Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-21
ACCUSEDPREACHER
HANGED IN EFF|GY
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and had good voice The youthful and
good-looking clergyman paid her marked
attention. and it soon became under
stood that the pair We're engaged to be
married.
Members of Miss Linnells family said
that the engagement was entered into
nearly three years ago. and the girls
mother says that the wedding was to
have been year ago this month"; but
was postponed. Avis showed a diamond
ring, which the clergyman gave her. and
it was said that the broken engagement
was renewed.
Girl Came to Boston.
Richeson became pastor of the Cam
bridge church in June 1910. having sup
piled the pulpit for several weeks. and
his eloquence winning the congregation.
After Richeson left Hyannis to come to
Cambridge. and upon his recommendation.
the girl came to Boston to study vocal
and piano music at the New England
Conservatory. She roomed and boarded
at the Young Women's Christian Associa
ton, where the minister frequently saw
her.
Last spring. when Richeson's engage
ment to Miss Edmands was announced,
much establishment was expressed by
MISS Llnnell 1TlenOS IN boston anu dt
Hyannis They noticed that she no longer
wore her engagement ring. but she ex-
planned it by saying that Richeson had
taken 1t to a jeweler to be cleaned and
reset.
Mrs Linnell says that Richeson denied
to her within few days that he was
engaged to Miss Edmands. expressed his
love for Avis. and believed him.
Richeson was subject to periods of ill
health, when he was very nervous and
ixoD ~icif Loot n inn n
friends, but his manner with women was
dashing and magnetic and he had many
friends among the gentle sex. Mrs. Lin
nell speaks of attacks which made him
seem strange when he was at the home
Of Avis, and when he broke the engage
ment to her the mother thought it was
because of these attacks. Others describe
Richeson's nervous attacks as being In
the nature of fits.
Visited at Girls Home.
During the last summer the clergyman
spent considerable time at Hyannis and
he was frequently in the company OF
Avis, but he spent a week at Dublin, n.
H., at the summer home of Miss Ed
mands When he resumed his duties at
the Cambridge church. last September.
Miss Linnell returned to the conservatory
and had her old room at the Y. w. Z. "A.
Richeson is said to have taken her out
to lunch frequently since then. and last
Friday. the day before she died. was at
the South station talking earnestly with
her, according to a raliroad eWploye
who knew them both.
Saturday night Miss Linnell appeared
in happy frame of mind at her lodS-
ngs. Her associates there say that after
supper early in the evening, she went
to her ROOM A short time afterward
deep breathing was heard in a bathroom.
The door was forced by some OF the
young women, and Miss Linnell was
found unconscious in a chair, with her
feet and ankles immersed in not water.
Miss Juliet G. Patterson. superintendent
of the association, had DR.. Mary Hobart
summoned. The latter took one look at
the unconscious girl and then SAID:
Where is her fiance? Get him here at
once. This is the place for him.
Then Dr. Hobart called the city hos
pital and asked that an ambulance be
sent. but she countermanded the request
before 1t arrived upon finding that MISS
Linnell was dead. This was twenty-five
minutes after the girl had been found
unconscious. Medical Examiner Leary
was notified and a dispatch was sent
TO Miss Linnell's father.
Talk Over Telephone.
Meantime Miss Inez Hanscomb. at the
request of Miss Patterson. endeavored to
communicate with Mr.. Richeson, know
ing that he and Miss Linnell were I'M
derstood to be engaged. When he finally
called on the telephone this was the con-
versation, according to Miss Hanscomb:
This is the Rev. DR.. Richeson.' the
man remarked as l answered the ring.
l thought that there must be some mis-
take, as the voice sounded like that of
man much older than Mr.. Richeson is
said to be.
This is Miss Hanscomb. at the Y.
1ln6
you to inform you that Miss Linnell has
died here, and that we want you to come
Immediately so that you may arrive by
the time the medical examiner arrives.
Miss Linnell is dead, but why did you
call me?' asked the man at the other end
of the line.
Because you were the only friend of
Miss Linnell near at hand l replied, and
Of the fact that you might come at once.
Miss Linnell spoke of but one man as her
fiance, and she mentioned your name at
all times
II remember that baptized Miss Lin
nell at HyanniS three years ago. re-
sponded Mr.. Richeson. i know her folks
at Hyannis. where / used to preach, but
do not know why l should be called in
regard to the matter. You know the
names of her parents, do you not?'
Denies Going to Lunch.
felt that in that he was her fiance in
that she was out to lunch with him dur
ing the day. it was right that We should
notify him at once. particularly in that
he was the most easily accessible of all
her relatives and friends
out to lunch with me today" said
Mr.. Richeson. What do you mean by
that? / was not to lunch with Miss
Linnell today.
We'll. I responded. the medical ex-
aminer will soon be here and there is
but little time for you to get here if
you are coming
Did she say anything before she
died? came the voice across the tele-
phone. The question took me by sur
price ] hardly know what / said, but
retorted. No.. she didn't say anything
before she died. but she said something
this afternoon.
There the conversation came to an
end. Miss Lucille Ziegler had been
standing at my elbow all through 1t,
and she as well as I, was at loss to
account for the clergyman's demeanor.'
Medical Examiner Leary examined the
body and took note of the condition of
the bathroom. picking up small piece
Of white paper, in which the fatal poison
had evidently been contained. An au-
topsy showed that cyanide had killed
the girl.
II WAS announced that Miss J.innell