The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-21

DAYS before the Llnnell girl died and
bought considerable quantity Oh
cyanide OF potassium. explaining that
he wanted it ITO kill a dog. A Cam
bridge contectioncr told OF Richeson
coming to his store on the afternoon
Miss Linnell died and purchasing a
peculiar shaped jar OF candy, ldentl-
cal with the jar found in Miss Lin
nell's ROOM The minister had TAX
en- Boston bound car in front OF
the candy store \ woman came to
the police and told Of seeing the pas
tor and the weeping girl eating to-
| gether in a restaurant on the same
afternoon. AS a result OF this infOr-
nation the police felt warranted in
ticking definite action.
The evening of Oct. 10 Chief In
sEector Dugan and members OF his
force went to the home of Mr.. Ed
mands on Devon street, in BrOokline,
| to arrest Rev. NJ RichesOn on the
suspicion that he was guilty of muir
i Ger. Admission TO the house was de-
MED although the hour was early.
The police had no search warrant
and did not feel justified in break
ing into the magnificent residence
t.rOn the uncertainty of RichesOn be-
ing inside They therefore remained
On guard through the night frequent
~ knocking upon doors and windows
and calling 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
We're outside and would break in If
the door was not opened at once. A;
I 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
took in his arms Miss Violet Ed
mands. who was weeping hysterical-
~. do not worry, he said; every
thing 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
tC police headquarters in Boston in
= taXicab to be arraigncd.
The case was set for Oct. 81 for
hearing and Richeson was commit
ted to the Charles street Jail without
bail. Within few days the wedding
invitations of the minister and Miss
Edmands, summoning the guests to
the Edmands home on Oct. 81, were
recalled.
Before the day of the hearing a.
rived a special session of the grand
jury was called and an Indictment
charging murder in five counts was
| found. RichcsOn was taken into
court to plead to the charge of MUIR
der on the day he was to have been
r,arried to Miss Edmands. The trial
O. the case was set for Jan L..
Richcson had early written to his
church asking that judgment be sus-
pended until after the grand jury sit
ting. On Nov. he forwarded his res
ienation, but the church on Nov. G.
after stormy meeting. refused to ac-
ecpt it. Later a second letter of res
| ignatiOn was sent and accepted on
NOV. "A.
The police had even at this time
lar from a satisfactory ease against
Richeson. The conlainer OF the poi
son which Miss l.inncll had taken
could not be found. 1t was believed
| some vial or box might have beer
left in the pocket of Miss Lnnclls
bathrObe, which had been buried
with her The body was disintcrred
in liyannis on Oct. "A and brought
To Boston for a post norton cNami-
ration by five prominent physicians.
| he cause of death WAS confirmed but
10 additional evidence was found
At the same time the police BEGAN
az investigation into the life OF Rich
cson. Every important act of His
lie from the date of his birth al
hose Hill. Va. thirty years ago.
until his advent in Cambridce Was
zone into. Ii was found that h. went
&c school early At Amherst Court,
house. Va. high school. then Went
to Carrolllon. Mo. 10 work for a
Brother and attend a local acaGpmi
Three years later he went To Liberty.
Mo. and entered William Jewell col
lese to study for the ministry Will,
student he supplied pulpits in Kan
sas City. Mo; Stewartsville. Miss.
FL Paso. Tex; Louisville. Ky. and
other places
Rieheson's life had not been an an
II disturbed one il was learned ma