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The Murder of Frederick C. Benwell
On February 17, 1890, Reginald Birchall and Frederick
Benwell left their wives and Douglas Pelly behind in New
York to travel to the “farm” that Birchall claimed he was
planning on investing in so Benwell could see it for himself.
They took the train early in the morning to Eastwood,
Ontario. Later that night Birchall returned to New York
alone. When asked about the whereabouts of Fred
Benwell, Birchall stated that he was unhappy with the
property he had showed him and traveled to Woodstock
and London to seek out his own farm. Benwell remained
missing several days later with Birchall claiming that he
had moved on to New York to look for farms there.
It was early morning on February 21 when brothers
George and Joseph Elridge came across the body of Fred
Benwell in Blenheim Swamp. He had been shot twice in
the back of the head. The brothers immediately contacted
the authorities.