The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-08
ACCUSED PRIEST
IS DISCHARGED
Nothing Develops at Inquest t.
Connect Father Walser With
Lorraine Murder.
PRIEST MAKES STATEMENT
Claims Great Injustice Has Been Done
Him, but Thanks Officials for Their
Courtesy-Asatha Reiohin's
Murderer Unknown.

Lorain, O., May Father Ferdinand
Walser, arrested last Saturday morning
In connection with the murder Of
Agatha Reichlin, was brought to this
city last night 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 for
,mality of reading the warrant for Wal
ser's arrest, and his attorney, 3. g.
Johnstone, entered plea OF not guilty.
Prosecuting Attorney Stroup, adj
dressing his honor, said, in substance:
After having listened to the evil
dence presented at the inquest, I can
see that there is nothing sufficient to
hold the defendant. The action taken
on the part Of the officers in arresting
Father Walser has been in accordance
with their duty. A terrible crime had
of guilt had been placed against any
other person I can assure you he would
have been treated as the defendant has
BEEN"
Prisoner Is Discharged.
Mayor King then stated that as the
prosecuting attorney had remarked,
there was not sufficient evidence to
hold the prisoner, and he had nothing
to do but discharge him from custody.
on the LIST day Of May was. the most
atrocious crime ever committed in the
city Of Lorain. When Father Walser
was arrested Saturday public feeling
ran high in the community, and on ac-
count Of the excited condition of the
public, the prosecutor and myself
thought the arrest Of the priest neces-
sary for his protection, that he might
be safe from any attack that the ex-
cited manila r1oier mako him
Who killed Agatha Reichlin no one
knows but the murderer himself and
his God. No one is more pleased than
am that there is no evidence to war
rant the detention Of the accused. I
hope whoever committed the crime
I Xe PYP5h Yan Att T5s aona e1ty w
Of Agatha Reichlin may be property
| avenged"
Priest Thanks Sheriff.
Father Walser arose, and with moist
ened eyes addressed Mayor King as
follows:
''You cannot say a word against me;
you have hurt me a great deal. Agatha
Reichlin is the last person I would kill.
Oh, could not kill anybody. could
not kill a chicken. I thank the officials
for the courtesies extended me; espe-
CAdlly WOulO llltllh ouSEllI SALISBURY,
as he alone treated me as a noble gen.
| tleman could have done. I thank all
| Catholics in general, and the people of
| ST. Mary's and st. Joseph's churches
| in particular. I wish to express my
heartfelt thanks for liberation from the
dreadful charge which has hung over
me for the past four days"
| Notwithstanding the bringing of
Father Walser here from Elyria was
very quietly done, large crowd gath
cred in the mayors Office during the
progress Of the hearing. Father Reich
| lin; brother of the murdered girl, lis
tened attentively to the proceedings,
and upon adjournment Of the court was
the first to approach Father Walser
with a hearty handshake, after which
the handshaking became general. and
the freed priest was the recipient Of
congratulations on all hands, after
| which he left for the hospital to pass
the night.
Elyria, O., May 5.-The coroner's in
quest in connection with the murder OF
| Agatha Reichlin last Thursday al
Lorain began here today in the pres
ence Of large number Of people.
Father Walser, the accused priest
was represented by counsel, and many
of his friends were present.
! For the first time Casimir Reichlin
the younger brother Of the murdered
| girl, who was in the house when the
crime was committed, told his story
| Little of Importance was added to what
was already known: Young Reichlin
declared most ernphatically he believed
Walser was innocent.