Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-14
.R|cHEsON' PLANS
HIS DEFENSE.
Accused Minister Confers With
Connsel..Declares His Innocence
Of Murder of Miss Linnell.
THE COURT ROOM PACKED,
Trial of Case get For Monday, January
ls--Court Disposes OF Several Other
Criminal Cases.


Boston, Nov. 14.--Losing out in
the first skirmish in the battle for
The life OF the Rev. Clarence Y. T..
Richeson, indicted for the murder OF
Avis Linnell, William A. Morse and
P. r. Dunbar. counsel for the de-
fense Of the Baptist minister today
began the real work of preparing for
the defense.
Attorney Morse today said that no
further effort would be made at
this time to postpone the trial. Morse
is anxious to hold an early confer
ence OF counsel and called the fa-
nous Virginia criminal lawyer, John
L. Lee by long distance telephone
today TO find out when the southern
attorney can come here and take ac-
tive charge of the trial. Richeson will
make the fight for his life beginning
MONDAY, january 10.
Richcson was arraigned late yes
terday afternoon amid dramatic
scene, such as have marked the life
Of the young pastor ever since the
body of Avis Linnell was found life
less in her rooms at the Y. w. c. A.
Long before o'clock, the time set
for the arraignment. the courtroom
was crowded to the doors. ;.
George Sanderson. before calling
upon the young minister to answer
to his indictment, disposed of two
burglars, a bigamist, a frightened lit
tie Italian woman charged with man
slaughter, a "broken paroler.'' a
wife beater, and 12 men charged with
conspiracy to defraud a railroad.
And then just after "a young Rus
sian accused Of attacking a child had
pleaded. the youthful prelate walked
to the dock. He seemed 10 care lit
tie for the staring faces OF the crowd
but stepped firmly and steadily into
the cage" His head was held high
during the fifty"", rn.;;.. '.tce = c.esmi it took
to read the five"c&alikee in the indict-
ment. The awful charges made
against him seemed to affect him not
in the least and he stood patiently
waiting until the clerk had finished
reading the charges iiihe answer
to Clerk Mannings QUESTION came
clearly and unfalteringly, Not gull
ty."
He pronounced the words earnest
ly but court officials and attorneys re-
marked that every act of the prison.
er was natural. In the buzz of con-
Wersation which followed the dis
missal Of the court, those who had
heard the prisoner plead to an in
dictment. told one another that the
pastor either was an arch-hypocrite
of the werld. or he had hidden from
the attorneys for the prosecution
evidence which would prove without
a doubt that he was innocent.
Cambridge, Nov. IA third let
ter from Rev. Clarence V. T. Rich
ason, the Emmanuel Baptist church
pastor. who must stand trial for his
lite January Is, was received by Mr..
Charles F. Cummings, clerk OF the
chu1ch. today.
Ia this last letter Richeson urges
tha, \his resignation be accepted. 1t
ITO the Emmanuel Baptist Church;
Deaf Brethren:-1 cannot express
to you2 how deeply touched am at
your n Iyalty and manifestations of
confdeSce in me, in this my great
hour oj trouble, and I thank you
most sincerely.
II carnot but feel personally. how
ever, that the welfare of the church
might be\ prejudiced while its minis
ter is plaSed in his present position,
and I THEREFORE feel, notwithstanding
my grateful appreciation of your kind
ness. that Ahe church should accept
my resignation. 7 of course, leaving
1t entirely to\you how and when the
matter should be carried into effect.
Mosk rraternally.
Clarence V. T. Richeson.