The Washington herald., 1911-10-21

against intimations that he was i'm
pIcated in the death of Avis Linnell.
Mr.. Richeson retired early last night,
after issuing, through his fiancee and
| that he was confident that the poison
mystery would be satisfactorily solved.
He has been making the Edmands resi-
dence his home.
| II cannot make a statement now, but
perhaps 1 will later" he said. II am
sure all will come out right in the end. "
Druggist Tells His Story.
About the time the lights were turned
out in the Edmands mansion, police
headquarters began to assume an un-
wonted activity. William Hahn, the
druggist, was closeted with Deputy Supt
of Police Watts and Chief Dugan, Of
Boston. He gave a brief outline of the
information he was about to impart, and,
before waiting to hear more, Supt. Watts
| summoned a dozen detectives to head
quarters, and several autos were ordered
| for quick run.
Mr.. Hahn then continued with his
story.
Il was in my store, at Newtown Center,
on the afternoon Of October TO-" said he,
| when Mr.. Ricncson dropped in. l was
glad to see him. having become we'll ac-
Quainted with him while he was STU
| dent at the Newtown Theological School,
| and greeted him cordially. We had
talked of old times for several minutes,
| when he changed the subject TO COM
plain Of a dog. The dog was about to
| become a mother, and was continually
whining and growing.
When he spoke of killing the dog, l
suggested that he chloroform 1t, but he
asserted that this would cause too much
| of a smell Besides he wanted something
that would do the work quickly.
Wanted Plenty of 1t.
Then I said, Well, here is some cya-
hide of potassium. That will kill quickly
enough and the minister agreed. Well.
give me some of that ! warned him it
was a dangerous poison, and told him to
be very careful about using it. I gave
him enough cyanide of potassium ito
kill three or four dogs. When l had
placed this in the paper the minister
said, 'WeM you had better put in some
more So 1 added two or three chunks
to what had already ladled out. What
| gave him was enough to kill at least
ten persons.
1t was after he had received the
| cyanide that Mr.. Richeson said: You
have received an invitation to my we'd
| ding and 1 don't want you to fail TO
come to it Then he added: This may
seem very mysterious to you. Can you
keep a secret? Well, you know l haven't
bought this With that he went away
and I haven't seen him since"
1t was after midnight when Hahn COM
Fleted his story. Within five minutes
Chief Dugan, Supt. Watts, several uni
formed policemen, the detective, and
police stenographer were in the automo-
biles speeding toward Brookline.
House Soon Surrounded.
At the Brookline police station they
were ioined by several more officers and
tie squad went to the Edmands home.
The autos stopped several yards from
the Edmands estate. on the other side
CT the street, and Supt. Watts went alone
to the front door. He rang the bell,
pounded on the door, and shouted, but
no one stirred within. A detective was
then sent to the telephone TO call up the
house, but the telephone was out OF or
Ger After a short conference 1t was
decided to wait until morning, and if
they were not admitted then to force
an entrance.
The officers formed a Gordon around
the house. behind the shrubbery and
flower beds with which the Edmands
lawns are dotted Dawn broke, reveal
ing the strange spectacle Of the palatlaI
residence of one of the most highly
respected families of Brookline impreg-
nably surrounded by the police.
At o'clock Supt. Watts and Chief
Dugan again rang the doorbeI and this
time their summons was answered by
Mr. Edmands himself, clad in a bath
robe and slippers. When the officers told
him they had tried during the night to
arouse some one, Mr.. Edmands explained
that he had heard the bell and the
knocking but had remained in bed be-
lieving the men outside were interview
Richeson since the death of Miss Lin
nell.
Watched by the NeighbOrs.
BY this time the servants in the neigh
borhocd had witnessed the strange
proceedings and aroused the residents.
At the windows of a dozen aristocratic
homes people gazed with strained eyes.
MI Edmands was informed bluntly OF
the object of the visit and at once di-
rected the policeman to a room on the
second floor, where he said Mr.. Richie
son was asleep. They found him in bed,
but awake and pale and haggard
When told he was under arrest on a
charge of causing the death of Avis Lin
nell by administering cyanide of potas-
sium he showed no worry and made no
comment further than to say:
An right; Ill be with you presently.
Sit down while 1 dress"
Herewith he got out of bed and pro-
ceeded to dress in a neat blue business
suit He performed his toilet carefully,
and when he turned to the policemen,
who acted as though they were his hon
Ored guests. and said, Il am ready" he
presented the same immaculate appear
ance that had gained for him the title,
That good-looking minister
Meets His Fiancee.
The minister and his captors went
downstairs and were met in the lobby by
Mr.. Edmands, with whom Mr. Richeson
was permitted to hold brief conference
The minister then retained a prominent
Boston lawyer over the telephone, and
asked that Miss Violet Edmands. his
fancee. be called to the library.
Mr.. Edmands found his daughter in the
reception hall. where she apparently had
come when she discovered what was
transpiring in the adjoining room. A pitt
full. intensely dramatic scene followed.
Miss Edmands entered the room ahead OF
her father and rushed into the arms OF
the clergyman. For a moment the OFF,
GERS took their eyes from their prisoner.
Two minutes later the minister, between
his captors, left the girl sobbing hysteri-
cally, walked TO the driveway, and took a
seat in one of the waiting automobiles.
The automobiles were driven to the
BOSTON police headuuarters in Pemberton