The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-10-24
Rev. Richeson's Father Came
From Virginia Today
TO ASSIST IN DEFENSE
He Was Accompanied by His Own At
torney-Defense Trying to Show
That Another Man Might Have
Given Poison to Girl.

Boston, Oct. 24.--To help save Rev.
Clarence V. r. Richeson. his boy" who
IS in the Charles street jail charged with
the murder of Miss Avis Linnell, Thomas
Narland Richeson, Virginia farmer,
arrived here to-day He was accompa-
MED by his personal attorney with
flashing eve and determined positive
ness, Mr.. Richeson expressed his belief
IN the innocence OF his son.
In preparation for the special session
of the grand jury on Thursday, the po-
lice and private detectives worked assid-
uously to-day. and District Attorney
Pelletier went over the evidence in the
bands of the police officials. To estab-
lsh a defense in the case, detectives are
to-day in another state. They hope to
show another man had the same oppor-
tunity to secure cyanide Of potassium
and to administer it to Miss Linnelb
as it is charged Richeson had.
Judge Dunbar has announced that Rev.
Richeson wrote a letter Saturday, the
day following his arrest, resigning as
pastor Of the Emmanuel Baptist church
1t Cambridge The letter was held at
the suggestion of his counsel.
Will Prove Innocence.
The Rev. Mr. Richeson late yester
day faced two leading members of his
church and declared 81 am innocent
and will prove it when the time comes.
The two men, A. f. Watson. treasurer,
md NJ. T.. Hughes, both Of the I'M
manuel Baptist church Of Cambridge,
visited the man in his cell as did the
Rev. George Holt, the Rhode Island
clergyman. who is to marry the young
sister of Violet Edmands, to whom Mr..
Richeson was engaged. The pastors
protestation of his innocence was made
TO each of the visitors.
Another visitor to the prisoner yes
terday was his sister, Miss L. V. Richie
eon, Of Saranac Lake, y. Y. The usual
limited time allotted to visitors was
overlooked and Miss Richeson spent
nearly an hour at the door Of cell Az
where the pastor is confined in what Is
known as "murderers' row."
All that money and the legal pro-
fession can provide to give aid to Richie
con will apparently be forthcoming Im-
mediately upon the arrest of the Rev.
Mr.. Richeson Moses Grant Edmaiids, fa-
ther of the young woman to whom the
minister was TO be married next week
Tuesday, and in whose home he sought
seclusion from the time Of the death
of the Linnell girl at the Young Wom-
ans Christian association rooms on Octo-
Der Ia until he was arrested Friday
morning last, made a statement in which
he declared that Richeson would have
the best counsel that money could Sc
cure. This was taken as an assurance
that the wealth Of Mr.. Edmands, as
well as the means of his daughter, an
heiress in her own right, would be drawn
upon.
Still further assistance has been prom
ised the minister from his own family.
Words of encouragement and assurances
Of support came yesterday from DIR.
William A. Richeson of Amherst, Va,
wealthy uncle, who declared his for
tune was at the command Of the at
torneys for the defense. The Rev Mr..
Richeson, although penniless himself,
will thus have in his defense the as
eistance of three fortunes.
One Perplexing Problem.
One of the perpexing problems which
have confronted the prosecution is the
apparently long time in which the
cyanide Of potassium acted before il
faused the death Of Miss Linnell. The
medical examiner, DR.. Timothy +, Leary,
Ia his report declared that death en-
sued 25 minutes after the taking Of the
poison. To the police this seems strange
In view of the fact that cyanide is sup
posed to cause instantaneous death
Various explanations are being ad-
vanced for this seeming inconsistency
One is that an overdose of the poison
acted fas its own emetic. Another is
that the poison had deteriorated through
chemical action. This matter will be
pscertained by an analysis Of a guam
tity Of cyanide of potassium to be se-
cured from the Hahn drug store to see
ii the drug kept such as was pur.
chased by the minister, had lost its
strength.
The medical examiner is authority foi
The statement that no special signifi.
canoe need be placed on the fact that
the girl survived nearly half an hom
after taking such a deadly dose, cit
Ing cases where the drug had deteriorat'
ed or an overdose had been taken 50 that
life was prolonged
In view of the fact that the case
Is now in the hands of the district at
torney and that the evidence win bt
presented before the grand jury OF
Thursday of the present week, a spe
cal sitting having been called to avoid
hearing before the municipal court
which would diyulge the evidence to tht
defense, the police declare that no more
material secured by them would be Civ,
en- out to the press.