theyJaoth went to his office. At the office door the gentlemen observed a small box, resembling an ordinary fig-box, corded and directed to the firm, standing outside the door. Prom what Mr English states, it appears that the b.,x was carried into the office -by. Mr Reynolds, who proceeded to uncord it. The lid, which was only placed on it loosely, was then removed, disclosing some white earth, resembling pip e l ?%y* English states he was looking tye time, apd that Mr Reynolds yag either upon his or else in a stoop*ng attitude., Tlie latter thep removed a tiop of the play, and Mr English had only ft sufficient time jp observe a chemist’s phial embedded in the earth, when the explosion tcok place and he remembered no more. Mr English is further of opinion that the matter was a most 1 fiendish attempt on the part of the sender of the box '.■'to I take''somebody’s life, but he Has not the slightest idea from whom the box came. Mr Reynolds died at 3 p.tn., and up to the time of his dissolution remained in a partially comatose state. He bad pot strength to make the effort necessary to sign a wilL The explosion was heard for a considerable distance, and immediately after the report a volume of blue smoke was observed to be waning from the windows of the third storey. When, the place was . entered a most pitiable sight was presented to view. Mr Revno!ds lay on the floor, bleeding profusely fe o r Veral wo ? nd ». on ?*■ body, whilst English was groping his way about as if he were blinded. The injuries sustained by feynolds were of a most frightful character, his head apparently showing the least signs of being hurt. His clothes were almost literally blown from off him, only a few shreds of his shirt and trowsers remaining pjion lus person. His flesh Was, to use the

words of one of the’ hospital attendants, hanging in ribbons about him, in addition to which there was a most fearful circular Wound in the abdomen. Mr English’s'injuries were not so serious. His face was somewhat lacerated; and he presented every appearance of a man who had been burned by gunpowder. One of his ears was pierced with splinters of wood, presenting much the appearance of having a number of matches thrust through it. Strange to say, hut slight marks of any unusual disturbance were observable in the room in which the affair occurred. The glass in the windows was shattered, but otherwise nothing was disturbed.

The city coroner, Dr Youl, commenced an inquest on the 10th on the body of Maxwell Reynolds. The only evidence taken was that of vi r Ellis Reynolds; who stated that the deceased, his brother, was 54 years of age. He was a merchant, and has left a wife and one child. Various rumors are current as to the cause of-the explosion, but nothing definite has transpired to elucidate the mystery. Mr English states most distinctly that he particularly! observed the address upon the yackage, which was “ Mr Maxwell Reynolds, Queen street, Melbourne.” It is also averred that Mr Green, who is connected with the practical working of the firm, had frequently remonstrated with Mr Reynolds upon his incautious handling of combustibles. Ihe police are on the alert, and two parties are-mentioned as being suspected, but the detectives are exceedingly reticent upon the subject. It was reported at the hospital that Mr English was progressing favorably, and no permanent evil effects are likely to result to his eyes from the accident. Writing on the 11th, the ‘Age’ says Mr Adam English is still an inmate of the Melbourne Hospital, and is stated by his medical attendants to be progressing favorably. His sight is improving, and it is believed that unless any unfavorable symptoms intervene, he will be sufficiently iccovered to give evidence at the adjourned inquest, which will be held on Tuesday next. Many of the n . °* *be deceased, Mr Reynolds, are still farm in their opinion that the unfortunate occurrence was a diabolical plot to deprive him of his life, and this theory is ad--7u re< V° b y g entleme hj who positively state that the deceased had repeatedly received letters from persons interested in various combustible compounds, which might probably affect mining interests, cautioning him to abstain from the introduction of his dyna mite powder into the Colony. These threats Mr Reynolds had always treated with levity, jocularly remarking that threatened men always lived the longest.