The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-24
RICHESON WANTED
POISON TO KILL
PUPPIES"
But Said He Didn't Want to Kill
the Mother
STARTLING NEW EVIDENCE
Pastors Friends and Family Rally to
Support and Help Of the
Accused Man

Boston, Oct pa startling bit of
evidence, which has been in the
hands of the police for several days,
but which they have carefully guard
Ell, leaked out last night and promis-
es to cast additional interest on the
case of Rev Charles V. T. Richeson,
the Baptist minister who Is confined
in cell in Charles street Jail on the
charge of the murder OF Avis Linnell
the 19-years-old music student and
Sunday-school teacher. When the
police recently gave out statement
as to evidence which had been CIV
en- them by William II. Hahn, the
Newton druggist from whom the
Cambridge pastor is alleged to have
bought cyanide of potassium on the
Tuesday preceding the death of the
Linnell girl by the same drug, they
declared the pastor had asked the
druggist for poison which would
kill dog at his home which was
about to give birth to puppies"
The statement stopped there. Last
night 1t was stated on authority that
Druggist Hahn added another SEN
teaee to the conversation he claims
to have had with the minister, on
which the police lay considerable
stress. According to this authority.
Mr.. Hahn added that the minister al
so said: 81 want a poison which
will kill the puppies without killing
the dog"
Druggist Hahn declared, it is
claimed, that he stated that he knew
of no medicine or drug which would
bring about the situation which the
minister outlined. While the state
was collecting It's evidence in the
case, Rev Mr.. Richeson late yester-
day faced two leading members of
his church and declared, 81 am in.
nocent and will prove 1t when the
time comes" The two men, A. f.
Watson. treasurer and N. f. Hughes
both of the Emmanuel Baptist church
OF Cambridge, paid a visit to the
man in his cell yesterday, as die
Rev. George Holt, the Rhode ISLAND
clergyman who is to marry tn,
younger sister of Violet Edmands, t
whom Mr.. Richeson was engaged
The pastors protestation of his In
nocence was made to each of the visi
tors.
Another visitor to the prisoner yes
terday was his sister. Miss l.. V
Richeson OF Saranac Lake, N. Y. Sh,
came to the jail an hour before tn,
opening time, but owing to the fac
that after coming such a long dis
lance she was unable to see he
brother on Sunday she was admitte
to the prisoner The usual limte
time allotted to visitors was ais
overlooked and Miss Richeson spen
nearly an hour at the door of ce
No AZ, where the pastor is confine
in what is known as murderer
row"
All that money and the legal pre-
fesslon can provide to give aid [
Richeson will apparently be fortl
| NOAAhhhs AiAAhNhAaAtAy nH0n Ant a
rest of Rev. Mr.. Richeson, Nose
Grant Edmands. father of the youn
woman to whom the minister was
be married on next Tuesday, and
whose home he sought seclusio
from the time of the death OF III
Linnell girl at the Young Women
Christias association rooms on III
l4th until he was arrested Frida
morning, made statement in whiC
he declared that Richeson wou
| have the best counsel that none
could secure This was taken as a
assurance that the wealth of NJ
Edmands as well as the means OF h
daughter, an heiress In her own rig
I would be drawn upon Still furth,
' assistance has been promised q
minister from his own family Wor,
OF encouragement and assurances
!. support came yesterday from I
William A. Richeson of Amhers
n Va. wealthy uncle, who declar,
his fortune was at the command
the attorneys for the defense. Thu
Rev. Mr.. Rioheson, although penn
less himself will have In his defen
b the assistance OF three fortunes.
One of the perplexing problem
which have confronted the prosec
c ton is the apparently long time
Y which the cyanide of potassium a,
ed before IL caused the death OF Mi
Llnnell The medical examiner, 1
; Timothy II. Leary. In his report, d
| clared that death pnsued 2b minut
!" after the taking of the poison.
= the police this seems strange,
view OF the fact that cyanide is 81
posed TO cause instantaneous deaf
- Various explanations are being O
y vanced for this seeming moons
y tency. One is that an overdose
the poison acted AZ It's own emet
Another Is that the poison had ,
Perforated through chemical actiS
= This matter will be ascertained by
y analysis of quantity OF cyanide
H. potassium to be secured from {
Hahn drug store TO see II the DIR
: kept there such as was purchas
by the minister has lost It's streng
The medical examiner Is author
for the statement, however. that
II. special significance need be placed
I'd the fact that the girl survived nea
half an hour after taking such
deadly poison, citing cases wh'
the drug had deteriorated or an oy
-. dose had been taken so that life v
prolonged.