Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-05-18

asked: did she say anything before
size died?"
The theory of suicide was dispelled
when the real conditions surrounding
the death Of Miss Linnell were made
known. The girl had been sitting IN
a chair with her feet in a tub of hot
water, while besioe her was a fresh
change of clothing. The autopsy re-
vealed the fact that she had taken a
dose of poison, and the conclusion
was drawn that she had done SO in
the innocent belief that it would rem
edy a condition that later would be
cause of great embarrassment.
On the day following the girls
death Rev. Mr.. Richeson 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, din
ing with a member of his parish in
Somerville, he was able to eat but lit
tie and spent much time on couca
planned that he was overcome by the
in apparent mental misery. He ex.
recent death of dear friend" That
night he went to the home Of Moses
Grant Edmands in Brookline, father
of the girl to whom he was to be
married a week or so later, and there
remained in seclusion through the
next few days preceding his arrest.
Scores of police and newspaper
men took up the mystery of the death
of Avis Linnell. 1t seemed apparent
at the outset that the belief in q
suicide theory was one which the
murderer had planned to foster. Civ
en- the crime and the reason for it
the next step was to find the man re-
sponsible for the condition of the vic
tim. The police had not far to seek
and the newspapers made no pretense
at mystery in directing their suspic.
ions. The girl had but one sweet
heart and she made no concealment
of her affection for Richeson.
In a weeks time material evidence
began to accumulate. A woman de-
clared that Richeson had telephoned
from her home making an appoint
ment for the afternoon of october IA
with some one at the Young Women's
Christian association rooms. Richie
sons landlady admitted her boarder
had returned bowl to her with the
remark that she had better wash it
thoroughly as it had been used to
mix paste which had contained pois-
on. The most damaging evidence,
however, came from William Hahn, a
druggist of Newton Centre and a
friend of Richeson. According to
Hahn, Richeson came to him four
days before the Linnell girl died and
bought considerable quantity OF
cyanide of potassium, explaining that
he wanted it Ito kill dog that was
about to have puppies" A Cambridge
confectioner told OF Richeson coming
to his store on the afternoon that
Miss Linnell died and purchasing a
peculiar shaped jar Of candy, identi-
cal with jar found in Miss Linnells
room. The minister had taken a
Boston bound car in front of the can
dy store. A woman came to the pc.
lice and told of seeing the pastor and
the weeping girl eating together in
restaurant on the same afternoon.
As result of this information the
police felt warranted in taking defin.
tie action.
The evening of October 10 Chief
Inspector Dugan and members of his
force, went to the home Of Mr.. Ed
mands on Devon street, in Brookline,
to arrest Rev. Mr.. Richeson on sus-
picion that he was guilty of the muir
der. Admission to the house was
denied although the hour was early.
The police had no search warrant and
did not feel justified in breaking in
to the magnificent residence upon the
uncertainty of Richeson being inside.
They therefore remained on guard
through the night. frequently knock
ing upon the doors and windows and
callig upon the occupants to open
and admit the officers.
The weary vigil was kept up until
daylight, when a maid who appeared
in the kitchen was prevailed upon to
notify Mr.. Edmands that the officers
were outside and would break in il
the door was not opened at once. At
Z o'clock the police were admitted.
Richeson was found in bed. He was
ordered to dress and accompany the
officers. Before leaving the house he
who was weeping Historically. DO
.ook in his arms Miss Violet Edmands
not worry" he said, "everything will
come out all right" The minister
came out of the house in the murky
dawn, passing between two rows OF
police, newspaper men and curious
neighbors, and was taken to police
headquarters in Boston in taxicab
to be arraigned.
The case was set for October 81,
for a hearing, and Richeson was COM
mitted to the Charles ,treet Jail with.
out bail. Within few days the we'd
ding invitations Of the minister and
Miss Edmands, summoning the guests
to the Edmands home on October 81,
were recalled.
Before the day of hearing arrived
a special session of the grand jury
was called and an indictment charg-
ing murder in five counts was found.
Richeson was taken into court to
plead to the charge of murder on the
day he was to have been married to
Miss Edmands. The tl4~- - the case
was set for January Is.
Richeson had early written to his
church asking that judgment be sus-