The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-03
From Death Chamber They Go
Straight to Suspected Mans
Bedroom and Stop There.
PUBLIC EXCITEMENT is HIGH.
Father Walzer Is Taken Into Gus
tody Partly to Protect Him
From Possible Violence
Motive for Crime Is
Not Known.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Lorain, o.. May AFTER bloodhounds
had run back and forth from the death
chamber to his bedroom. but had failed to
find trail leading away from the parson-
age, the Reverend Ferdinand walzer was
to-day arrested and charged with the mur-
der of Miss Agatha Reichlin, the beautiful
sister Of Father Reichlin. rector of St. Jo-
seph's Catholic Church.
The evidence on which the arrest was
made Is regarded as of the fii.nsiest char.
acter and Father Waller. Mayor King says
| was arrested as much for his protection as
anything else, as feeling here is high. He
was taken to the county Jail at Elyria.
Mayor King got the bloodhounds from
Fort Wayne, Ind. They arrived to-day in
charge Of Doctor T. L. Hickman. the
owner. -
The dogs. leashed together. were taken to
tne room formerly occupied by Miss Reich.
| lin. The scent was given them from the
clothing on the bed in which Miss Reichlip
10y "hen she was killed. The animals
shined about the room for a moment
Ihen," said Doctor Hickman. sthey
Went straight to the room and to the bee
IN which the Reverend Mr.. Waller slept or
the night Of the murder. They then wen,
back to the other bed. They would go nc
farther than thia"
NO SCENT IN YARD.
Hickman brought the dogs into the yard
They prowled. confused. around the lawn
Hickman took them to the yard in the
rear. They nosed every inch Of ground
without giving yelp.
Hickman took the dogs upstairs again
and they went through the same maneu.
Vers as on the first attempt. running from
one bed to another and back again. TIL.
police, after the murder. took the ladder
with which the murderer is supposed tc
have entered the house and locked it in tn,
attic 's 9f
This ladder was now brought down ant
laid on the grass. The dogs. freed. leapet
| for 1t. shifted and then lifted their nose.
into the air
That ladder was not used by the person
who handled the clothing on Miss Reich
Inns bed" Hickman declared. 1.-The scent
! Is positively not there. The dogs would find
1t II it were"
The dogs were taken to the front lawn
and the officers held conference. All this
time the Reverend Father Walzer had not
put in an appearance. When asked about
this. the Reverend Father Reichln said
he knew where Father Walzer was. but
| would not say. Finally the police learned
that heSwas at St Jossph's Church. He
was arrested there
PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE.
Father Walser. when placed under ar
rest, declared that he was INNOCENT and
said that everything would come out righ,
in the end. The priest, however, admitted
that he had once been arrested at Clinton
Mo-, but said it was due to religious per.
secution and that he was discharged aftel
a hearing. s =.
Casimir Reichlin. brother Of the murdered
woman. who was about 80 years old. says
he does not believe the priest is guilty OF
the crime. He said that no one could en-
ter his sisters room except through the
attic and that there were mud marks or
the stairs leading from there. He exam
ined the shoes of Father Walser and says
there was no trace of mud on them
Father Walser took his arrest coolly and
told the officers that he would goi along
with them. But you are wrong" he
said. ut is shame to take an honest
man in this way. You are injurfng an in
nocent man. but it will come out all right
in the end.
What position to be placed in" he
continued. Il came to Lorain on Tuesday
for a quiet visit and this had to happen
! am innocent as babe and have nothing
to offer in defense
Father Walser has been assistant pastor