The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-10-19
GIRL MYSTERIOUSLY POISONED
AND 4 MINISTER GOES INTO
RETIREMENT.

Music student VINO Had SUNG In His Choir
Pound Dead In WV CA. After Taking
Cyanide Of Potassium Medical FIX.
aminer Sure II Was Not Case of suicide
BosToN. Oct. is.-Nothng has been
revealed to-day by the poltoe department
concerning the investigation into the
death Of Miss Avis Linnell OF Hyannisport,
a student at the New England Conserva-
tory Of Music. who died at the Young
Women's Christian Association last Sat
urday night after taking powerful
poison.
Medical Examiner Leary reported that
the case was not one of suicide and that
in his opinion the young woman may have
taken the drug with the expectation Of
II having a medicinal effect. not knowing
its dangerous nature,
Chief Inspector Dugan started an in-
vestigation with a view of asoertaining
where and when Miss Linnell secured tho
cyanide OF potassium which caused her
death. his idea being to learn il possible
II the drug was given to her by some one
with instructions to use it for the purpose
OF bringing about a change in her physical
condition or il she purchased it herself
To that end the druggists in this and
neighboring cities are being interviewed
by detectives.
The Rev. Clarence v. T. Richeson.
pastor Of Emmanuel Baptist Church Of
Cambridge. is in seclusion and has not
a. yet made any statement. He is said
to be III at the home Of his fiancee. Miss
Violet Edmands OF Brookline. and in
such a state that the services of a physi.
clan have been required. No one at the
Edmands home will say II this report Ia
true.
Mr.. Richeson was formerly pastor Of
the Baptist church at Hyannis. where
Miss Linnell sang in the choir. Her rel :
atives say he was engaged to her and that
she had diamond ring from him. Resi-
dents Of the town say that the pastor GER
tainly was attentive to the young woman
| and that last summer when he returned
| to Hyannis for rest he was frequently
in her company.
William j. MacLean of Brockto n, .,
brother-in-law Of Miss Linnell. said to-
day that there was no question about
an engagement having existed between
| the young woman and the clergyman.
The girl wore an engagement ring that
| the paste gave her. 40 her brot her in law
said. wearing it steadily until just before
last Christmas when Mr. Rcheson took
it away to be repaired. as Avis said when
her mother noted its absence from her
| finger and asked what had become OF il.
Mr. Richeson. according TO Mr.. Mac
Lean. never hesitated at one time about
introducing Avis AZ his fiancae. He says
he knows Brockt on clergyman to whom
the Cambridge pastor presented Avis az
his intended bride.
In the early part of last summer the
Cambridge pastor. MacIean said. came
among his old friends at Hyannis and
there was nobody more pleased to see
him than the Linnells. 4 newspaper in
the winter had a story telling of tho
! coming marriage of the Edmands siste rs
| TO two ministers. one of whom was Mr.
| Richeson, and this story had caused the
l.innells some anxiety Avis maintained
her loyalty to Richeson. She did no,
know of any break in the enga cement,
Maclean said. and when Richeson called
upon the l.innells and told the moth of
Avis that there was nothing in the news
paper story" Richeson was entert aimed
10y the eIinnells and talked and went driving
| with Avis. 40 Maciean claims.
| What puzzles MacLean is why the
Clergyman did not go to the Y. W. G. A.
| last saturday evening when he was in
formed Of the death Of Avis I.innell He
was AZ least a friend of the family Mac
Lean says. and should have gone to the
HON" as friend Of the family instead of
telling the authorities the address OF her
BROTHER in-law in Brockton.
Mr.. MacIean insists that Avis did not
take the cyanide with suicidal intent
He is satisfied that it was given to her
I 4, l. r l.. Il
condition Of her health and who realized
| that il would kill her instead of altering
! her physical condition as had been rep
resented.
! Mr. MacI.ean did now wish to make any
statement that would hamper the police
in their WORK, but it ia his personal belief
that his sist 'r-in-law received the cyan,i ie
on Saturday afternoon from man with
whom she went to dine. No one called
at the home that afternoon for Avis
The appointment was made possibly
, hy mail. because the girl returned home
! III cheerful state of mind SATURDAY.
afternoon. saying that she had had most
delightful time.
Avis brother in-law says that she was
| loyal TO Richeson and to no one else.
Sh" was an ordinarily quiet girl and
whatever secret she had she kept to
| herself
1T i. an awfnl blow for us ALL" said a
member of the family. "and We want to
try and forget our troubles as quickly as
possible. Reports have been published
to the effect that Mr.. Linnell went to
Boston in the spring and insisted that
MIR, Richeson renew his engagement with
Avis. but such is not the case. Mr. Iinnell
did nothing Of the kind
There had never been a formal an
nouncement Of the engagement OF Mr.
Richeson to Avis, but it was believed
| by members Of the family and her friends
to whom she showed a ring that she wore
saying it was given to her by Mr.. Richeson
that the two would be married at some
future date"