The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-06
WALSER IS
 CLEAR OF CHARGE
Catholic Priest Given Hearing
 on Arrest for Murder
MAKES PATHETIC SPEECH
Says He Could Not Have Killed Agatha Reichln and Moreover He Could Not Have Killed a Chicken.
 His Eyes Were Moist.

Lorain, O., May 5.-Father Ferdinand Walser. arrested last Sunday morning in connection with the murder of Agatha Reichlin, was brought to this city to- night from the county jail at Elyria and discharged from the charge of murder which was placed against him at that time. Mayor King went through the for mality of reading the warrant for Wal ser's arrest, and his attorney, E. G. Johnston, entered a plea of not guilty, Prosecuting Attorney Stroup, addressing his honor. said in substance:
 After having listened to the evidence presented at the inquest today I can see that there is nothing sufficient to hold the defendant The action taken on the part of officers in arrestlng Father Wal ser has been in accordance with their duty. A terrible crime has been com mitted, and if the suspicion of guilt had been placed against any other person, can assure you he would have been treat ed as the defendant has been"
 Mayor King then said:
 An Atrocious Crime.
 <A6 lhC plooCSatAAt6 dAAOAhNS heAS AS7 marked there was not sufficient evidence to hold the accused. I have nothing to do but discharge him from custody The crime that was committed on the first day of May was the most atrocious crime ever committed in the city of 'Lorain. When Father Walser was arrested Sat urday. public feeling against him ran high in the community and on account of the action of the public the prosecution and myself thought the arrest of the priest necessary for his protection, that he might be safe from any attack which the excited people might make upon him. Who killed Agatha Reiclflin no one knows, but the murderer himself and his God. No one is more pleased than l am that there is no evidence to warrant the de- tention of the accused. 1 hope whoever committed the crime may yet be pun ished. The city officers will not feel their duty done, but will continue their in- quiry until the murder of Agatha Reich lin may be properly avenged.
 Father Walser arose and with moisten- ed eyes addressed Mayor King as fol- lows
 Father Walser Speaks.
 You cannot say a word against me. You have hurt me a great deal. Agatha Reichlin is the last person l would have killed. 1 could not kill anybody. l could not kill a chicken. I thank the officials for their courtesies extended me, and especially would I thank Sheriff Salis- bury, as he alone treated me as noble gentleman could have done. 1 thank all Catholics in general and the people of St. Mary's and St. Josephs churches in par ticular. l wish to express my heartfelt thanks for liberation from the dreadful charge which hung over me for the past four days"
 Notwithstanding the bringing of Father Walser here from Elyria was very quietly done, a large crowd gathered in the mayors office during the progress of the hearing.
 Father Reichlin, brother of the mur- dered girl, listened attentively to the proceedings, and upon adjournment ot court was the first to approach Father Walser with a hearty handshake, after which the handshaking became general and the freed priest was the recipient of congratulations on all sides, after which he left for the hospital to pass the night.
 Killed By Persons Unknown.
 Elyria, O., May 5.-At the end of a rather complete investigation into the cause of the death of Agatha Reichlin, who was killed last Thursday night Coro- ner French of this county this evening gave as his conclusion the verdict that Agatha Reichlin came to her death from wounds inflicted by a stone in the hands of person unknown"
 The investigation was held in the pres ence of large and deeply interested crowd of witnesses and spectators. The conclusion reached by. the coroner re- suited in the freeing of Father Walser from confinement later in the evening.
 The witnesses examined today included patrolmen who had been called to the Rechlin home at 80 Friday morning and Casimer Reichlin, brother of the mur- dered girl The Rev. Charles Reichlin, another brother, also testified The con- census of the testimony of the witnesses was favorable to Father Walser's claim of innocence, and in support of the theory that a burglar or some other desperate man had committed the crime. Captain Ketchum of the police testified that the bloodhounds did not pay any more atten- ton to Father Walster's bed than to the