The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-03
REV. MIR. wALsER TALKS.
Protests His Innocence of E-iss Reich
 lin's Murder.

lin's Murder.
 Elyrfa, O., May 2.-The Rev. Ferdinand WalseF, assistant pastor of the Church or the Sacred Heart at Toledo, who lies in the County jail here charged with the murder of Miss Agatha Reichlin. sister of Rev. Charles Reichlin. pastor Of St. Jo- seph's Catholic Church at Lorraine. o., tonight made the following statement.
 q am not guilty of any crime. am innocent and say that with a clear con science. This is an outrageous proceed ing and disgrace. Why did they not arrest Casimir Reichlin, who was also in the house? If had been guilty or sucn "a crime I would have flown from tnis pIace and gone to some place of hiding. If a man is guilty of such a crime. It can he seen in the eye and on the race A conscience tells its story on tfie race MY conscience is perfectly clear ana tne enu of this u,,ii show tfist I am entirely ir- nocent. There is feeling against me. l believe, because am priest. fnere ai- ways Is such a feeling. This is awrul 10 he niaced in a. place of this kind.
 ."The c, P. P. s., with headquarters at Carthaeena, of which am a member, continued the priest. will go my oono for $50. 900 if necessary. Yes, l nave peeh arrested before-it was in Clinton MD, during the A. P. A. war. Another priest
 
 bad us arrested on the charge ot crueity and kidnapping the boy. We were ois- chareed and the compliments were severely lectured and had to pay uhe costs. This case vii turn out the same way" .-... ..--.- :. .,,., ,-.,-.. ., T"It is sateted that on the night Of the murder Casimir went out and got a Jug of iauor at o'clock in the morning IS that true?" E''I will say that I sent him out myseli, but 1t was between and in the morning and after the crime had been discovered. When men are nervous as such an event must make any man. stimulant IS needed. I don't deny that sent out TOT it."
 Rev. MT. Reichlin, brother Of the deao girl expresses himself as being very much incensed at the advancement or lne thought that Rev. Father Walser was under suspicion as being the murderer of his sister He tries to carry the lm- pression that the dogs were not worked according to their own instincts
 Casimtr Reichlin, the brother who was in the house when the murder was com roitted said he would swear that Father walser was as innocent as he was him self Both brothers are apparently or the conviction that there is not single Dit of evidence that would show that the guilt was on Father Walser.
 Rev. MT, walser will be given pre- fiminary hearing before Mayor King at Lorraine probably after the inquest which takes place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morn ing.
 Rev. Ferdinand waiser celebrated his silver jubilee at St. Joseph's College. Renssaler, Ind, March IS. He is 51 years old On the Sunday following he was rendered great reception at Sacred Heart Church Father Walser has been assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Toledo about six months.
 He came to Lorraine on Wednesday last as a guest at the home of Rev. Chalres Reichlin, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in this city. ThaAlatter was called to eKny's Island to Nfmciate at a funeral last Wednesday, At his home he left his sister and housekeeper Agatha, and younger brother. Casimir. to en- tertain the visiting priest. During the night, according to the story of Rev. walser he heard screams from the room occupied by the girl. and declared that he gained the hallway just In time to see 6 man disappearing through an open win dow.
 when Casimir Reichlin reached his sis ter's room she was dead, her head hav- ing been nearly pounded to a pulp with some blunt instrument. Bloodhounds were brought here from Fort Wayne. Ind, early today and given the scent of the murderer. T he dogs circled around the house several times and finally went to the room occupied by Rev. walser on the night of the murder, They again took the trail and led the officers direct ly to St. Joseph's hospital. where Rev. Walser slept last night
 He was found at the hospital and placed under arrest, the officers claiming there were many suspicious circum- stances against him in addition to the bloodhounds following his trail. Rev. walser showed no excitement when placed under arrest and declared he was innocent. The murdered young woman was handsome. and had many friends and admirers in this city.