The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-07
MINISTER'S HABIT
USED BY RICHESON
TO CLOAK HIS SINS
Episodes III Confessed !. MURDERER Life Had
'f harmed DIsttust sof dislike OF Nearly
All Who Knew Him
in Confessed

The career of the preacher who has
confessed to the poisoning OF AVIS
Linnell contained episodes that had
secured for him the distrust. suspl-
cion or positive dislike OF people who
knew him well. lie cheated in col
lcge examinations. His manner with
women was considered decidedly un-
becoming on the part OF minister oc
the gospel. He was accused OF con
ceaIing sporting proclivities under q
minister's habit
Just how old Richeson Is has not
been definitely determined. He gave
out that he Is under thirty. but people
who have known him FOR many years
| are sure that he was shading the
Etruth. They believe he Is at least thir-
tyfive. He was born ut Rose Inn,
IVA. went TO school there. and then
Courthouse. Va. In 1893 he went 10
Carrollton. Carroll county. Mo. where
he was employed by a cousin, WI.
Rlchcson, and kept UP his schooling
In Carroilton he Joined the Baptist
Church aud decided to study for tho
ministry.
First Pulpit Work. G
After q few years back homo in
Virginia, Richeson returned to Mis-
souri, and matr!culated at the Villa m
Jewell college at Liberty lie was or
dained to the ministry at the Third
Baptist Church in ST. Louis, after Il
course in theology ut the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Louis
vile, KY. His first work as a preach
CT was temporary pulpit assignments
in Kansas City. with occasional Jour
rcys into Missouri. From time TO time
he worked as street car conductor
in st. Louis and Was prominent In
street car strikes Ills talks to the
strikers were violent
Unpleasant stories were current
concerning his conduct towards young
women. Ono was that while he was
attending college In Liberty, Mo-, ne
declined to leave the home or II young
girl whom he had been counting until
o'clock in the morning. Another
was that he had deceived tho police
about a robbery which ho said had
occurred in his home.
With such stories following him,
Richeson entered the Newton Theo-
logical Seminary for a post graduate
course in the Old Testament. 1t was
while he was a student there that he
met Avis Linnell, the pretty young
daughter OF Edgar I.innell. a contrac-
tor of Iyannis. Mass. The preacher
personality. Miss Llnnells friends
found out very quickly that she was
in love with Richcson. BY 1909. when
he was graduated from tho Thcolpgi-
cal Seminary. 1t was common talk that
Richeson and Miss Linncll were en-
gagged, There was no formal an
nouncement, but Miss L!nnelI wna
wearing an engagement ring. and her
girl acquaintances were told that it
was the token of her bctrothaI to
Richeson.
Goes TO Hynnnis.,
After leaving the seminary. tho
young preacher accepted call to the
pulpit OF the Hyannis Baptist Church.
1t was about this time that tho rumot
was circulated that the engagement
between Richeson and Miss Linnel
had been broken. The story was
prompted in part by the preachers
attentions to Miss Violet Edmands
tho daughter OF Moses Grant Edmands
a wealthy resident of the Chestnut
Hill section OF Broolsline, Mass.
In June, 1910, Rioheson gave up the
pastorate of the Hyannls Church 10
become pastor of the Immanuel Bap-
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