El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-21

son dined with Avis LinneH at a little
restaurant in the Back Bay. While
there the girl appeared depressed. At
times tears rolled down her cheeks
When she returned TO her lodging
place however, she seemed cheerful,
although quickly excusing herself and
hurrying away TO her room
Groans were heard coming from a
bathroom Of the association quarters
shortly after o'clock that evening
The door was broken in and Miss Lin
nell was found partially unconscious
and apparently in great agony. Half
an hour later she died without recoY-
ering consciousness.
A belief that the girl had commit
ted suicide was at first general, but
her family were disposed TO discreolt
the report and a thorough investiga-
ton was made.
said Did Not Know Her.
soon after the girl died it was
learned that someone had telephoned
to Richeson, as the girls nearest friend,
and informed him of the circumstances
He cOldly denied at first that he knew
the girl at all Then finally, admit
ting that &c had been member OF
his former parish in Hyannis, he sug-
gested that her brOtherinlaw in Bridge
water be notified. Before hanging up
the receiver he asked Did she say
anything before she died?'
On the day following the girls death
Rev. Mr. Riches0n preached what was
TO be his last sermon In the Cambridge
church, and in his prayer referred
briefly TO the death OF near friend
That afternoon. dining with a mem
Der Of his parish in Somerville, he was
able TO eat but little and spent much
time on a couch in apparent mcutal
misery. He explained that he was over
come by the recent death Of dear
friend" That night he went 10 the
home Of Noses Grant Edmanus IN
BrOokline, father Of the girl TO whom
he was TO be married q week or so
later. and there remained in seclusiOn
through the next few days preceding
his arrest
took Up the mystery of che death or
Avis Linnell. It seemed apparent at
the outset that the belief IN a suicide
theory was one which the murderer
mad planned to foster.
Evidences of Murder.
In a weeks time material evidence
! began to accumulate. A woman de-
cIared that Richeson had telephOned
from her home making an appoint
ment for the afternoon of October il
with someone at the Young Woman's
. Christian association rooms Richie
sons lsndlady admitted her bOarder
! had returned a bowl to her with the
remark that she had better wash il
thoroughly as IL had been used to mix
paste which had contained poison. The
most damaging evidence, however. came
from William Hahn, a druggist Of New
ton Center, and friend Of Hicheson-
According TO Hahn. RichesOn came to
him four days before the Linneu girl
died and bought a considerable guam
tity of cyanide of potassium. explain
ing that he wanted IL Ito kill a dog
which was about TO have puppies" A
Cambridge cOnfectiOner told OF Richie
son coming TO his store on the after
noon Miss Linnell died and purchasing
a peculiar shaped jar Of candy, iden-
teal with a jar found in Miss Lin
nells room. The minister had taken
Boston bound car in front of the candy
store. A woman came to the police and
I told of seeing the pastor and the Weep
ing girl eating together in a restau-
rant on the same afternoon. AS a re-
suit of this Information the police felt
warranted in taking definite action.
The evening Of October 19 chief in
spector Dugan and members of his
force went to the home Of Mr.. Edmands
on Devon street, in BroOkline, to arrest
Rev Mr. RichesOn. Admission to the
/ house was denied, thought the hour was
early. The police had no search war
rant and did not feel justified in break
ing into the magnificent residence upon
the uncertainty of RichesOn being in