Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
COUPLE RECOGNIZED
BY A YOUNG WOMAN
Minister'S Resignation Expected to
Be Read From Pulpit Today.
REFUSES TO BREAK SILENCE
Wealth of Edmands Family Will Be
Used in Defense-Many Stories
Of Love Affairs.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star
BOSTON, Mass. October aI-The Rev
Clarence Virgil Thompson Richeson is
tonight face to face with indisputable
evidence that he dined with Avis Linneli
last Saturday only a few hours before she
innocently swallowed the fatal poison
which, according to the police. he had
given her.
This the one missing link. the
detectives assert. in the chain of evidence
that connected the young clergyman with
the most remarkable crime i'm the annals
of New England.
The young clergyman has not yet brok-
en- the attitude of silence he assumed at
the time of arrest. He spent the day
pacing his cell in the Charles street jail
and talked only with Moses Edmands. his
prospective father-in-law, and Philip K.
Dunbar, his attorney.
1t is understood that Mr.. RicheSon
wrote out today his resignation pas
tor of the Immanuel Baptist Church,
Cambridge. His parishtoners were given
to understand that this resignation would
be read in church tomorrow.
Miss Violet Edmands, the prospective
bride, Is still Frustrated by the shock
caused by the arrest of Richeson and is
under the care of TWO physicians. MISS
Edmands' mother was occupied today
with the melancholy duty of directong
the return Of the wedding gifts sent 10y
friends from distant points.
Mrs. Edmands Silent
Mrs. Edmands has refused to discuss
| the case with newspaper reporters. but
| declared to neighbor today that the
Rev. Mr.. Richeson could not have been
with Avis Linnell last Saturday. as lie
| was at her home.
The wealth of Millionaire George r. Ed
mands' estate VIII be poured out for the
| defense of Mr.. Richeson. George r. Ed
| mands was the father of Moses Grant
1 Edmands and grandfather OF Miss Nioet
Edmands. whose marriage to Richeson
was to take place October 81. Moses
Grant Edmands said tonight that his faith
was unshaken in the young clergyman,
and intimated that the family would
stand by him until the last.
The police say they are at loss to un-
derstand why the Edmands family as
sumed this attitude, since ii is now shown
by their secret Investigation that Richie
son spent several hours with Avis Linneli
Saturday, October IA, the day she swal-
lowed enough cyanide of potassium to
kill ten people.
1t A new witness discovered by the police
has told that the young choir singers
last words Were: Il dined today with Mr.
Richeson." The police assert further that
they have found the restaurant where
Richeson and the girl dined. They lave
found girl who saw them eating to-
gether. who recognized them and talked
with Miss Linnell.
This girl will be a most important wit
ness at the trial of Richeson and the
police would not tonight reveal her iden-
tity. 1t was intimated that Miss Linnell
had confided to her a secret she had
jealously guarded from others.
May Be Insanity Plea.
While the police were laboring to CON-
plete their case, Richeson's lawyer Philip
R. Dunbar. the son of former Judge
James r. Dunbar of ..e Massassachu-
setts superior court was planning to fight
for the cIergyman's life. 1t is already in
timated that plea of insanity will be
made if the case ever comes to trial
Many people can be found who admit
that Mr.. Richeson was "A most eccentric
person. but there are none who express
the opinion that his mind was unbai-
anced at the time this deed was commit
ted DR.. Fl. NJ. Gardner. who has per-
formed professional service for the clergy
man, made the following statement to-
day:
II have treated Mr.. Richeson for about
six months. His only ailment Is a case
of nerves The only medicine / have pre-
scribed for him is what is ordinarily pre-
scribed in cases of nervous breakdown,
and his condition was due wholly to over
h.
sanity about the man. DIR. BALDWIN pre-
scribed for him at the Edmands home,
and from what | gathered the only med-
cine he gave him was for his appetite.
Many Stories of Engagements.
Trailing the career of Richeson today
the police found out many strange things
about the theological student and young
preacher The fact that he was engaged
to Avis Linnell and Violet E>dmands at
the same time is small circumstance in
comparison with the stories of his en-
gagemenrs with girls that come from 9TH
er cities where he had been student and
preacher.
one of the most remarkably of these
engagement stories comes from Kansas
City. Mr.. Richeson preached there "A
supply pastor in the Budd Park Baptist
Church. He was engaged. according To
the report, to three girls there at the
same time They learned of il and, the
trio walked into church one day and sat
in the same seat. Richeson saw them.
But his superb nerve stood him in good
stead and he preached fervently about
how mothers should watch over their
daughters.
When the service was over the engaged
trio filed up to the altar, and, right out
before the startled congregation. accused
him of promising TO marry all three OF
them. I'm polished, courteous phrase. the
clergyman excused himself. He disap~
again. 1t is asserted.
From the little village of Georgetown,
near Haverhill, comes another engage
ment story. ard this time feminine trls
also figured Richeson preached at "A re-
vival service there, and he paid some at
tention to reviving the love in the hearts
of some of the feminine members OF the
flock. ii is said.
Engaged to Three at Once.
One of the girls that caught the eye of
the Clergyman. it is stated. was Miss
Alice F. Howe. a daughter of the deputy
sheriff 1t was reported that they be-
came engaged. The preacher had boarded
at the sheriff's house He gave MISS
Howe several presents. Then ii became
known, II is said. that he was engaged To
two other girls of the town, one of whom
was Miss Alfredo Chase, and the Howes
banfshed him.
Richeson rendered bill Tor the pres