The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-22
Detectives Find Missing
Link in Ev lid ence
Against Richeson.
YOUNG MINISTER
REMAINS SILENT
Regarded as Eccentric, but None
Believes His Mind Is Unbal-
anced-strange Things I'm
earthed in Career of Ac-
sused Man-Wealth for
His Defense.
Ispscial to The Times Dispatch


Boston. October 21.-rhe Rev Clar.
ence Virgil Thompson Richeson is to-
night face TO face with indisputabls
evidence that he dined with Avis Lin
nell last Saturday, only few hours be.
lore she innocently swallowed the
fatal poison, which. according TO the
police, he had given her.
This was the one missing link, tbs
detectives asserted, in the chain OF
evidence that connected the young
clergyman with the most sensational
crime in the annals of New England
Tho young clergyman has not vet
broken the attitude OF silence he as,s
sumed at the time of arrest He spent
the day pacing his cell in the Charles
Street Jail and spoke only to Noses
Grant Edmands. his prospective tathS
er-in-iaw. and Philip r. Dunbar mis-
attorney
Miss Violet Edmands, the prospee-
tive bride. is still Frustrated by tina
shock caused by the arrest of Riche-
son, and Is under the care Of two
physicians. Miss Edmands's mother
was occupied to-day with the melan-
choly duty of directing the return &c
the wedding gifts sent by friends iron
distant points
Mrs. Edmands has refused to discuss
the case with newspaper reporters. but
declared to a neghbor to-day that the
Rev Mr.. Richeson could not have been
with Avis Linnell last Saturday, as he
was at her home.
Money for Defense. &,
The wealth OF Mrs, George F. Ed
mands will be poured out to fnance
the defense OF Mr. Richeson. George
r. Edmands was the father of Moses
Grant Edmands, and grandfather OF
Miss Violet Edmands, whose mar.
riage to Richeson was to take place
October 81. Moses Grant Edmands
said tonight that his faith was I'M
shaken in the young clergyman. and
intimated that the family would stand
by him until the last
The police say they are at a loss to
understand why the Edmands family
assume this attitude. since It is now
shown by their secret investigator
that Richeson spent several houra
with Avil Linnell Saturday. October IA.
the day she swallowed enough cyanide
of potassium to kill ten people.
new witness discovered by this
police has told that the young choir
singers last words were: II dined to-
day with Mr.. Richeson"
The police assert further that they,
have found the restaurant where
Rtcheson and the girl dined They have
found a girl who saw them eating
together, and who talked with M,ss
binnell The girl will be a most I'M
portant witness at the trial of Richie
son, and the police would not to-nigha
reveal her identity II was ;ntimat-
ed that Miss Lnnell had confded to
her secret she had iealously guard
ed from others
While the police were laboring to
complete their case. Richeson's law
Yer. Philip r Dunbar. the son OF for
mer Judge James r. Dunbar. of tho
Ma Massachusetts, Superior Court. was
planning TO night for the clergyu,an,s
life. II Is already intimated that a
plea of insanity will be made IL tho
case comes to trial
Suffered with "Nerves--
Many people can be found who ada
nit that Mr.. Richeson was a most &C..
centric person, but there ara none
who express the opinion that his mind
was unbalanced AT the time this dee5
was committed DR.. II. NJ. Gardner who
has performed professional service for
The clergyman. made the following
statement to-day;
II have treated Ny Richeson for
about six months. His only ai,ment lie
case of nerves"
The only medicine have pre-
scribed for him is what is ordinarily
prescribed in cases of nervous break
down, and his condition was due
~
lutel'- no trace OF insanity about the
man.
Dr. BALDWIN prescribed for him at
the Edmands home and from what
gathered tho only medicine he gave hin,
was for his appetite"
Trailing the career Of Richeson tov
day, the police found out many stranss
things about the theological student
and hypnotic Young preacher II il
mainly story of girls. girls. girls.
The fact that he vas aged to (
Avis Linnell and Vtolet Edmands Al
the same time is small circumstances
in comparison with the stories OF HIS
Mormon like nropensities for engage.
msnts that come from other e!tIes. b
~ ere he had hssn student and
preacher
One Of the most remarkable OF thass
engagement stories comes from Kan
sas City. Mr Hichescn preached
there as a supply pastor In the BudS
Park BAPTIST Church. File wae ensls
gagged according TO the report. 10
three girls there st the same tine. 4
They learned of IL and the trio waiE-
ed into the church one day and ssf
in the same seat. Richeson saw tfist,t 81
But his superb nerve stood him In 81
good stead, and he preached fsrventss
Is about how inothera should watots "a
over their daughters,
When the service was over, the sny
go sed trio Med UP to the altar and
right out before the startlcd oonffos.
cation accused him OF promising To