New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-20
Police Surround at Midnight
House Where Rev. Clarence
VT. RiCheson Is Staying.
KNEW DEAD AVIS llNNElL
Place Guard Around Fiancee s
Residence at Brookline, Mass,
and Declare Watch Will Not
Cease Till He is Captured.

in connection with the death by poison
of Avis Linnen. a pretty New England
conservatory girl Miss Linnell was
found dead I'm a room In the Young
Womens Christian Association lodging
house on Saturday night. She had died
OF cyanide Of potassium poisoning.
At o'clock this morning the home or
Moses Edmands. father OF Mr.. Richie
sons fancee. where the Young minister
has been ever since last Sunday night.
had been surrounded by the police
In the party were Chief Dugan Of the
Boston Criminal Inspection Bureau.
Deputy Watts and Inspector MITCHELL
who invariably makes the arrest in muir
der cases.
There were six or eight police officers
in the party, which left Boston shortly
after midnight for Brookline.
II was intmsted that the discovery OF
new facts in connection with the cir
cumstances surrounding the death OF the
girl who took cyanide Of potassium, be-
lieving il 10 he medicine which would
restore her 70 her former condition OF
n.
The officers went directly to the home
Of Moses Grant Edmsnds, the father or
Violet Edmands. TO whom the Rev. Mr..
Richeson is betrothed
Accompanying the police was ste
nographer from Police Headquarters.
and il was admitted that the officers
wished 10 interrogate the minister IN
connection with the Linnell affair.
Police Unable to Enter House.
Chief Dugan said that the case Of the
police was complete. and that serious
charge would be made against MIR Rich
eson.
In the house. either awake or asleep,
is the young minister. The fact that
the hand Of the law has not as yet actu-
ally closed upon him is due to devel-
opment that the police did not foresee.
The officers. upon their arrival al the
Edmands house. were unable 10 gain ad-
mittance. They rang the bell until they
claimed that il appeared TO be discon-
nected. and then. the officers state. the
telephone was disconnected. The officers
placed a guard around the house and
announced that they would stay there
until they could get inside.
The police have not as yet secured a
warrant; at present they hesitate 10
break in the door lest II involve ques-
ton Of personal right. As the matter
stands. the minister will not leave tha
house except as a prisoner.
The early morning denoument came
as a dramatic conclusion To a day that
had been repete with sensation. each
development treading upon the heels or
it's predecessor.
Avis Linnell was found in the bath
room Of the Young Womens Christian
Association lodging house last SATURDAY
night. She came from Hyannis and was
of good family. At the time II was
thought she had committed suicide after
| reading of DR.. Richeson's engagement
TO Miss Edmands.
The girls with whom she chummed
knew that she had been friendly with
the accused. and there was report even
that she had been engaged 10 him. ono
Of them telephoned TO Or. Richeson. Hs
refused TO come 10 the house.
Preached Sunday Night.
sunday night DR.. Richeson preached
as usual. Up 10 this time the matter
had been kept from the papers. After
the service was ended he went 10 tho
home Of his fiancee.
on Monday the story Of the girls
- ....... ..-,,,o3 for tho = fi,na viii,
suicide as the solution. At that II rest9d
until Tuesday. when Medical Examiner
Leary of Suffolk County declared he
girl did not intend TO commit suicide.
basing his belief on several unmistak-
able pieces Of evidence.
chief Dugan. inspector OF the police de-
tective department, had conference yes
terdav afternoon with Frank ~. Carter. a
Cambridge man. Mr.. Carter has said that
he knows the name of male friend Cf
Miss Linnell who. he believes. furnished
her with the poison with which she
ended her life. The name Of this ac-
ouaintance Of Miss Linnell has not ap-
peared thus far in connection with The
case. Mr.. Carter says. and he intimsted
that some surprises might result from
his interview with the police
The Rev. Mr.. Richeson occupies rooms
IN Mr. Carter's residence. in Cambridge
but since last Sunday night, when the
tragic death Of the young woman was
announced. he has been staying IN
Brookline. at the home of Moses Grant
Edmands. a wealthy parishioner. whose
daughter is engaged 10 marry him. In
vltations 10 the wedding. which has
been arranged for the latter part of Oc-
tober. were issued several days aso.
Upon reading a letter from Miss
/ Emma Barkhouse. a friend OF Miss Lin
nell az the Young Women's Christian
! Association. 10 Miss Emma Sturgis. ot
Hyannis sister of the dead girl. pub
| lshed in a newspaper. in which IL was
/ stated that Mr. Richeson lunched with
Miss Linnell on Saturday. Mrs. Edmands
issued a statement to-day 20 the effect
/ that the minister called on her daugh-
! ter that afternoon.
Luncheon with Male Friend.
Miss Linnell told several OF her
friends shortly before noon on the day
of her death she was going out 70 lunch
con with a male friend
Il have heard nothing hut the best
concerning the habits Of the dead girl"
said Chief Inspector Dugan Of the Police
| phup,g told nr., that