The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-05-07
BELIEVES PRIEST INNOCENT.
Rev. Chas. Reiehlin, Brother OF the
Murdered Girl Makes Statement.

Lorraine. O.. Special.-The Rev. Chas
Relchlin. pastor Of ST. Joseph's church.
In this city. and brother OF Agatha
Reichlin. who was murdered last
Thursday night. Sunday made a SEN
sational denunciation OF the authogl-
ties for the arrest of Rev. Ferdinand
Walser. on the charge OF numbering
his Ulster The occasion was at the
services In the morning in that church
and the place wGs from the altar steps.
Father Rcichlin was greatly affected
over the happenings OF the week and
could hardly speak. Several times his
voice was husky from emotion aud he
paused frequently to overcome his
feelings. Father Reichiin's statement
vas as follows
Various events have happened dur
ing the week past. No doubt they are
lesson to us. The lesson is that we
should always be ready for death, for
we know not when it will please the
Lord to call us to Himself. Avoid sin
and do good The lesson is how little
we can trust the world.
brutality is not a thing that is
confded to so-called dark ages. 1t is
delusively confined 10 non-c!viliZed
countries; it is right here at our home.
in this twentieth century. The world
sees it every day.
IL am sorry to see that Father Wal
ser is connected with the murder of my
sister. ] am ssorry because | know |
| am convinced before God that he is alb
| solutely innocent and that No matter
how strong public opinion is, how
| spiteful, how atIocious that public
| op.nion may be, it cannot make him
| out murderer, the murderer OF my
sister. The time will come when | will
! give the version of the bloodhound
story upon which the character OF
! public opinion seems to be based. My
friends, | believe Father Walser inno-
cent until he is proven guilty.
PERSONALLY, I must say that | &c
not know which assault is most brutal
the assault of the murderer upon my
sister, or the assault upon the reputa-
ton of Father Walser-the assault
1 made by public opinion upon that goot
priest.
I'm your prayers pray for my poor
sister Pray also for Father Walser
Let us help him carry his cross an(
1eavy though it be let us act with for.
titude and es becomes Christians"
The scene Of the murder was tht
! point of interest for thousands OF call
ers at the Reichlin home, where th'
body was in view until it was takeI
into st. Joseph's church, at 3 o'clock
where the vespers for the desd wer'
sung by Rev. Chas. Reichlin and two
assisting priests. The congregation wa
SO great that it entirely filled all th
seats and all the standing room.
Father Walser, who is confined il
he county Jail at Elyria, was not ac
cessible to visitors, and he has seel
no one. He is treated as any othe
prisoner except that he has the freedom
OF the corridor. His preliminary hear
ing will be held probably on Tuesday
There is no excitement at Elyria an
no sign of any unlawful action
Theories concerning the crime are a
many as there are individuals, whil
the authorities are not disposed t
give expression to any views. Sup
port of the belief that a burglar com
mitted the crime was given impetuos
ity by the statements Of several neigh
bors who had seen a stranger hangin
around the Reichlin home for severe
hours on the night Of the crime