The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-03
Father Walser Often at Rensse-
laer, Where He Recently Cele-
brated His Silver Jubilee.
CRIME A MYSTERIOUS ONE
GIRLS HEAD WAS BEATEN TO PULP
WITH A PAVING STONE.
Father Walser Says He Heard Her
Screams and Saw a Man Disap-
pear Through q Window.

ELYRIA, o., May 2.-The Rev. Ferdi-
nand Walser, assistant pastor of the
Church of Sacred Heart at Toledo, lies in
the county Jail tonight charged with the
murder of Miss Agatha Reichlin, sister of
the Rev. Charles Reichlin, pastor of st.
Joseph's Catholic Church at Lorain, o. 1t
is charged by the authorities that Father
Walser, who was a guest at the home of
the latter, entered the young woman's room
at the parsonage on Thursday night during
the absence of the Rev. Charles Reichlin
and crushed her head with big paving
stone.
Bloodhounds from Fort Wayne were taken
to the scene of the crime early to-day and
given the scent of the murderer, and they
persistently led the officers to the room oc-
cupied by Father Walser in the Reichlin
home on the night of the murder. Later
the dogs struck another scent and went di-
rectly to ST. Joseph's Hospital, where Fa-
ther Walser slept last night. The priest
was taken into custody at the hospital and
brought to the county Jail in this city. The
officers admit chat the evidence against the
priest is purely circumstantial, but say the
chain is very strong.
While the feeling was very strong against
the priest at Lorain to-day and a big
crowd gathered when the officers boarded
electric car with their prisoner en- route
to the county jail here, there was no demon
stration against him.
s-.-e.-F- SAYS He Is INNOCENT.
Father Walser, when seen by reporter
in his cell tonight and asked for a state
ment, said: "All have to say is that / am
not guilty of any crime. 1 am innocent, and
say that with a clear conscience. / am en-
tirely blameless of any crime. This is an
outrageous proceeding and disgrace. 1t
is a disgrace to the city and to the county.
1 am as innocent of this crime as a babe in
its cradle. First they had me tell my story,
and l told it over and over again to them
Why did they not arrest Casimir Reichlin,
who was also in the house. If l had been
guilty of such a crime L would have flown
from this place and gone to some place of
hiding. If a man is guilty of such crime
1t can be seen in the eye and on the face.
A conscience tells its story on the face. My
conscience is perfectly clear, and the end
of this will show that am entirely inno-
cent All will come out right in the end.
There Is feeling against me, believe, be-
cause am priest There always is such
a feeling. 1t is awful to be placed in a
place of this kind and he looked about his
little cell with an eye glistening with mois-
THE c. p. p. S., with headquarters at
Carthagenia, of which l am a member"
continued the priest, will go On my bond
for $4,000 if necessary Yes | have been
arrested before. Lit was in Clinton, Mo-,
during the a. p. a. war. Another priest
| and had adopted boy, and the A. z. A.
and kidnapping the boy. We We're discharged
and the complainants were severely lectured
|. and had to pay the costs. This case will
turn out the same way.
lit is stated that on the night of the mur-
der Casimir Reichlin went out and got a
jug of liquor at o'clock in the morning.
| Is that true?' the priest was asked.
mo- that is not true. l will say that l
sent him out myself but 1t was between
and O'Clock in the morning and after
| the crime had been discovered. When men
are nervous, such event must make
any man, Stimulant is needed L do not
| deny that l sent out for II"
THE REICHLINS INCENSED.
Rev. Charles Reichlin, brother of the dead
| girl, expresses himself as being very much
| incensed at the advancement of the thought
| that Father Walser was under suspicion
! as being the murderer of his sister He
| tries to carry the impression that the dogs
| were not worked according to their own
| instincts.
Casimr Reichlin, the brother who was in
| the house when the murder was committed,
said he would swear that Father Walser
was as innocent he was himself. Both
| brothers are apparently of the conviction
| that would show Father Walser was guilty.
| Mayor King, of Lorraine, expressed him
| self as feeling impelled to take the steps
he did in causing the arrest of Father Wal
ser partly because of the intense feeling
| against the priest after the dogs had fol-
lowed their scent to him.
County Prosecutor Stroup said he wanted
| Father Welser to explain a few things
/ to him before he would declare him inno-
cent of the crime. Prosecutor Stroup
made out and signed the warrant charging
] irSf de-
gree.
! Casimir Reichlin. who was quoted yester-
! day saying that he had heard the muir
| derer as he disappeared in the attic and
| down the ladder, made the statement to-
| day to ex-Sherif Warden that he positive
| ly did not see anyone and did not hear
| anyone. He makes this statement posi-
| tive.
Father Walser will be given a preliminary
hearing before Mayor King at Lorain prob
| ably after the inquest. which will take
| place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning
| Father Reichlin and Casmir Reichlin to-
day visited Parkside chapel at Lorain,
| where the remains of Miss Reichlin Law
until a late hour. All present knelt while
/ a prayer was pronounced over the body by
Rev. Reichlin. Rev: Reichlin and Casimir
| spectators. who were unable to restrain
tears. morbid curiosity induced hum
| dreds TO visit the chapel during the time
| the public was allowed to view the re-
mains. Subsequently the body of the
| young woman was conveyed to the Reichlin
| home The funeral services will take place
| Monday morning at $50 a. m. at Reichlin
| residence on Reid street and Eighth avenue
Hundreds of curious persons surrounded
| the parsonage to-day, where the awful
| tragedy was enacted.
/ Father Walser occupied the room next tc
Miss Reichlin's on the evening of the
| tragedy. Father Reichlin was out of the
city. During the night, according to the
first story told By Father Walser, he heard
screams from the room occupied by the
sirl. and declared that he gained the hall.
way just In time TO see man disappearing