The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-31

! bound about the wOman's head, and
portion OF II thrust into her mouth,
thus preventing any cutlery She was
, lying face downward In a pool OF her
own blood and her hair and face
we're badly blood clotted.
The room was In perfect order so
far as the bed and the main furnish
ings were concerned The bed had
not been occupied. but the contents
OF dresser drawers were strewn
about the apartment, Suit cases
wore ripped open and other recep-
tacles that might have held articles
OF value were disturbed. one Of the
woman's stockings In which she was
known to have carried a considerable
amount OF money was ripped almost
entirely from her limb. Diamonds
worn on her hands and in her ears
had been torn away, as well as other
bits OF Jewelry known to have been
in her possession.
Man and the Children.
on the afternoon prior to the
finding Of the dead woman man,
who had been seen at the home OF
Mrs. Riecher, was noticed to have
taken the three children Of the dead
woman to Wilmington park. A
neighbour living next door remem-
bered TO have heard the man tell one
OF the little boys that II they would
be good he would take them to the
park for the afternoon. The chill
dren OF the dead woman are Orgie, a
girl aged 3, Philip, years, and
Frank years.
The man went to the park and
telling the little boys TO remain near
the auditorium until he returned he
took their sister with him, say
ing he wanted to wash his hands,
This was according TO the story told
by the eldest Of the boys on the day
their mothers body was discovered.
They waited In obedience TO his in
structions until It was late and then
wandered back TO the cottage in
which lay the dead woman.
Upon reaching home the children
found the doors locked and were
cared for during the night by neigh
bors. 1t is believed that the mother
of the children had been killed prior
to their removal TO the park
The man having the little girl in
charge Is believed 20 have hired
rig and driven into the country, as a
man with child, both answering the
descriptions given, were seen shortly
after the hour they must have left
the park, The man gave fictitious
name and stated that he had reached
he al l.s.N NnNUF Ia l.aN
Later the rig returned without
driver and was taken IN charge by
officers
Again at Little Rock a day later
a man answering the description and
accompanied by a little girl were
seen at the union station. AZ the
station he disposed OF a diamond
ring at very low price nd stated
that he was suffering. When asked
by the purchaser OF the ring what
address he should keep for the re-
demption of the ring, the seller
would not write a name but simply
called himself by a name that he
said would be sufficient. This was
the last trace OF the individual until
the line OF inquiry that leads to the
present agitation.
Girl Is Discovered.
A few days later the little girl was
discovered in Birmingham, Ala,
from which place she was later re-
turned TO relatives. She stated that
she was drugged soon after leaving
the park and did not regain CONSCIOUS
ness until she had reached a point
far from there. After she did re-
gain possession OF her faculties she
was kept on the end Of the seat in the
train nearest the window and was
not permitted to speak to anyone in
the coach. She was taken to Biz
mingham and abandoned, and later
found there as has been stated,
II is the impression OF the officers
that the murderer took the little girl
away to prevent her telling OF his
presence In the house, and what she
might develop in the matter OF dis
covering the dead body of her moth
er before he had made his escape.
Secured Husband.
The dead woman and her husband
Harry p. Rlecher, were separated at
the time Of the tragedy, he being her
second husband. He did not come
to Hot Springs with her, being res
ldent of Oklahoma and she coming
to Arkansas from Dallas, Texas. She
had been In the city only few weeks
at most and had roomed at public
house until about two days before the
killing. It was in the payment of
the rent for the cottage on Kirk
street that the fact Of her possessing
goodly amount OF money became
known. A woman 10 whom payment
was made stated that Mrs Riecher
exhibited a large roll OF bills and
took from It SIS with which payment
was made. The remainder OF the
money was placed in her stocking.
The beauty and size of the diamonds
worn were noticed by the landlady.
Following investigation officers
swore out complaint charging Archie
Banlster with the murder of Mrs.
Riecher. Circulars and kilograms
were soon on their way over the
country covering a radius OF 500
miles. Local officers spent the re-
mainder OF that day and the follow
Ing night In fruitless search for
the murdered. From that time fol-
a.