New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-07

family Of Avis Linnell, while greatly
shocked at the admission Of guilt on the
part OF their former pastor, the Rev. c. v.
r. Richesou. expressed relief that the mat
ter was settled The girls mother Mrs,
Edgar Linnell. said:
Since Mr.. Richeson Is guilty. we are
glad he confessed. for It relieves our minds.
! hope that it will mean that We will not
have TO go to court to testify in the case.
The news of Richesons confession was
generally received here with considerable
surprise. Practically all Of the residents
Of Hyannis we're we'll acquainted with the
minister when he was pastor here, and
they were OF the opinion that he was re-
sponsible for Miss Linnclrs death. They
expected. nevertheless, that he would base
his defence on the supposed inability Of the
state TO prove that he gave the fata dose
OF cyanide OF potassium 10 Miss binnel.
There was little sympathy for Richeson
in Hyannis after the statement mao" ny
William Hahn. a Newton Centre druggist;
that he sold the poison 10 the minister. ana
Richeson's efIigy was suspended from a
tree I'm the yard Of his former church here.
Cambridge. Mass. Jan. s.-Charles +.
Cummings. OF Belmont. clerk OF the I'M
manuel BapHst Church over which the
learning Of tho confession: u am not sur
prispd The actions of the minister have
not been consistent with those Of an IN
nOCent man"
Boston. Jan. 6.-Tho crime alleged against
Clarence Virgil Thompson Richcson. for
mer ia Stor Of the Emmanuel Baptist
Church. Of Cambridge, IS tho murder Of
Avis Linnell on the night Of SATURDAY.
virl of
nineteen years. was a native Of IIyann's, a
small Cape Cod village, where Richeson
formerly preached while student at the
New England conservatory Of Music, in
this city. Miss LInnell was found dying in
q bathroom i'm the Young Women's Chris
tlan Association Building. in Warrcnton
street. where she lodged At first 1t was
believed the young woman had taken
poison with suicidal intent but q day or
two later II became generally known that
she had taken cyanide of potassium in the
belief that Il would remedy a condition
that later was TO be cause of great en-
barrassment to another, as We'll as to her
self.
On the day following Miss Linnelrs death
Richeson went to the home of Moses Grant
Edmsnds. I'm the Chestnut Hill section Of
Brookline. Mr. Edmands Is a prominent
Baptist layman and is the father OF Miss
Violet Edmands, to whom Richeson was 10
have been married on October 81 last. 1t
was reported to the police that the young
pa stor had been engaged 10 Miss LinneH.
It was also a police theory that the min
lister was the person to whom Miss Lin
nells physical condition would cause the
greatest worrment
On the night OF Thursday, October 49,
William Hahn, a druggist at Newton Cen
tire. reported to the police that few days
before the death of Miss Linnell Richeson
had purchased cyanide OF potassium from
him. The next day Richeson was arrested
at the Edmands home in Brookline. The
wedding invitations were recalled.
special session OF the grand jury was
called. and on October II an Indictment
containing 1--WE counts was returned. Ar
raigned in the Superior Criminal Court,
Richeson pleaded not guilty. and his trial
was fixed for January Is next. He resigned
his pastOrate, and after his indictment the
resignation was accepted. Richeson Is
ahout thirty-fve years old and was born
AZ Rose Hin. Va, where his aged father
10 whom he Is said TO have recently pro-
tested his innocence, resides.