The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-21
CHARGE MINISTER MURDERED F|ANCE Police Arrest Pastor of a
 Boston Church HE REFUSES TO TALK After Investigation of Sudden Death of Miss Linnell Evidence
 Found duplicating
 Richeson
HE REFUSES TO TALK

Boston, October 2o-A narrow cell to- night holds the Rev. Clarence Virgil Thompson Richeson the young pastor of the I1manu-El Baptist church, Cambridge, who was arrested today for the alleged murder of pretty Avis Linnell of Hyannis, Miss, to whom he had been engaged. His commitment to jail this afternoon with out bail on charge of first degre murder marked a temporary end to chain of circumstances which police detectives have followed assidously since the death of Miss Linnell last Saturday by "yan- hide of potassium poisoning.
 Miss Linnell, who was 19 years old, and a student at the Conservatory of Music, was found dead in the bath room of ,he Young Women's Christian association home here.
 At first the police believed she had committed suicide, but later develop ments showed she had unlsnowingly taken the poison sent her by some other per sons in the belief that it would remedy her embarrassing physical condition. For several days tho police inquiry made lit tie progress. but information received
 
 cyanide of potassium at a drug store in Newton led the officials to decide upon his arrest
 A dozen officers headed by Deputy Superintendent Watts were forced to maintain an eight hour vigil outside the fashionable home in Brookline of Moses Grant Edmands, where the clergyman had been staying during the past week, before the minister was taken in custody, however Repeated pulls at the door bells, rappngs and shouts failed to bring any response from those within the house and the police, without warrant, were unwilling to make a forcible entrance.
 The deputy superintendent and his as- sistants with a crowd of newspaper 'aen remained on duty until about 2 a. m., when they were admitted. MT. Edmands is the father of Miss Violet Edmands, for whose marriage to MT. Richeson on De- tober 31 cards had been issued. These invitations were recalled today. The Ed mands family, however. maintains faith in MT. Richeson and the only announce ment in connection with the withdrawing of the cards was that the marriage had been postponed. october S1, the date for a further hearing of MT. Richeson, is the day on which he was to have been iaar- ried. But neither the announcement of the date or any other happenings in con nection with his arrest seemed to dis turb the prisoner. Even when faced by William Hahn, the Newton druggist, who declared Richeson had purchased cyan hide of potassium from him a week ago Tuesday. the minister was unperturbed apparently.
 As Hahn was shown into the room at police headquarters Richeson stepped for ward and shook his hand. It was notice able that the druggist was more moved than the accused man. Facing the clergy man Hahn, who has known for several years MT. Richeson. he told how the preacher walked into his store Tuesday evening" October 10, and said:
 i've got a dog at home that is creat- | ing disturbance She will be a nuisance nnless I can kill her soon.''
 Mir Hahn said he responded to Riche | son T never knew you had a dog and | said Richeson replied that he kept it in | his room.
 inquiry by the police where Mir. Richa- son roomed developed the presence only | of male dog owned by the landlord who said Richeson he'd never owned dog | during the eight months he had lodged l there.
 Hahn said further that he suggested ! to MT. Richeson but the min l isief wanted something that would work | qY;ck. Cvanniie of potassium was mentioned as i acting instantaneously and the druggis. | sa;d he gave Richeson enough to xiii | ,lree dogs but the minister asked for | mole and the preparations finally i amounted to enough to poison ten men,
 As MT. Richeson turned to go, Hahn | says the clergyman reminded him of his | coming wedding to Miss Ednands and | said also don't forget to come" adding | 'at must seem mysterious to you about | nay buying this. but you can keep se- oret."r
 This story brought to Chief Insoec- tor Duean of the Boston police by Hahns | attorney led to Richeson's arrest
 1n an official statement rega rding Eicheson's arrest Superintendent Watts