Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-04
PRIEST ACCUSED
OF HORRIBLE CRIME
Rev. Ferdinand WaIser Charged
With Murder.
YOUNG WOMAN THE VICTIM.
Her Name is Agatha Reiehiin-Her
Hend Was Crushed with
gig Paving stone,


of the Sacred Heart at Toledo
lies IN the county Jail here TO-
night, charged with the murder of Miss
Agatha Reichlln, sister of Rev. Charles
Relchrn pastor of ST, Joseph's Catho'
lie church at Lorain, o. 1t is charged
by the authorities that Rev. Walser
who was a guest at the home OF the
latter, entered the young woman's room
at the parsonage Thursday night dur
ing the absence OF Rev. Charles Reich
I'm and crushed her head with a big
paving stone.
Blodhounds were taken to the scene
of the crime early today and given the
scent OF the murderer, and they per-
sistenty led the officers to the room
occupied by Rev. Walser at the Reich
lin home on the night OF the murder
Later the dogs struck another scent
and went directly 10 st, Joseph's hos
pital where Rev. Walser spent last
night, The priest was taken into Gus
tody at the hospital and brought 10 the
county Jail In this city.
The officers admit that the evidence
aainst the priest Is purely circum-
stantal, but Il Is said the chain is UNI
usually strong.
While the feeling was very strong
against the priest at Lorain today and
a big crowd gathered when the officers
boarded an electric ear with their prls-
Oner en- route to the county jail here,
there was no demonstration against the
prisoner.
Father Walser. when seen by a re-
porter In his cell tonight and asked
for statement, said: "All | have to
say Is that / am not guilty Of any
crime. | am innocent, and say that
with clear conscience.
II am entirely blameless OF any
crime. This s an outrageous proceed
ling and q disgrace. II is dsgi ace
10 the city and to the county. | am as
innocent Of the crime as a babe In its
cradle. First they had me tell my
story and | told II over and over again
to them. Why did they not arrest
Casmr RelchlIn, who was also in the
house? II | had been guilty Of such
q crime | would have fled from this
place and gone to some place OF hid
ing. II a man is guilty Of such a crime
It 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 innocent. All will come out
right In the end There il a feeling
against re, | believe, because am
priest. There is always such feel
ing This Is awful 70 be placed In a
place OF this kind" land ne looked about
his little cell with an eye gllsienlng
with moisture)
The c. +. P's with headquarters
at Carthegena. Of which | am a mem
Der" continued the priest, will go my
bond for $4,000 II necessary. Yes, ]
have been arrested before--it was in
Clinton, Mo-, during the A. p a. war
Another priest and | had adopted a
boy, and the A, p. A. had us arrested
on the charge OF cruelty and Kidnapping
the boy. We were discharged and the
complanants were severely lectured
and had to pay the costs This case
viii turn out the same way"
1T is stated that on the night Of the
murder Casimr Relchlin went out and
got jug OF liquor at l o'clock in the
morning Is that true?" the prisoner
was asked.
No that IL not true ! will say that
sent him out myself, but II was be-
tween and In the morning. and
after the crime had been discovered.
When men are nervous as such an
event must make any man, a stimulent
is needed do not deny that sent
out for It,"
Rev, c. ReIchlin. brother of the dead
girl, expresses himself as being very
much incensed al the advancement OF
the thought that Rev. Father Walser
was under suspicion as being the muir
derer OF his sister He tries to carry
the impression that the dogs were not
worked according 10 THERE own in
siincts.
Casimir Reichlin, the brother who
was In the house when the murder was
said he would swear that |
Father Walser was as innocent as him |
self
Both brothers are apparently of the
that there Is not a single bit |
Of evidence that would show that the
guilt was on Father Walser.
Mayor King Of Lorain expressed him. |
self as feeling impeled TO take the step |
he did In causing the arrest OF Walser |
partly because Of the intense feeling |
against IN priest after the dogs had |
their scent to him,
The Precious Blood fathers have en- |
gagged T.. @. Johnson, an eminent Grim |
inal lawyer, as counsel for Walser.