The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-10-20
HAD SURROUNDED
HOUSE ALL NIGHT
Newton Center Druggist is Al
legged to Have Asserted He
Sold Cyanide of Potassium
to Rev. Richeson to xiii a
Dog"

Boston, Oct 20.-Rev Charles Virgil
Thompson Rieheson, pastor of the lm-
manuel Baptist church of Cambridge,
was arrested shortly after eight o'clock
this morning as the result of police in
vestigation of the death, by poisoning
of Miss Avis Linnell a l9-year- stu
dent at the New England Conservatory
OF Music. The arrest was made at the
home of Moses G.. Edmands, the wealthy
father of the clergyman's tiancee, on
Devon street, Chestnut Hill.
The arrest was largely due to the in
formation furnished the police by former
Representative Elias b. Bishop of New
ton, an attorney Of this city, who was
informed yesterday by William. Hahne,
a Newton Center druggist, that he sold
cyanide of potassium on the night of
October TO to Rieheson, who said he
wanted it to kin dog.
Was Warned About Poisonx
Druggist Hahne told Deputy supt.
Watts that he suggested chloroform
when Richeson said be wanted to get
rid of dog, but Rieheson said he did
not like the smell. Hahne continued;
81 then suggested cyanide of potassium
and put enough in a vial to kill three
dogs. | warned the minister to be care.
full how he handled the potassium, and
the minister requested me to keep the
sale secret. l told no one until the
Linnell case developed Yesterday l told
Bishop"
A warrant charging Richeson with first
degree murder was issued by Judge Mur-
ray of the municipal court shortly before
II o'clock.
Reports conflict whether a formal en-
gagement between the minister and Miss
Linnell ever was announced, but she had
worn a diamond ring he gave her, and
friends claimed he had introduced her
as his future wife. They became friends
when he was pastor of the Baptist
church at Hyannis, her home town.
On Sunday night, after he learned of
the girls death, Richeson went to the
Edmands home, where he remained art
erwards. save for brief visit to Bos-
ton lawyer yesterday. The police sur
rounded the house last night, but having
no warrant could not enter when those
inside refused to open the doors Short
ly after seven this morning, Chief In
Hpector Dugan of the Boston bureau of
criminal investigation persuaded maid,
who came to the door, to inform Mr..
Edmands that he wished to see him. In
spector Dugan was then admitted, with
Deputy Superintendent Watts of Boston,
a police sergeant and a stenographer.
Shortly before eight o'clock, Chief
Dugan announced the arrest to the wait
ing reporters. Fifteen minutes later,
Richeson, without show of emotion, ac-
companied the officers to taxicab and
was taken to the police headquarters in
Boston.
A letter from one of her most inti-
mate friends at the Young Women's
Christian association was published yes
terdav. stating that Miss Linnell lunched
with Rev. Clarence V. T. Richeson, pas
tor of the Emmanuel Baptist church of
Cambridge and formerly Miss Linnelfs
pastor and friend, at her home at Hyan-
mis-
Miss LinnelPs friends declare that it
was generally understood that the min
lister was engaged at one time to marry
the murdered girl and so convinced were
they of his interest in her that one Of
them notified him by telephone on Sat
urday night of Miss Linnell's death and
some of the circumstances attending it,.
Upon reading the letter of Miss Emma
Barkhouse, friend of Miss Linnell at
the association, to Mrs Emma Sturgis
of Hyannis, a sister of the dead girl,
published in two morning papers, in
which It was stated that Rev Mr. Richie
son lunched with Miss Linnell on Sat
urday, Mrs. Moses Grant Edmands is
sued statement yesterday to the effect
that the minister called upon her daugh-
ter that afternoon.
Rev Dir George Croft of the New
ton Theological institution. from which
Rev Mr. Richeson graduated, will preach
for the young minister at the Emmanuel
church on Sunday. The church inquiry
into the case is set for Oct. 81 behind
closed doors.
Richeson Expelled From College.
Liberty, Mo-, Oct 20.-Rey c. I. w.
Richeson, who was arrested to-day in
Boston, was for several years a student
at the William Jewell college here He
was expelled in 1906, his senior year,
for cheating in the examinations.
Miss Maude L. Harris is conducting
classes in English composition, spelling
and commercial arithmetic, planned with
= = Il. Il