The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-05-07
BELIEVES PRIEST INNOCENT.
Rev. Chas. Rcichlin. Brother OF the
Murdered Girl Makes Statement.

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 authori-
ties for the arrest of Rev. Ferdinand
Walser, on the charge Of numbering
his sister. The occasion was at the
services in the morning in that church
and the place was from the altar steps.
Father Reichlin was greatly affected
over the happenings OF the week and
could hardly speak. Several times his
voice was husky from emotion and he
paused frequently to overcome MS
feelings. Father Reich!in's statement
was as follows:
Various events have happened dur
ing the week past. No doubt they are
a lesson to us. The lesson is that we
should always be ready for death, for
We know no: when it will please the
Lord to call us 10 Himself. Avoid sin
and do good. The lesson is how little
We can trust the world.
Brutality is not thing that Is
confded TO so-called dark ages. It is
deiusively confined to non-civi!iZed
countries: it is right here at our hcme.
IL this twentieth century. The word
sees it every day.
81 am sorry to see that Father wal
ser is connected with the murder OF my
sister. I am sorry because / KNOW l
am convinced before God that he Is aD-
solutely innocent, and that no matter
how strong public opinion IS. how
spiteful, how atrocious that public
opinion may be, it cannot make him
out a 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 he based. My
friends, I believe Father WaIser inno-
cent until he Is proven guilty
Personally, / must say that do
no: 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
made by public opinion upon that good
priest.
In yoar prayers pray for my poor
sister. Pray also for Father Walser-
Let us help him carry his cross and
heavy though it be let us act with for
titude and as becomes Christians"
The scene of the murder was the
point of interest for thousands OF call
ers at the Reichlin home. where the
body was in view until it xas taken
into st. Joseph's church. at 3 o'clock.
where the vespers for the dead were
sung by Rev. Chas. Reichlin and two
assisting priests. The congregation was
so great that it entirely flied all the
seats and all the standing room.
Father Warser, who is confined In
the county Jail at Elyria. was not ac
cessible 10 visitors. and he has seen
no one. He is treated as any other
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 and
NO sign Of any unlawful action.
Theories concerning the crime are as
many as there are individuals, while
the authorities are not disposed TO
give expression to any views. Sup
port of the belief that a burglar CON-
mitted the crime was given impetuos-
ity by the statements of several neigh
bors who had seen stranger hanging
around the Reichlin home for several
hours on the night OF the crime.