The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-31
BOSTON IS STIRRED
BY POISON MYSTERY
Not for Years Has Massach-
usetts City Been So Thor
oughly Agitated.


BOSTON, Mass, October 31.-Not
for years has Boston been so thorough
ly interested and stirred up as it is at
present by the mystery surrounding
the death, two weeks ago, of Miss Avis
Lnnell. a young and beautiful music
student at the New England Conserva-
tory Of Music in this city, who died
from poison in the bathroom of the
Young Womens Christian Association
lodging house on Warrenton street on
the evening Of Saturday, Oct. IA. At
first little attention was paid to the
case. as 1t was believed that the death
OF the girl was caused by a fatal mis-
take or that she had committed sui
eide.
But the sensa tional features which,
at first. seemed to be lacking were
soon supplied when the autopsy of the
girls body by the medical examiner
disclosed the fact that the girl was
in delicate condition at the time of
her death. The report that Miss Lin
nell had for two years been engaged
to the Rev. Clarence " r. Richeson.
formerly OF Hyannisport, Mass, but
now pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist
church. Cambridge, and that quite re-
Gently the engagement Of the young
pastor to Miss Violet. a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Grant Edmands of
Brookline. had been formally announc
ed. naturally increased public interest
in the case and since then the local
newspapers have devoted many col
umns n day to the thorough discuss
ion of every detail connected with the
mysterious case and to accounts of the
new developments from day to day.
From the very beginning. almost,
there had been hints that possibly the
Rev. Clarence v. T. Richeson knew
more about the circumstances sur
rounding the death of Miss Avis Lin
nell than he chose to admit. AS the
investigation progressed a strong sus-
picion arose that the young pastor had
been in some way connected with the
death of his former fancee and few
persons who had followed the develop
ments of the case as reported by the
newspapers. were surprised when, a
week ago today, Rev. Richeson was ar
rested at the Edmands mansion in
Brookline upon the charge of murder.
The history of the case. so far as
1t Is known at present. presents many
features Of uncommon interest. The
Rev. Clarence Virgil Thompson Richie
son was born in Rose Hill, Va, about
IS years ago. He comes from a family
OF devout Baptists, many of whom are
engaged in church and missionary
work in various parts Of the world.
Young Richeson received a good
academic education and, was ordained
at st. Louis, in September. 1902. After
having supplied a mission church at
Kansas City for a while, young Richie
son entered the William Jewell Col
teacher in Liberty. who took great in
terest in the bright and ambitious
student, lent him the funds which he
needed to complete his education at
William Jewell College and later at
the Newton Theological Seminary,
where he completed his studies in the
fall OF 1909.
About one year before he had been
called to the Hyannis Baptist church
and he remained in charge of that
church until he resigned in April,
1910, to take charge of Emmanuel Bap-
tsit church. Cambridge. When Richie
son became pastor of the Hyannis
church Avis Linnell was a student at
the Hyannis high school. She had
fine voice and used to sing in Richie
sons church. The young and hand
some minister became acquainted with
the beautiful and charming young
school girl and associated a great deal
with her. The attentions of the young
minister to Avis Linnell, the daughter
Of a fairly wellto-do carpenter at Hy-
annis. were SO marked that nobody
was surprised when the girl displayed
. handsome diamond ring upon her
engagement finger and admitted to her
friends that she was engaged to Richie
son.
When Rev. Richeson left Hyannis
and became pastor Of the Emmanuel
church in Cambridge, Avis Linnell fol-
lowed him to Boston. She entered the
Conservatory as a voice student and
lived at the Y. w. c. A. home on War
renton street. When she was inform
ed that Rev. Richeson's engagement
to Miss Edmands, the daughter Of a
wealthy family in Brookline. had been
formally announced. Avis Linnell did
not lose her confidence in her lover
She said. 1t must be mistake and
continued to meet the tickle minister
She frequently visited him at his lodg-
ings and went out with him. On the
evening of Oct. IA, she returned to her
lodgings and about an hour later she
was found dead in the bathroom. Her
death was caused by syanide of pot
assium and the police are said to have
positive proof that Richeson purchas-
ed q quantity Of the poison the day
before the girls death.
Wanted-Young man about
J8 years of age to call at Pal
ladium office between 8 and
8 Wednesday morning.