The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-05
Casimir Reichlin Tells How He Dis
covered His Sisters Dead
Body on Her Bed.
Like Others in the House He Be
ieves Father Walser to
i Be Innocent.
The Inquest Is in Progress-Priest
Probably Will Be Dis
j charged.

Lorain, Ohio, May 5.-For the first time
since the tragedy. Casin1ir Reichlin. the
younger brother of the murdered girl, who
was in the house last Thursday night
his story of the happenings of the night.
Little of importance Is added to what was
already known. The statement details
how Father Welser, Agatha and Caslnlr
spent the evening in talking and singing,
all retiring between 10 and IL O'Clock.
Casinlir says he was awakened aoout l
o'clock by the priest rushing into his room,
excitedly stating that burglars were In
the house He arose and ran to his sis
ter's room and found her lying in her bed
covered with blood and life extinct. lie
then searched the house, but found no
one.
i Continuing, Casmir said:
ct went down stairs and called central
and told the operator to notify the police.
The dog gave two sharp barks and then
spoke to him. Fifteen or twenty minutes
later the police arrived. In the search we
found fresh mud on the floor, under the
attic window, and afterwards on the lad
der. I pulled In the ladder so that the
scent would stay In the room and We could
start the bloodhounds from 1t.
Father Walsar turned to ma and said:
must break my fast. I cannot say mass
tomorrow unless have something to
drink tonight
There was nothing In the house so
decided to go to a. saloon and get liquor.
Father Walser was afraid to stay alone.
so Officer Masterson stayed with him..
took gallon jug and went to the saloon.
I have been incensed by the stories which
have been circulated that we were drink
ing before we went to bed. 1t was un-
true
You have every confidence that Father
Walser Is not guilty of the crime with
which he Is charged was asked.
01eNts To- 1f1,- thAyp al
guilty If he should hang. then they
ought to hang me. I know he Is limo
cent"
Later the same question was asked OF
Father Reichlin, He said:
IT have absolute faith In Father Wal.
SER 7 know he Is innocent"
Mayor King said: IF Father Wa1ser was
to have his preliminary hearing right here
In my office now, and I had to use the
evidence have now In my possession
against the man, should let him CO."
Prosecuting Attorney Stroup said thai
he did not think the evidence was srffi-
eient to hold Rev. Father Walser to the
grand jury.
Inquest opens.
TIyria, Ohio. May 5.-The coroi1er.s In
quest IN connection with the murder OF
Miss Agatha Reichlin last Thursday nigh
at Lorain began here to-day In the pres.
ence of a large number Of people.
Father Walser, the accused priest, wa
represented by e. 6. johnson Of Cleveland
as counsel.
Many friends Of Father Walser wer,
present, including the Rt. Rev. Bonifaciu
Russ of Lima. Ohio, head of the order o
Precious Blood Fathers
Captain Ketchum Of the Lorain police
who was SUNNI oned by telephone to tn
Reichlin house on the night Of the muir
der, was the first witness to take tn
stand. He gave detailed description 0
the house and it's surroundings He sal
he found Casimir Reichlin and Fathe
Walser fully dressed and down stairs wfel
he reached the house. Continuing the cap
tain said: 1.-The dead girls mouth wa
open and three or four Of her teeth brokel
out and lying on the blood stained pillow
Going to the attic I found fresh mu
on the floor that had apparently recentl
dropped from mans shoe. There wa
also fresh mud on the ladder that had bee
put up to the attic window. q
Casinlir Reichlin described the scene G
his sisters room when he reached 1t afte
being aroused on the night Of the murder
The girls left foot was drawn up, he
head was bleeding and she lay partly o
her left side.
The bed clothes were smooth and I'm
disturbed and the bed quilts drawn u
close under her chin. The body was sti
warm The door between the girls roor
and Rev Mr. walser's room was oper
one bed in the latter room had been dis
turbed, the other had not. ladder Q
the south side Of the building. leading
the attic window was found. 1t did nc
reach the window by two and a half fee
The window itself was out and leanin
against an old trunk. He noticed n
tracks until morning. When discovered
the tracks were small but not distinc
He said Walser gave him a descriptio
of the man he had seen as being thin an
tall and said he wore a mustache an
SLOUGH hat