The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-05-07
DEFENCS REY. WALSER
Brother Of Murdered Girl Airaigns
Police For Arresting Him.
RUN DOWN by sLoooHoUNDs

Toledo, o., Priest Charged Win XIII
ing YouHs Woman BY Crushing Her
Head VIA Paving stOne-Held On
circumstsntial Evidence.
Lorain. O.. May 4-1he Rev. Charles
Reichlin. pastor OF ST. Joseph's Church
in this city. and brother OF Agatha
Rcichlin. who was murdered last
Thursday night. yesterday made sen
sational arraignment OF the authori-
ties for the arrest OF Rev. Ferdinand
Walser on the charge OF numbering
his sister. The occasion was the ser
vices in that church. and the place was
from the altar stoops Father Reich
lin was greatly affected over the hap
penings OF the week and could hardly
speak. Several times his voice was
husky from emotion. and he paused
frequently 10 overcome his feelings.
Father Reicbi.n's statement was as
follows:
various events have happened dur.
ing tic past week. No doubt they are
lesson TO MS. The lesson is that we
should always be ready Tor death. for
we know not when it will please the
Lord TO call us TO himself. avoid sin
and DO good. The lesson also is how
little we can trust the world.
Brutality is not a thing that is or
was confined TO the -so.calied dark
ages: il is right here al our home. in
this twentieth century. The world
sees it every day
Il am sorry to sec that Father Wal
ser is conceded with the murder of
my sister. ] am sorry because know.
am convinced before Goi. that he is
absolutely innocent and that no mat
ter how strong pnhtc opinion may be.
ii cannot make him ont a murderer.
the murderer of my sister The time
Will come when I viii give my version
of the bloodhound story upon which
the character OF public opinion seems
10 be based. Ny friends. believe
Father Wa'scr innocent until he is
proven guilty. Personally. I do not
know which assault is most brutal
the assault OF the murderer upon my
sister or the assault upon the reputa-
ton Of Father Walser, the assault
made 10y public opinion upon that good
priest.
In your prayers. pray for my poor
sister. Pray also for Father Walser.
Let us help him carry his cross. and
heavy though il be. let us act with for
utude and as becomes Christians"
Rev. Walser is pastor OF the Church
of the Sacred Heart at Toledo. and
was arrested for the murder Of Miss
Rcichlin early on Saturday morning.
II is charged by the authorities that
Rev. Mr. Walser. who was a guest
at the home of the latter. entered the
young woman's room az the parsonage
Thursday night during the absence Of
Rev. Charles Bcichlin. and crushed
her head with a bi paving stone.
Bloodhounds persistcntly led the Off
GERS 10 TIC room occupied by Rev.
Nalscr at The Reichlin home on the
night OF the murder. Later the dogs
struck another scent and went direct
~ 20 ST jrseph's chapel where Rev.
Waiscr snc q Friday night Here the
priest was taken into custody and
brought TO the county jail in this city.
The officers admit that the evidence
against the priest is purely circum-
stantial, but that the chain is very
strong. They further declare that
there was much danger of mob VIC
lenoe at Lorraine. and they did not
propose to take any chances in the
case.