Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-06
REV. WALSER SET FREE
PRIEST CHARGED WITH MURDER
AT LoRAIN, OHIO.
Evidence Brought Out at Coroner's In
quest Established the Innocence
Of the Accused.

says: At the end Of q rather complete in
vestigation into the cause of the death OF
Agatha Reichlin, who was murdered last
Thursday night. Coroner French of this
county this evening gave as his conclusion
the verdict: That Agatha Reichlin came to
her death from wounds inflicted by a stone
in the hands of a person unknown
The investigation was held in the pres
ence of large and deeply interested
crowd of witnesses and spectators The
conclusion reached by the coroner result
ed in the freeing of Father Walser from
confinement later In the evening.
The witnesses examined today included
policemen who had been called to the
Casimir Reichlin. a brother of the murdered
girl. Rev. Charles Reichlin, another
brother. also testified. The consensus of
the testimony of the witnesses today was
favorable to Father Walser's claim of in
nocence, and in support Of the theory that
burglar or some other desperate man had
committed the crime Capt. Ketchum of the
police. testified that the bloodhounds did not
pay any more attention to Father WalSer s
bed than to the other beds in the house.
George w. Jennings. a policeman. said
he got to the parsonage on the night of the
murder at LIS am. Rev. Walser told him
something awful had happened. When he
questioned Father Walser about the muir
der he answered very shortly. The priest
said he had heard the girl moaning ten
minutes. Jennings said he did not see any
whisky.
Rev. Charles Reichlin was then sworn.
He said he had been a priest since 1886.
He had been in Lorain since 1886 He
went away Thursday morning to attend
funeral at Kelley's Island When he left
Walser and Agatha were alone at home.
Walser had stopped at St. Joseph's Hos
pital on the previous night. Walser want
ed to go to the hospital Thursday night, but
"a rxjch hfryr 70 cfn Of ho
sonage. Rev. Mr.. Reichlin refused to an
swer question as to whether or not the
authorities did all they could to bring the
murderer to light. As to the motive, he
said:
MY first thought was that 1t might have
been a Tilted lover Mr. Rospert was her
last lover. think the motive for the crime
was robbery.
love for Rospert- He called twice since
November. My sister lived alone with
Walser during my absence In Europe last
summer. Rev. Mr.. Walser put a bolt on the
door between his room and Agatha's at that
time"
DR.. S. 8. Cox testified that he assisted in
the post-mortem examination of the body.
The stomach, he said, was found full OF
blood. The wounds on the head numbered
three. but in his opinion but one blow had
been struck. There was no evidence that
an attempt had been made to criminally as
sault the girl
A'hoi iii IciCilllu announcer DrOuler OF the
girl. testified that Rev. Mr.. Walser had
been left alone with Agatha when he and
Casimir went downtown Wednesday even
ing. He said he had drank beer at the
beer and whisky were usually kept in the
house. Rospert had come to see Agatha
last summer, but she refused to accept his
attentions.
A dispatch from Lorain Ohio, last night
says: Father Ferdinand Walser was
brought to this city tonight from the
county Jail at Elyria and discharged from
the charge Of murder, which was placed
against him at that time Mayor King
went through the formality of reading the
warrant for Walser's arrest, and his at
torney. E. G. Johnson, entered a plea of
not guilty. Prosecuting Attorney Stroup
addressed his honor, saying in substance:
After having listened to the evidence
presented at the inquest today I can
see that there is not sufficient evidence
to hold the defendant. The action taken
on the part of the officers in arresting
rather Walser has been in accordance
been committed. and If the suspicion of
guilt had been placed against any other
person L can assure you he would not
have been treated as the defendant has,"
Mayor King then stated that as the
prosecuting attorney had remarked there
was not sufficient evidence to hold the ac-
cused, he had nothing to do but discharge
him from custody.
Inc crime, said the mayor, that was
committed on the 1st day of May was
the most atrocious crime ever committed
in the city of Lorain. When Father Wal
ser was arrested Saturday public feeling
against him ran high in the community.
and owing to the excited condition of the
public the prosecutor and myself thought
the arrest of the priest necessary for mis-
protection, that he might be safe from any
attack that the excited populace might
make upon him Who killed Agatha Reich
lin no one knows but the murderer himself
and his God. No one is more pleased than
l am that there is no evidence to warrant
the detention of the accused I hope who
ever committed the crime may yet be pun
ished- The city officers will not feel their
duty done. but will continue the INQUIRY
until the murderer of Agatha Reichlin NAV
be properly avenged.
Father Walser arose and with moistened
eyes addressed Mayor King as follows:
you cannot say word against me: Won
nave hurt me great deal. Agatha Reichlin
Is the last person l would have killed: /
cannot Kill anybody, 1 could not kill a
chicken. l thank the officials for their
courtesies extended me. Especially would
thank Sheriff Salisbury. as he alone treat
ed me as noble gentleman could have
done. thank all Catholics in general and
the people of ST. Mary's and St. Joseph.s
Churches in particular 1 wish to express
my heartfelt thanks for liberation from the
oreadful charge which hung over me for
the past four days"