Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-06
THE PRIEST CLEARED
Continued from page -

action taken on the part of the officers
| in arresting Father Walser has been II
| accordance with their duty
Mayor King then said: Il have
nothing to do but discharge the prison.
er from custody. The crime that was
| committed on the first day of May was
| the nest atroCious crime ever commit
ted in the city of Lorain. When Fa-
| ther Walser was arrested public feeling
! against him ran high in the communi-
| ty, and on account of the excited condi-
ton Of the public the prosecutor and
myself thought the arrest of the priest
| necessary for his protection.
Who killed Agatha Rcichiin no one
knows but the murderer himself and
| his God. No one is more pleased than
l am that there is no evidence to war
| rant the detention of the accused. r
| hope whoever ommittcd the crime may
yet be punished The city officers viii
not feel their duty done, but will con-
| tinue the inquiry until the murder Of
| Agatha RcicElin may be properly
! avenged" .
Father Walsol arose and with moist.
ened eyes addressed Mayor King as
follows: Hi
You cannot say Il word against mo.
You have hurt me a great deal. Aga
tina Reichlin is last person | would
nave Killed; ! can't kill anybody' I
couldn't Kill a chicken. l thank the Of
meas for their courtesies extended me
and especially would l thank Sheriff
salisbury, as ne alone treated me as Il
noble gentleman could have done. l
thank all Catholics in general and the
people of St Marys and St Joseph's
churches in particular. / wish to ex-i
press my heartfelt thanks for liberation
from the dreadful charge which hung
cVr me for the past four days %
Notwithstanding the bringing of 'Fa-
thor Walscr here from Elyra was
quietly done, Z largo crowd gathered in
the mayors office during the progress
Of the hearing. Father Rcichin, broth
CT of the dead girl, listened attcntively
to the proceedings and upon adjourn
mcnt of court was the first to appro&ch
Father Walscr with Il hearty hand
shake, after which the hand shaking
Became general, and the freed prizes,
was the recipient of congratulations on
all hands. He then left for the hospital
to pass the night
George w. Jennings, policeman,
said he got to the parsonage on the
night of the murder at 1.25 A. NJ. Rev
FIR. Walser told them that something
awful had happened. When he ques-
toned Walser about the murder he an
sWered very shortly. The priest said
he had heard the girl moaning 10 min
utes. Jennings said he did not see
any Whskey.
Rev. Charles Reichlin was then
sworn. He went away, Thursday
morning, to attend a funeral at KEEL
leys Island. When he left Walser and
Agatha We're alone at home Walser
had stopped at St Joseph's hospital on
the previous night Walser wanted to
go to the hospital, Thursday night, but
Agatha wished him to stay at the par
sonage. Rev. FIR. Reichlin regarding
tho motive for the crime. said:
My first thought was that it might
have been Tilted lover. Mr.. ROspert
was her last lover. l think the motive
never expressed to me any love for
Eospert. My sister lived alone with
Walser during my absence in Europe,
last summer. Rev. FIR. Walscr put u
bolt on the door between his room and
Agatha's at that time" "
Martin Hcichlin, another brother pof
| the girl, testified that Rospcrt hid
come to see Agatha, last summer, but
| she refused to accept his attentionS.i