The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
FATHER WALSER DISCHARGED
NO EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM IN
THE REICHLIN MURDER.
Coroner Released Him From Gust ody After
tho lnauest-No 1Asht Thrown on tho
Killing OF the Girl-All Theories In
the Case Seem 10 he Shaft cred


Killing Of the Girl-An Theories II
the Case Seem 10 De shaft eret
LoRA1N, Ohio. May 5.-Father Ferdinand
Walser, the Catholic priest who was ARRESTED
on Saturday on the charge of having muir
dered Miss Agatha Reichlin, who was founc
dead In her room at her priest brother.
house, st. Joseph's parsonage. on Thursday
night. was discharged to- night by ths
authorities and released from the count y
Jail in Elyr'ia.
This action was taken after Coroner
French held. an inquest to-day, in which
not sufficient evidence was produced to
hold the priest in custody. Coroner
French's verdict simply said that Agatha
Reichlin came to her death by the hands
Of an unknown assassin.
The mystery is now more involved than
before, practically every theory in con-
neotion with the crime having been pune.
tured by to-day's testimony at the Coroner's
inquest. The burglary theory seems UNI
tenable to the police apd others who have
| given the matter consideration. All the
props tending to uphold the theory that
Father Walser had committed the crime
have been removed and the charge against
| him has fallen fiat.
All the known sweethearts of Agatha
Reichlin have been accounted for and it
developed that they were either thousands
| Of miles away in another country or old
men who. in paying attention to the young
woman, had no other purpose in view than
to procure good housekeeper. The theory
| the evidence that it is not being onsidered
at all.
The inquest was held here to-day by
Coroner French. assisted by Prosecutor
Stroup. Capt: S. $. Ketchum. night chief
Of police at Lorain. testified that he had
A. N. This contradicts the state ment Of
Casimir Reichlin, brother Of the girl.
He had said that he called the police.
Ketchum also testified that Casimi r
Reichlin was fully dressed when he arrived.
Father Walser had on all his clothing with
the exception of his coat and hat Casimirr
Reichlin was the first to 60 upstairs, followed
by Capt. Ketchum and Patrolman Jen-
nings. Father Walser would not accom-
pany them. There had been no light in
He described the position in which the
dead woman was found. Ketchum said
| the only evidence Of any one having been
on the outside of the house during the
night was three or four small tracks on
Walser had told him the murderer Was
tall and slender and had black mustache.
He went into details relative to the state
ment made by Father Walser about calling
Casinir Reiohlin after seeing the burglar.
Had Fat her Walser been drinking when
you arrived" asked the Prosecutor.
Il could see no evidence Of it
what was Casimir's condition.
He was greatly excited.
How close was rather "alsers oeo 10
Agathas room?"
About fourteen or sixteen feet"
Capt Ketcham said the bloodhounds
were ON every bed in the house. and that
they did not show any greater interest in
the one that had been occupied by Father
Walser than in any other.
He said he found two small pieces Of mud
on the attic floor when he first went to the
place. He also found mud on the ladder.
It looked to him as though the mud on the
floor had dropped from the shoe of some one
as he crawled in or out Of the window. He
believed that any, one walking across the
attic floor would have been heard down.
stairs, as the boards we're loose. He wac
asked again in reference to the mud He
said it was partly dry. as though it had been
Casimir Reichiin testified that he had
drunk bottle Of beer but would not admit
that Father Walser had taken any. He
said his sister was a light sleeper, She
ness. due on this occasion to oyerwork at
that Agatha had ever expressed desire
to desert the Catholic faith.
Casimir was awakened by Father Walser
rushing into his room. with demand for
matches. saying he had seen burglar;
Then he went into Agatha's room and found
her dead. He went into the attic. looked
out of the window and saw ladder against
the house. The doors to the attic were
closed Prosecutor Stroup questioned him
closely about the ladder, but he held to
the story. He insisted that though it was
dark he could see the ladder down which
the robber went.
casimir said the dog on the lower fiooT
when there was a noise about the house
The dog did not bark that night until after
the discovery Of the murder. Prosecutor
Stroup asked
you do not know OF your own knowl-
edge who killed your sister,"
NO. SIR answered Casimir. with en-
aYou do not know whether the person
who killed your sister came from the out
side or whether he was on the inside?'
-No, sir. I cannot tell you.
"The first you knew Of any trouble was
when Father Walser told you there we're
burglars in the house.
Yes, sir
.1nd he was greatly eHo'ted''
He was only partly dressed''
Yes, sir. ..-,
did he rush into your room7"
Yes. sir; he rushed to the foot OF my
bed"
Casimir could not say whether Father
Walser had been out Of the house at any
time during the evening. Father Waser
went to the kitchen door once while Casimlr
and Agatha were carrying a lounge into
the house. Casimir said he called the police.
He also bought gallon Of whiskey at the
and the police all drank Of this liquor.
Later Casimir prepared some coffee and
whisl<ey for himself and Father. Walser E.
He was not sure how much they drank.
You have every confidence that Father
Walser is not guilty Of the crime with which
he Ia charged?" he was asked.
II Father Walser is guilty. then am
guilty. II he should hang, then they ought
TO hang me. I know he is innocent. he
replied,
GAINES FOR JUDGE PARKER.
The Southern Congressman wants Him to