Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-21
R,cHEsoN's BRUTAL CRIME.
Poisoned Sweetheart WI ON He Had
Betrayed-Confessed Altar Arrest.

Betrayed-confessed Altar Arrest.
Boston, May 21.-The crime for
which Clarence Virgil Thompson Rich
eson, at the time Of his arrest pastor
of the Emmanuel Church Of Cambridge,
was sentenced to die in the electric
chair was the confessed murder of his
former sweetheart, 19 year old Avis
Linnell, of Hyannis, pupil in the New
England Conservatory of Music IN
Boston.
The girl stood In the way Of the min
isters marriage to Miss Violet Ed
mands, society girl and heiress of
Brookline, both thru an engagement
which still existed between the two and
because Of condition in which Miss
Linnell found herself. The girl was de-
ceived into taking d poison given her
by Richeson, which she believed would
remedy that condition and died in her
rooms at the Young Womans Christian
Association. on the evening Of Oct. IA.
1911. On that day Invitations had been
issued for the wedding ceremony which
was to unite Rev. Mr.. Richeson' and
Miss Edmands.
AS pastor Of small church in the
Cape Cod town of Hyannis two years
before, the handsome and eloquent
minister, then 33 years old, had been
attracted to Avis Linnell who was an
exceptionally pretty girl Of II years.
She lived with her parents. her father.
Edgar Linnell. being contractor and
builder It was her ambition to be-
come teacher and she was attending
the state normal school at Hyannis.
Became Engaged to Miss LinneiI.
Miss Linnell joined Richeson's s
church, was baptized by him and be-
came a member Of the church choir.
In short time, early in 1909. Miss
Linnell was displaying a diamond ring
and confided in her girl friends that
! she was to be married to the minister
the following October. Abandoning her
plan of becoming school teacher Miss
Linnell began preparations for her
wedding. Some of her trousseau was
completed and the two paid visit to
Rev. Edward S. Cotton, Of Brewster,
who was asked to officiate at the cere-
mony
Friction developed between Richeson
and his deacons in June, 1910, over the
young minister's impetuous manner
and his violent language. There was
also a question as to the loss of $50
in money which had been left by a
parishioner in the pastors study. The
minister DECLARED he had been robbed
of the money. Shortly afterward it
was learned he had sent similar sum
by money order from nearby town to
woman in Salt Lake City, Utah. His
resignation followed and he accepted a
call to the Immanuel Baptist church
of Cambridge.
Follows Pastor to Cambridge.
When Richeson went to Cambridge
Miss Linnell went to thu Conservatory
| Of Music in Boston. She was induced
to attend the conservatory by the min
lister in the idea that by the cultivation
Of her voice, which had given signs of
much promise in the Hyannis church
choir, she would better fit herself to
become his wife. On the minister's 8
recommendation the girl took a room
at the Young WQman's Christian As
sociation quarters on Warrenton street.
Boston. She proved a diligent student
and continued hef church work by
teaching In the Sunday school of Tre-
mont Temple, the leading Baptist
church of the city There were fire.
quent meetings between Rev. Mr.. Rich
eson anu Miss Iinne!!!!.
Becomes Engaged to Heiress.
The successes which the young
preacher attained in his larger sphere
Of usefulness made q marked impress
sion upon him. Surrounded by influen-
tial friends and associates his ambi-
tions widened. He began to pay
court to Miss Violet Edmands Of
Brookline, the daughter of Moses Grant
Edmands, a prominent Baptist layman
and trustee OF the Newton Theological
Seminary. from which Richeson had
been graduated. Miss Edmands was
prominent socially and was wealthy in
her own right. as well as entitled to
share in the estate OF some $SS0.0O0
left by her grandfather. Entrance to
the exclusive homesa0f the Edmunds