Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-21
MINISTER HELD FOR MURDER
Rev. G. V. 7. Richeson of Cambridge,
Mass, Charged with Killing Girl,
FORMER FIANCEE TAKES POISON
Young Woman Swallows Cyanide of
Potassium, Thinking ~ Was
MedIcine--PreRcher Pur-
chased the Drug,

BOSTON, oct 20.--Rov. Clarence V, r.
Rioheson. pastor of a Baptist church In
Cambridge, was arrested early today as
result of police investigation of the
death by poisoning OF Miss Avis Lennell,
student at tho Now England Con-
servatory OF Music, The arrest was made
at tho home of Moses q, Edmands, father
OF Richoson's fiancee in Brookline.
After arriving at headquarters Deputy
Superintendent Watts said he received
word last evening from Newton that
william Hahn. a druggist OF Newton
Center. had sold cyanide OF potassium
to Rioheson, whom he knew we'll. ION the
night OF October TO-" Mr.. Watts him
self at once interviewed the druggist
who according to the police official told
the following story;
REV. Mr.. Richeson, whom know well,
came TO my store on the night OF october
dog which he desired to get rid OF IN the
easiest way possible. ! suggested that he
choroform the dog. but Mr.. Richeson
I said he did not like the smell OF the
drug. 1 then suggested cyanide of potas-
slum and put enough in an open vial
10 Kill three dogs. l warned the min
| lhAtI 10 ut thitAul hbW ITO AhAoANa Aho
potassium and TO destroy the vial after
he had killed the dog,
Mr.. Richeson had sent mo an invita-
tion to his wedding with Miss Edmands
and before he left the store he told me
not to forget TO come. The minister also
requested me to keep the sale OF the
cyanide OF potassium a secret 1 told no
one until the Ldnnell case developed"
Warrant Charges Murder.
A warrant charging Rloheson with first
degree murder was issued by Municipal
Court Judge Murphy during the forenoon.
1t was arranged TO bring the minister
case until October 81.
Avis Linnell. 10 years old. whose home
was at Hyannis. Mass. was found dead
in the bath room OF the Young Women's
Christian Association home in this city
last Saturday evening. At first II was
believed that she had committed suicide,
but later developments showed that she
had had unknOwingly taken cyanide OF
potassium, given or sent 10 her by some
other person, which she used in the be-
lief that II would remedy physical con-
ditions which were causing misery
Miss Linnell had previously been a
friend OF Mr.. Richeson, and 1t was un-
derstood at Hyannis that an engagement
existed. Later. however. the clergyman
became engaged TO Miss Edmands. whose
father is a trustee Of the Newton Theolo-
glcal institution where Mr.. Richeson
studied for tho ministry.
Richeson is S5 years old and Is a native
OF Rose Hin, Va.
RicheHOn's Missouri Record.
LIBERTY. Mo, oct. 2O.--Rev. c. 4. v.
Rlcheson was for several years "A student
at William Jewell college here and was
expelled in 1905 In his senior year when he
was detected cheating in his examina-
tions. AT that time he was n ministerial
student, and 80 far as known had no
other discredits against him.
At the college he registered from st.
Louis, but his parents address was given
as Virginia While I'm college he held
several country pastorates, but after his
dismissal from the institution dropped
out OF sight.
While IN college he figured In one SEN
satlonal incident when he refused to leave
tho homo of "A young woman who had
Tilted him until o'clock in the morning
At that time he apparently had a tit. and
II was only through the efforts Of fellow
students who were called by the family
that he was induced TO leave. The matter
was quietly hushed up TO prevent the at
! tandant notoriety