The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-21
STRONG CHAIN
OF EVIDENCE
Pretty Avis Linnell, His Alleged
Victim, Believed to Have Taken
Trustingly Deadly Poison
Which Pastor Is Known
to Have Pur-
chased.

the Rev. Clarence Virgil Thompson
Richeson. the young pastor OF the
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Cambridge.
who was arrested to-day for the al
legged murder of pretty Avis Linneil,
of Hyannis, Mass. to whom he had
been engaged. His commitment to
Jail this afternoon without bail OH
a charge of first degree murder marked
a temporary end to a chain of cir
cumstances which police detectives
have followed assiduously since the
death of Miss Linnell last Saturday
by cyanide of potassium poisoning.
Miss Linnell. who was nineteen
years old, and a student at the Con-
servatory of Music, was found dead in
the bathroom of the Young Women's
Christian Association home here. At
first the police believed she had COM
mitted suicide. but later developments
INDICATED that she had unknowingly
taken cyanide of potassium sent her
by some other person. in the belief
that 1t would remedy her embarrass-
ing physical condition.
Keep Albright Vigil.
For several days the police inquiry
made little progress, but information
received early to-day that MIR. Riche-
son had purchased cyanide of potas-
sium at drug store In Newton, led
A dozen officers. headed by Deputy
Superintendent Watts. were forced 10
maintain an eignt-hour vigil outside
the fashionable home in Brookline, OF
Moses Grant Edmande. where the
clergyman had been staying during
the past week, before the minister wa.
taken into custody. however. Repeat
ed. pulls at the door bells, rappings
and SHOUTS failed to bring any re-
IL.
through the night, and the police, who
were without a warrant, wero unwill-
ing to make forcible entrance. The
deputy superintendent and his assist
ants. with crowd OF newspaper men,
remained on guard until about A. NJ,
when they were admitted.
Mr.. Edmands is the father of Miss
Violet Edmands. for whose marriage
to MIR. Richeson. on October 81. cards
had been issued. These invitations
were recalled to-day. The Edmands
family, however. maintains faith in
Mr.. R!cheson. and the only announce
meHt In connection with the with
drawing of the cards was that the
marriage had been postponed.
Prisoner Not Disturbed.
The setting of October 81 as the date
for further hearing of Mr.. Rtcheson
developed a coincidence in the fact
that the day is that on which he wac
to have been married. But neither the
announcement of the date nor any other
happening in connection with his arrest
seemed to disturb the prisoner.
Even when faced by William Hahn,
the Newton druggist. who declared that
Richeson had purchased cyanide OF
potassium from him a week ago Tues
day, the minister was unperturbed, APP
parently. AS Hahn was shown into the
room at police headquarters RichesoG
stepped forward and shook his hand
II was noticeable that the druggist was
more moved than the accused man.
Facing the clergyman. Hahn. who has
known Mr.. Richeson for several years,
told how Richeson walked into his store
Tuesday evening. October 10. and said:
i've got dog at home that Is Gre
atinE a disturbance. She will be
nuisance unless ! can kill her soon.
MIR. Hahn said that he responded to
Rlcheson: IL never knew you had a
dog" and that Richeson replied that
he kept it in his room.
Inquiry by the police where Mr..
only of a male dog. owned by the land
lord who said Richeson had never
owned dog during the eight months
he had lodged there.
Hahn said further that he suggested
chloroform to Mr.. Richeson, but the
minister wanted something that will
work quick"
Asks Him 10 Keep 1t Secret.
Cyanide OF potassium was mentioned
as acting instantly, and the druggist
said he gave Richeson enough to kill
three dogs, but the minister asked for
more, and the preparation finally
amounted to enough to poison ten men.
AS Mr. Richeson turned TO go, Hahn
says the clergyman reminded him OF
his coming wedding 10 Miss Edmands.
and said; Don't forget to come" add
ing: 1T must Seem mysterious to you
about my buying this. but you can
keep a secret.
This story. brought to Chief Inspec-
tor Dugan, OF the Bos,on police. by
Hahn's attorney, led TO Richeson's ar
rest.
In an official statement regarding
Richeson's arrest Superintendent Watts
said he found the minister in bed and
awake, but looking disturbed He
trembled as lie dressed after he had
been told he would have 10 go to po-
lice headquarters and be charged with
the murder OF Miss Lnnell. He was
allowed to talk privately with Mr.. Ed
mands. and later went into the room
where Violet Edmands lay i'll and UNI
nerved by the shock. to say farewell.
as ne bent over TO caress Miss Edmanda
the girl burst into tears and threw her
arms about his neck. She said nothing,
but chung TO him convulsively Rich
eson comfortcd her, saying: Don't cry.
dear: don't cry. Everything VIII be
all right"
suicide Theory Dismissed.
Under other circumstances Miss Lin
nell's death might have been dismissed
as u suicide, The powder the police
believe she accepted trustirgly. as q
corrective for her condition, was taken