The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-21
CLUE BY DRUGGIST
IN LINNELL
MYSTERY
Says Suspected Clergyman
Bought Much Poison.
HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN JAIL
Remarkable composure Of Rev. CIsr-
ence V. T. Rcheson Arrested for
Young Girls Murder

Boston, Oct PA narrow stone
walled cell in the Charles street Jail
at Boston holds Rev. Clarence Virgil
Thompson Richeson, the young pas
tor of the Emmanuel Baptist church
OF Cambridge, who was arrested yes
terday for the murder of pretty Avis
Linnell of Hyannis. to whom he had
been engaged His commitment to
the Jail yesterday afternoon, follow
ing his appearance in The municipal
court where he was held without bail
on charge OF first degree murder,
marked temporary end TO a chain
OF circumstances which The police
detectives have followed assiduously
since the death of Miss Llnneh last
Saturday by cyanide OF potassium
poisoning.
Miss Linnell, who was 10 years DID
and a student at the conservatory Of
music. was found dead in the bath
room OF the Young Women's Chris
tian association home on Warrenton
street Boston At first the police be-
ieyed that she had committed sui
eide by poison, but later develop
ments indicated that she had unknow
ingly taken cyanide of potassium
sent 10 her by some other person, and
that she used it in the belief that 1t
would remedy a certain embarrass-
ing physical condition. The setting
of the 3ist as the date for further
hearing of Mr.. Richeson in the mu-
nicipal court developed a coincidence
in the fact that the day is that on
which he was to have been married.
But neither the announcement of
the date nor any other happening in
connection either with his arrest or
court appearance seemed TO disturb
the prisoner to any great extent.
Even when faced by the man who
had more to do, probably. than any
other person with his arrest, William
Hahn. the Newton druggist. who de-
clared that Richeson had purchas-
ed a quantity of cyanideof potassium
from him on Tuesday, the 10Th, the
minister was unperturbed apparent
ly.
Facing the accused clergyman,
DIukkiCl IldlHs WIN has hA0nM wi
Richeson for a number OF years. told
again the facts which Immediately
led to the minister's arrest. The drug
gist said that Richeson walked into
his store Tuesday evening, the 10th,
and said. I've got a dog at home
that is creating a disturbance She
will be a nuisance unless | can kill
her soon" Mr.. Hahn said that he
responded TO Richeson. Il never
knew you had a dog" and that Rich
eson responded that he kept II in
his room Inquiry by the police at
the Cambridge house where Mr..
Richeson roomed developed the pres.
ence only of a male dog owned by the
children OF the landlord. The land
lord said that Richeson had never
owned a dog during the eight months
he had lodged in the house.
Hahn said further that he suggest
ed chloroiOrm to Mr. Richeson but
the minister said he did not like the
odor, and wanted something that
will work quick" Cyanide OF potas.
stun was mentioned as acting in
stantly and the minister said. accord
ing to Hahn, We'll, give me some OF
that" The druggist said he gave
him enough to kill three dogs. but
/ Richeson asked for more and the pre-
paraton finally amounted TO enough
| 70 poison 10 men As Mr.. Richeson
| turned 10 go Hahn says the clergy
man reminded him of his coming
wedding to Miss Edmands and said
Don't forget TO come" adding, 1T
| must seem mysterious TO you about
my buying this, but you can keep a
/ secret"
Had Avis Linnell taken the poison
under other circumstances her death
might have been dismissed MS a
suicide The fatal powder. which
the police believe she accepted trust.
ngly from friend as n corrective
for the condition which she was try.
( ing to remedy. was taken while the
young woman was seated in a chair
In her bathroom at the lodging house
| OF the Young Womon's Christian as.
ISOLATION When she was found Ia
dying condition her feet were in
q tub OF hot water and by her side
was n change OF clothing Consider.
alton OF the circumstances induced
Medical Examiner Timothy ]. Leury
to change HIS FIRST verdict Of suicide
to one OF murder. as he thought the
indications were all against the
young womans having taken the poi
son to kill herself
Richeson was arrested at the home
OF Moses Grant Edmands In Brook
line. whore the clergyman has been
staying for some time Mr.. Edmands
Is the father OF Miss Violet Edmands
for whose marriage to MIR. Richeson
on the Slst, cards had been issued
These invitations were recalled yes
torday The Edmonds family. how
ever, maintains faith in MIR. Richesor
and the only announcement In con