The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-24

Cane Cod town OF Hyannis two years
before. The handsome and eloquent
minister, then SO 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 a contractor and
builder. 1t was her ambition to be-
come a teacher and she was attending
the State normal school at Hyannis.
Miss Linnell joined Richeson's
church, was baptized by him and be-
came member of the church choir.
In a short time, early in 1909, Miss
Linnell was displaying a diamond ring
and confded in her girl friends that
she was to be married to the minister
the following October. Abandoning
her plan of becoming a school teach
er, Miss Linnell began preparations
for her wedding. Some of her trous-
seau was completed and the two paid
a visit to Rev. Edward S. Bottom, of
Brewster, who was asked to oficiate
at the ceremony.
Friction developed between Richie
son 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 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
a nearby town to a woman in Salt
Lake City, Utah. His resignation fol-
lowed and he accepted call to the I'M
manuel Baptist church of Cambridge.
When Richeson went to Cambridge
Miss Linnell went to the Conservatory
Of Music in Boston.
Aimed Higher.
The successes which the young
preacher attained in his larger sphere
of usefulness made marked impress
sion upon him. Surrounded by infIu-
entail friends and associates his am
bitions 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 we'll
as entitled to share in the estate of
some $8S0,O0O left by her grandfather.
Entrance to the exclusive home of the
Edmands had been easy to minister
as the pastor of the church the family
attended, and in sort time he was
accepted as suitor for the daughters
hand
At the same time Richeson was
meeting Miss Linnell as formerly.
The invitations to the wedding of
Richeson and Miss Edmands were
sent out the afternoon of Saturday,
October a. That same afternoon
Richeson dined with Avis Linnell at
a little restaurant in the Back Bay.
While there the girl appeared depress-
ed. At times tears rolled down her
cheeks. When she returned to her
lodging place, however, she seemed
cheerful, although quickly excusing
hersef and hurrying away to her
room.
Groans were heard coming from
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 recov-
ering consciousness.
A belief that the girl had committed
suicide was at first general, but her
family were disposed to discredit the
report, and a thorough investigation
was made.
AS a result the police felt warranted
in taking action.
The evening of October 10 Chief In
spector Dugan and members of his
force went to the home of Mr.. Ed
mands on Devon street in Brookline,
to arrest Richeson on the suspicion
that he was guilty of murder. Adnis-