Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-28
YET UNCERTAIN.
Rev. RiCheson May or
May Not Be Tried
For Murder Of His Former
Sweetheart, Avis LinneII.
Expected That Grand Jury VIII Re-
port Sometime, Monday Night.

NHeluGT rev. Clarence V. l.
the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist church,
Cambridge, shall be placed on trial
for the murder of his former sweet
heart, Avis Linnell, is still undecided.
The special session of the Suffolk
county grand jury, which has been
sitting ON the case for the past two
days, failed to complete the list of Wit
nesses summoned when adjournment
was taken this afternoon until Mon
day morning. 1t is probable, however
according to District Attorney Joseph
&C.. Pelletier, who is directing the pre-
Isentation of the case to the grand
jury. that all the witnesses will have
been heard by Monday evening. This
indicates that a report as to whether
an Indictment has been found may be
expected some time Monday night, at
the latest.
Although the government has be-
como acquainted with some Of the
facts which the defence relies upon to
build a case for Mr.. Richesen. through
the summoning before the grand jury,
yesterday, of Mr.. and Mrs Moses
Grant Edmands. parents Of Miss Vio-
let Edmands. whose proposed marri-
age 10 the accused minister has been
cancelled. the prosecution was defect
ed today in their attempt further TO
secure evidence in the possession of
the defence. This defeat was in the
efforts Of the government to have De
tectivc Robert Burns, employed By the
defence. predEce the letters and 9TH
er articles which lie removed from Mr..
Riehes0n's rooms.
The matter was brought informally
before Judge George A. Sandcrson of
the superior crimina! court at a con-
ference this forenoon. attended by
Burns. who Is in the employ of the de-
fence. aud by Cong. r. O. Harris and
Philip X. Dunbar Of Richeson's eonn
sci II is understood that Judge San
dersen SAID that he could render no
decision a. this time, but IL the mat
ter were brought Il him While he was
sitting in court, he would rule on it,.
The question could not come before
him unless Burns should be sub
poenaed again TO appear before the
grand jury and asked to give up the
papers. Burns. 1t is claimed, would
refuse to do this on the ground that
they were no longer in his possession,
tie tidNitS dt4tddA ftlINttEu tiltit u
the defendants attorneys. The preee-
dure then would be TO have Burns
brought up by the prosecution on
charge OF contempt Of court The mat
ter would then be brought before
Judge Sanderson for ruling, Wheth
er Judge Sanderson intimated what
his ruling would be in such a case
could not be learned.
Il do not know of any law said
Mr.. Pelletier' by which / can compel
counsel for the defence to produce
those papers
Congressman Harris, who is a for
mer Judge eff the superior court, said
| in this connection:
I'VE protested against the way in
| which Mr. Burns, who is employed by
Mr.. Dunbar. to gather evidence, was
| called before the grand jury as an eff
| fore made OF make him divulge what
| he has. ! do not like the way this
thing was done without consulting
me. 1t looks to me as if they were try
| ing 20 double-cross us II also looks
te me as if they had no case. and they
| know il .
| Today's witnesses before the grand
| jury included the following Moses
Grant Edmands, father OF the ac-
cused clergyman's fiancee: four in
mates of the Young Womens Chris
tian Association lodging house. where
Miss Linnell died-Miss Julia c. Pat
tersor, Supt. and Misses IneZ Hans
| combe, Lucille Zeigler and Miss Mary
Austin, fellow dodgers with Miss Lin
nell: a telephone operator from the
Cambridge exchange. who handled q
call made by Mr.. Richeson to the Y
w. G. \. two days before Miss Lin
nell died, in which it has been SAID
Richeson made an appointment e
meet Miss Linnell on Saturday. Tho
day of her death: and George f
Cohh, an assistant clerk, and Edward
ldnnehan, an errand boy at the drue
store of William Hahn in Newton Cen
ter where Richeson purchased a guam
tity of cyanide of potassium.
In connection with the calling of thu
last two witnesses it was learned to-
day that Inspector Joseph C. Mitchell
OF the local police secured from Hahn's
drug store at Newton Center, last
night bottle containing cyanide oil
potassium similar to that which Drug
gist Hahn sold to Mr.. Richeson. In
spector Mitchell is said to have testi-
fed before the grand jury. today, bu'
whether he exhibited the vial and the
poison is not known.
My boy is going to be acquitted
said Thomas Verland Richeson, father
of the Cambridge pastor, as he lett
this CITY for bis home in Virginia
without any stain on the name O
Richeson which will not be wiped ou'
when the courts get into action. Mr.
Rieheson came to Boston to hear IRON
his sons lips a denial of the charge
of mrrder pendinp against him.
Miss Lillian V. Richeson. one of IN
sisters of the accused man. left thl
city for Philadelphia, where she is EN-
nioyed as a nurse. short time befor
her father. Douglas Richeson. an olde
brother of the minister. is the onl
relative. of the prisoner here at tn
present time.
~ Continued '>.r rage Three)