The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-05-13
FINALLY SET FREE
Agatha Reichlin Murdered by "a Per-
son Unknown" is the
VERDICT THE JURY RENDERED
The Testimony Did Not Tend to- In
criminate the Accused Priest.
Congratulated by Friends
When Discharged.

"hth
A dispatch from Elysia, Ohio, says
at the end OF rather complete in
veStigation into the cause OF the
death OF Agatha Reichlin who was
murdered last Thursday night, Coro-
ner French Of this county this even
ing gave this as his conclusion OF the
verdict:
That Agatha Reichlin came to
her death from wounds inflicted by a
stone in the hands of Il person un-
known"
The investigation was held in the
presence Of large and deeply inter
ested crowd of witnesses and specta-
tors. The conclusion reached by the
coroner resulted in the feeling OF Fa-
ther Walser from confinement later
in the evening.
The witnesses examined WedneS-
day included policemen who had
been called to the Reichlin home at
l.30 o'clock Friday morning and
CaSimer Reichlin, brother of the
murdered girl. Rev. Charles Reichlin,
another brother, also testified. The
cOncensus of the testimony Of the
witnesses Wednesday 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. Capt.
Ketchum, chief of police, testified
that the bloodhounds did not pay any
more attention to Father Walscr'S bed
than to the other beds in the house.
Describing his visit to the house, Capt.
Ketchum said:
Going to the attic | found fresh
mud on the floor, that had apparently
recently dropped from mans shoe.
There was also fresh mud on the lad
der that had been put up to the attic
window"
Casimer Reichlan, brother Of the
murdered girl, described the scene in
his sisters room when he reached it
after being arouse the night of the
murder. The girls left foot was
drawn up and her head was bleeding
and she lay partly on her left side.
The bed clothes were smooth and un-
disturbed and the bed quilts drawn
up close under her chin. The body
was still warm. The door between
the girls room and Rev. WalScr'S
room was open, one bed in the latter
room had been disturbed. The other
had not. A ladder on the south side
OF the building leading to the attic
window fnDn1 did a.,
the window by two and a half feet.
The window itself was out and leaning
against an old trunk. He noticed no
tracks until next morning. When
discovered the tracks were small, but
not indiStinct. He said WalSer gave
him description OF the man he had
seen as being thin, tall, wore a mus
tache and a Slouch hat. CaSimer said
the watch dog that was on the lower
floor OF the house on the night of the
murder had an ugly disposition and
usually barked when any one came
around the house at night. The dog
did not bark on the night in question,
however, until after the murder had
been discovered. There was suppress
ed excitement when Prosecutor Stroup
asked the witness: You do not know
of your own knowledge who killed
your sister,"
mo, sir" answered CaSimcr with
emphasis.
You do not know whether the per-
son who killed your sister came from
outside or whether he was on the in
side?"
No, sir, cannot tell you.
Rev. ChaS. Reichlin said as to the
motive: MY first thought was that
it might have been Tilted lover. Mr.
Rospere was her last lover. | think
the motive for the crime was robbery.
My sister never expressed to me any
love for RoSp"re. He called twice
since November. My sister lived
alone with WalSer during my absence
in Europe last summer Rev Walser
put a bolt on the door between his
room and Agatha's at that time"
THE PRIEST DISCHARGED.
Father WalScr, arrested last Satur-
day morning in connection with the
murder of Agatha Reichlin, was
brought to that city Wednesday night
from the county Jail at Elyria and dis
charged from the charge of murder
which was placed against him at that
time. Prosecuting Attorney Stroup
said: After having listened to the
evidence presented at the inquest
Wednesday l can see that there is not
sufficient evidence to hold the defend
ant. The action taken on the part
of the officers in arreSting Father
Walser has been in attendance &c with
their duty. a terrible crime has been
committed and if the suspicion Of guilt
had been placed against any other
person | can assure you he would not
have been treated as the defendant
has"
Mayor King then stated as the
prosecuting attorney had remarked
there was not sufficient evidence t.
hold the accused and there was moth
ing to do but to discharge him from
custody.
Father Walser then addressed the
mayor, expressing thanks for his lib
Grafton and saying Agatha Rcichlin
was the last person he would have
killed. Father WalSer was generally
congratulated upon his release.