East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-10-20
Pastor of Fashionable Boston Church Dragged
From Hiding Place in Home of Fancee
WOMAN DIES WITH RIVALS WEDDING NOTICE
Purchase Of Deadly Poison Ending Womans Life,
Traced to Suspected Young Wearer of COth---
Trial Begins On Expected Wedding Day.

Boston, Mass, oct. 2O.-A sensation
such as this city has not experienced
for ages. came with a shock today
when Rev. Clarence Virgil Richeson,
pastor of the fashionable Emanuel
Baptist church of Cambridge, was
placed under arrest and charged with
murder in the first degree in connec-
ton with the death Of pretty nineteen
year old Avis Linnell, who died in a
bathroom in the Young Womens
Christian association in this city Sat
urday Of cyanide potassium poison
ing.
The first theory accepted as an ex-
PLANTATION of the death of the young
woman, was suicide. but when a drug
gist at Newton came forth with
statement that he had sold a guam
tity of the poison to Reverend Riche-
son, only few hours previous to the
girls DEATH an investigation was inn
mediately started. The police COM
pleted their investigation today and
placed Richeson under arrest.
Druggist Hahn, says that Richeson,
whom ne has known for many years,
came to his store October 10 bought
the cyanide for a dog and then eau
toned the druggist to remain silent.
The accused minister was dragged
| from the home of Miss Viola Ed
mands, in this city, whom he had
planned to marry October 81. He had
! been secluded in the home of his fl
ancee since the death of the Linnell
girl. He was arraigned this morning
and entered a plea of not guilty to
! charge of murder in the first degree.
His trial has been set for october 81,
| the day he was to have married.
| Miss Linneu and Richeson had been
engaged to marry and the first init
nation that the girl had that she was
not to be the wife of the minister,
was when she read the announcement
of the coming wedding of her lover
to the Edmand girl. This was a few
hours before her death.
| About this time Miss Linnell start
ed out to take lunch with Richeson.
| What conversation took place between
| them. during the time they were to-
gether, has not been learned.
She returned to her apartment ani
seemed to be we'll pleased. despite the
published announcement of the COM
! ing wedding of Richeson and Miss Ed
mands At II o'clock her friends
heard peculiar sounds emitting from
| the bath room and on entering found
the girl dying. Her feet were in the
/ tub and a package of the poison was
| found on a table in the room.
The girls mother has made a state
ment to the authorities that the girl
took the poison, thinking it medicine
and intimates that she has reason to
believe that the minister was respon-
sible for the mistaken idea on the part
of the girl.
Reverend Richeson is charged with
displaying a spirit of cold blooded in
difference over the tragic end of the
young woman. According to Miss
! L.nnelrs mother, friends of the girl
or realizing that she was dead tele-
phoned to Richeson informing him of
| her death.
Without any sign of emotion, he is
said to have replied:
We'll why do yon call me?"
Reverend Richeson occupied his
pulpit as usual last sunday and SEEM
ell not in the least affected by the
! utdln VI Alle Elll. AAAtA NiAI I'll vi
services were over he went to the
home of Miss Edmans, where he prac-
tically hid until his arrest this morn
ing.
Miss Linnell came to Boston from
her home, at Cambridge, only short
time ago. and at the suggestion Of
Reverend Richeson. according to the
girls mother, presumably to study
music.
/ Frank Carter, a member of Rev.
Richeson's church, staunchly defends
the minister and says that another
person was with the girl when she
died and that he can prove that a
man. not now suspected, is the guilty
one and that he will be brought to
iu tice before long
Richeson says he Is innocent and
said: 81 will face the ordeal as
bravely as l can"
Miss Viola Edmans whose wedding
plans were so abruptly broken, soon
iuherits about half a million dollars
| from her gvaudfather's estate