Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-10-24
new EVIDENCE
IS DISCOVERED
Police are Reported to Have Proof
Of Meeting With
.,... Victim 's'l
~ s;..-.---...----
THE CLERGYMAN IS SILENT
Church Member Discuss Resigna-
tion, but Attorneys Have Advised
Him Not to Make Move
ct This. Time.
THE CLERGYMAN IS SILENT

OOoGOus 0dcc., WV 9 40 eAAS''H
efforts to clear up the circumstances
Of the death of Avis Linnell, the
Hyannis Sunday school teacher and
music student, with whose murder
the Rev. Clarence v. T. Richeson is
charged, the police have been un-
able thus far, it is said, to locate
the receptacle which held the pois-
on.
When the girl took the dose Of
cyanide Of potassium which caused
her death, she was in the bath room
Of the Young Women's Christian As
ISOLATION home, and though the
house was searched Immediately at
ter her death, the poison receptacle
cannot be found. It was said at
first that piece Of paper found be-
side the body had contained the
poison, but this is now denied by
the police.
At the time of her death Miss Linz
nell wore a bath robe over her night
dress, but this was buried with her.
When the police learned of this fact
they surmised that the cyanide con-
tainer had been thrust into the
pocket OF the bath robe. and it was
believed that orders would have 20
he given to exhume the body. In
quiry. however, revealed the
fact that the medical examiners as
sistant examined the bath robe care
fully. and he declares there was
nothing in the pockets Of the gar
ment. ".
Deputy !. Superintendent Watts
said definitely yesterday that he had
Information of direct character
that Mr.. Richeson dined with Miss
Linnell the afternoon Of the day on
which The girl took the fatal dose.
This information, he said, came
from young woman who is not a
member OF the Young Women's
Christian association household. She
met Miss Linnell on the street late
Saturday afternoon.
miss Linnell told me-" said Dep
uty Watts Informant, "that she had
just dined with Richeson and that
she was going home, as she was SUI
fering from a headache.
The cafe in which the couple had
dined is also known to the police,
and the employees there are said to
have verified the statement Of the
young woman as to visits made by
the Cambridge pastor and the con-
servatory Of music pupil.
The morning worship at the I'M
manuel Baptist church, Cambridge,
yesterday was without reference OF
any kind to the plight Of the con-
gregation's pastor. Rev. c. v. T..
Richeson. 1t had been reported that
Mr.. Richeson would resign his pas
torate yesterday. but no letter from
him was Forthcoming.
DR.. George Cross, who occupied
the. pulpit, carried his hearers along
lines of thought entirely removed
from any reference to Mr.. Richie
sons case.
It was the expressed opinion OF
Thomas NJ. Rumney, chairman OF
the finance committee, yesterday
that Mr.. Richeson should resign and
the church be relieved of notoriety.
I'VE do not presuppose that Mr..
Richeson is guilty" said Mr.. Rum
ney. "But innocent or guilty. his
resignation should be forthcoming,
in my opinion, as his continued con-
nection with the church only embar-
rasses him and the congregation"
Mr.. Rumney reiterated an inten-
tion to call upon Mr.. Richeson at
the Jail for the purpose Of urging
him to resign.
The opinion that Mr.. Richeson
will not resign or issue any state
ment to the public or to his parish
toner's was expressed by his counsel,
Philip r. Dunbar, yesterday. Mr..
Dunbar said he had advised the min
lister to make no statement Of any
kind, and further that he would ad-
wise against Mr.. Richeson handing
in his resignation.
The attendants at the Charles
street jail maintained extreme re-
serve as to how Mr.. Richeson had
passed the day. It could not be
learned whether he had attended d.
vine services in the prison chapel or
rot. No one was permitted to visit
the prisoner.
Miss L. v. Richeson. a sister OF
the imprisoned clergyman, arrived
late Saturday night from Saranac