The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-06
PRIEST GEES
 HIS Fg.fDOM -Zs' Father vyeer Released
 frs Custody. |NO EVIDENCE DEVELOPS C0r0ner's Inquest into Death
 of Agatha Reichlin. Casimir, Brother of the Murdered Girl, Tells of What He Saw
 the Night of the

Lorain, O., May 5.-Father Ferdinand l Walser, arrested last Sunday morning in connection with the murder of Agatha Reichlin, was brought to this city tonight from the county jail at Elyria and dis charged from the charge of murder which | was placed against him at that time. Mayor King went through the formality of reading the warrant for Walsers ar rest, and his attorney, E. c. Johnston entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecut- l ing Attorney Stroup. addressing the Mayor, said in substances:
 -"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 the officers in arresting Fa- 1 ther Walser has been in accordance with their duty. A terrible crime had been committed, and if the suspicion of guilt had been placed against any other person l can assure you he would have been treated as the defendant has,
 The Mayors Speech. | Mayor King then said:
 As the prosecuting attorney has re- | marked, there was not sufficient evidence | to hold the accused. I have nothing to do but to discharge him from custody. | The. crime that was committed on the | first day of May was Inc most atrocious crime ever committed in the city of Lo- l rain. When Father Walser was arrest- ed Saturday, public feeling against him ran high in the community, and on ac- count of the action of the public the l prosecution any myself thought the ar i rest of the priest necessary for his pro- l lection that he might be safe from any attack which the excited people might l make upon him.
 Who killed Agatha Reichlin. no one knows but the murderer himself and his God. No one is more pleased than am that there is no evidence to warrant | the detention of the accused. I hope 1 w!soevers com-sitted the cEsSae may yet be punished. The city officers will not | feel their duty done, but will continue their inquiry until the murderer of Aga tha Reichn may be properly avenged"
 Father Walser arose. and. with mois- | tened eyes, addressed Mayor King as l follows:
 Reply of Priest. You cannot say a word against me; you have hurt me a great deal. Agatha 1 Reichlin Is the last person I would have | killed I could not kill anybody. I could not kill a chicken. I thank the officials ! for their courteses extended, me and | especially would I thank Sheriff Sails | bury as he alone treated me as a noble gentleman could have done. thank all Catholics fin general and the people of | St Mary's and St Joseph's Churches in | particular. I wish to express my heart- felt thanks for liberation from the dread | full charge which hung over me for the | past -four days"
 Notwithstanding the bringing of Fa- ther Walser here from Elyria was very 1 quietly done, a large crowd gathered in l the Mayors office during the progress | of the hearing Father Reichlin, brother | of the murdered girl, listened attentively to the proceedings, and upon adjourn | ment of court was the first to approach Rev. MT. Walser with a hearty hand | shake. after which the handshaking be- | came general and the freed priest was the recipient of congratulations on all sides. after which he left for the hospital to pass the night
 Casimir's Story. For the first time since the tragedy, Casimir Reichlin. the younger brother of the murdered girl, who was in the house last Thursday night when the crime was committed. has told his story of the event of the night. Little of importance Is added to what is already known. The statement details how Father Walser, Agatha and Casimlr spent the evening in >"ihAAiB dlIu. SillBlAB, all retiring between 10 and Il o'clock. Casmir says he was awakened about 1 o'clock by the priest rushing into his room and excitedly stat ing that burglars were in the house. He rose and ran to his sisters room and found her lying in bed. covered with blood and life extinct. He then searched the house but found no one. ContininR Casimir said:
 'I went down stairs and called Central and told the operator to notify the police The dog gave two sharp barks and then I spoke to him. Fifteen or twenty min utes later the police arrived. In the search we found fresh mud on the attic floor under the attic window and after wards on the ladder. I pulled in the lad
 der SO that the scent would stay in the room and we could start the blood hounds
 from it.
 Father Walser turned to me and said:
 T must break my fast cannot say mass tomorrow unless I have something to brink tonight There was nothing in the house so I had to go to a saloon and get the liquor. Father Walser was afraid to stay alone and Officer Matterson sat with him I took gallon jug and went to the saloon. I have been incensed bv
 the stories which have been circulated that we were drinking bo-sore we went to
 bed. It was untrue"
 ''YOu have every confidence that Father Walser is not guilty of the crime of which
 he is charged?" was asked
 If Father Walser is guilty, then I am
 guilty. If he should hang. then they 1hD hDTl1d ha VV1o I !. t.E tb