Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-21
Mother of the Dead Girl
Believes RiCheS0n Is Guilty

Believes RiCheSOn Is Guilty
HYANNIS, Mass, October 21.-"Thank
God. L believe no mistake has been
made. 1t was with this exclamation
that Mrs. Edgar Linnell, mother of Avis
Linnell, received the news that the Rev.
c. V. T. Richeson had been arrested for
the alleged murder of her daughter. Mrs.
Linnell later. however, voiced the belief
that Mr.. Richeson was not accountable.
He must have been out of his mind
she said and then told of certain pc
culiarities of Dr.. Richeson. which she
noticed while he was a caller at her
home
Mr.. RichesOn, whom / loved as a son
even before he became formally engaged
to Avis. worried US often by attacks
which he had at our house, she said.
although they did not appear to be
serious. they left him in highly nervous
state, and he was often forced to leave
the table because of them. He worried
about this trouble and once broke the
engagement with Avis, giving his physical
condition as the reason. Their engage
ment was renewed. however, and Avis, L
firmly believed, was engaged to him when
she died.
Attentive to the Girl.
Between Mrs. Linnell and her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Vida Mclean, the story of the
acquaintance of Avis Linnell and the
young pastor was told. Avis was a sing
er in the Baptist Church choir when Mr..
Richeson assumed the pastorate there
four years ago. She was only fifteen
years old, but the new minister showed
| marked attention to her, and within
few months was calling at the Linnell
home.
AT first / objected said Mrs LinneI,
'but only because l thought Avis was
too young / liked Mr.. Richeson and
thought him an admirable man, and
finally consented when Avis told me that
he loved her and that they We're en-
gagged. The wedding was set for last
October, but Mr.. Ricneson's attacks trou-
bled him and he broke the engagement,
saying he would renew 1t if he found his
physical condition warranted. He be-
came engaged TO Avis again, but they
had never Set date after the first, L
believe
Mrs. Linnell told of visiting Boston last
| week. when she saw Avis and also met
Mr.. Richeson. My little girl seemed in
the best of spirits and appeared happy
in her relation with Mr.. Richeson," Mrs
Linnell said, and added that the minister
| told her at that time that reports that
he was engaged to Miss Violet Edmands
OF BrOOkllne were untrue.
so gay and light-hearted did Avis ap-
pear that day that one would think the
child had not care in the world said
her mother. Her music lessons were
delightful to her, and everything was
pleasant. Not a word or sign did she
give me to indicate her condition.
Home Near Lynchburg.
LYNCHBURG, Va, October 21.-Rev
| Mr.. Richeson is a member of large
! family of Amherst county, this state, and
was born about twenty miles from this
city. His father is now living with his
third wife. The elder Richeson is a sub
| stantial though not wealthy farmer, who
| has Always worked hard. The mother of
the minister died twelve years ago. and
soon thereafter the father married again.
| This wife also died, leaving several small
children, and two years ago the widower
welded again, much against the wishes
of the two sets of children by the for
| mer wives. He is one of the most promi
| nent residents of the county, having
served a number of terms on the county
board of supervisors.
| When fifteen years old Clarence Richie
son came here and worked in clerical
position for some time. Later he went
| to ST. Louis. Mo-. where he secured work
| as motorman or conductor on a street
| car. While holding that place he secured
| money and educated himself. He always
q
| apparently worked with that end in view.
Announcements We're received here
twelve months ago Of his engagement to
Miss Violet Edmands. and within the
last week invitations to the wedding. to
take place October 30 reached numerous
friends and relatives in this city This
makes it appear that he was engaged to
two girls at the same time.
Had a Strange Career.
ST. LOUIS. October 21.-The Rev C.
V. T.. Richeson, under arrest in the Bos
| ton poison mystery. has lived in Liberty.
| Mo- and st. Louis. He was street
conductor here on the Deimar line and
was an orator for the street car strikers
| in 1900 He was a membe" of the local
| street railway unions grievance COM
mittee during the strike. He is a nephew
| of Thomas Richeson. who was vice presi-
dent of the Evans & Howard Friedrich
COMPANY one of the great industries of
| this city.
Richeson was a member of the Grand
Avenue Baptist Church, ST. Louis. and
as a student for the ministry had ad-
vanced then to the position of supply
pastor for suburban churches. He for
merly lived i'm Carrollton. Mo.
Richesons work as a carman was to
earn money to take him through his
ministerial education. He attracted much
attention during the strike by his talks
to the men. He abandoned this work
when the strikers were defeated.
Expelled From College.
A dispatch from Liberty Mo-, says: