The Washington herald., 1911-10-27
POISON PURCHASE
TOLD TO WOMAN
New Evidence Found Against
Rev. DR.. RichesOn.
MISS EDMANDS WILL TESTIFY
LandIady of Accused Pastor Tells
How He Warned Her Against
Poison in Bowl in which He
Mixed Paste-Mrs. Linnen Gives
Testimony Before Grand Jury.

Boston, Oct. 26.-Rev. Clarence v. T.
Richeson two days before the death of
Avis Linnell secured a small quantity
of -four and water from Mrs. F. H.
Carter, with whom he boarded in Cam
bridge, explaining that he wanted it to
make paste to repair the bindings of
some of his books. In returning the
bowl in which he had mixed the paste
he told Mrs. Carter to wash II out thor
oughly as there had been poison in 1t.
Mrs. Carter made this important dis
closure to-day, and it is certain that
she repeated the information in her
testimony before the special grand Jury
Moses Grant Edmands the father of
Miss Violet Edmands, to whom Rev. Mr.
Rlcheson was engaged to be married
when arrested and accused Of having
poisoned Avis Linnell, was the last wit
ness of the day. Mrs. Edmands and her
millionaire husband are said to have tes-
tined that Richeson had told them all
about his acquaintance with the little
Hyannis girl.
From statements made to friends out
side Of the grand jury room it was
learned, however, that neither Mrs. Ed
mands nor her husband could account for
ali of Richeson's time on Saturday, Oc-
tober IA, when, it is believed. he gave the
girl the cyanide Of potassium, telling her
1t was medicine that would put an emo
to her physical difficulties.
VIII Appear Tomorrow.
Dramatic interest in the grand jury
proceedings, which will probably last
two additional days centers about Miss
Violet Edmands, who will appear as
witness tomorrow.
Mrs. LinneIl was permitted to give her
testimony at the morning session, in Or
der that she might return to her home
in Hyannis by an afternoon train. AL
though heavily yelled, as she departed
Mrs. Linnells face was a pathetic pic
ture of sorrow and distress. Her only
statement was:
I came here at the request of the
prosecutor, and have told all that I
know of my little girls friendship for
Mr.. Richeson. That is all I care to say"
1t is practically certain that Rev. Mr..
Richeson will be indicted, but the fact
remains that the States case is based
solely on the following points:
That Avis Linnell and Richeson had
been sweethearts while he was pastor of
the Hyannis Baptist church. and that
the friendship and engagement was sup
posed to have been renewed last July,
when the young clergyman visited Hy-
anniS during his vacation.
The Probable Indictment.
That Avis LinnelI died Saturday, Oc-
tober IA, from cyanide poisoning sup
posed to have been self-administered.
That Rev. Mr.. Richeson purchased
cyanide of potassium from Druggist
Hahn, in Newton, four days before the
girl died.
That an autopsy revealed one motive
for the crime.
That Richeson's engagement to mar
ry Miss Violet Edmands, the daughter
of a wealthy Cambridge man, October
81 forms a second possible motive.
The case is admittedly weak, as there
Is absolutely no direct evidence that
Richeson communicated with the girl
between the time he bought the poison
and the hour Of her death, except the
telephone call from the home of Frank
Danskin to the Y. w. c. A. October p
RfchesOn's Defense.
These are the lines along which the
attorneys will fight for the life and lib
erty of the clergyman prisoner:
Tristan alibi-that is. that Richeson
did not see Avis Linnell from the day
he bought the cyanide Of potassium until
the day of her death.
Second-Richeson did buy the POISON
from Druggist Hahn, but he bought it
for the purpose speclfed-to kill a dog
Third-That the dog was killed and the
body OF the dog will be produced in court.
The clergyman killed a cat; it will be
shown at the same time
Fourth-Richeson loved Avis Linnell as
a very dear friend. He learned that she
was in trouble, and his meeting with her
in Boston previous to the time the poison
was bought was simply that of a clergy.
man who was solctous as to the well
fare of the girl, and who was trying to
help her.