New-York tribune., 1912-01-05
HUNT R|CHESON'S F|ANCEE
Police Search Several States for
Violet EdmondS.
THREAT OF EXTRACTION
Authorities Also Seek Girl Who
Took Shorthand Notes Of
Minister'S Sermon.

Boston. Jan. f--The police dragnet is out
for Miss Violet Edmands, fiancee OF the
Rev. G. V. r. Richeson. whose trial for the
murder Of his former sweetheart. Miss AVIS
Linnen will begin on January 10. The
search has already extended TO several ad'
Joining states. and If Miss Edmsnds is
found outside Of Massachusetts she Will be
eytradited as a witness, according 10 DIS
trlct Attorney Peletier. Miss Edmands, th'
District Attorney declares has been absent
from her home in BroOkline for weeks. Re
saws he does not believe she Is In Lake
" ood y. j., as rumored. but that he has
some evidence that she is In or near New
York City.
Soon after she left home Miss Edmand.
was traced to Pomfret, Conn. She soon
left there, taking an assumed name ana
since then little news has been received
from her II is known, however, that az
rectlonate letters are received from her
for Richeson almost daily and an Al
tempt Is being made 10 trace her by means
OF these letters
II is understood that the District At
tornoy desires 10 locate Miss Edmands
in order 10 question her especially as 10
her knowledge of tho whereabouts OF
Richeson on the days Immediately preced-
ing the death OF Avis Linnell. Miss Ed
mands did not testify before the grand
mrv which indicted Richeson, as she was
prostrated by illness at the time, and u
is believed that her story Is known only
10 counsel for the defence. Whether II is
tn7 plan Of the defence TO bring Miss Ed
mands forward at the last moment as a
witness 30 establish an alibi for Richeson
Is not known but II is believed that the
District Attorney IL anxious 10 learn jus;
how much Of the clergyman's time on the
DAYS in question Miss Edmands is able to
account for.
The District Attorney is also looking for
girl who took shorthand notes OF MT
Richeson's sermon the Sunday after Avis
Iinnelps death. so that the exact words
nc used in referring TO :he death can he
ascertain a. If the words are what the
prosecutor thinks, an attempt will be made
10 prove that they indicate a guilty con-
science
The condition OF the prisoner was re.
ported tonight 10 be somewhat improved
Messrs. Lee and Morse, counsel for the de
fence had conference with him in his ceh
at the Charles street Jail. The attorneys
said that while he seemed better he is still
FAR from being in condition physically tC
stand the strain OF a trial. They added
that they had agreed on a plan Of defence.
chief Justice Aiken Of the Superior Court
gave his approval to-day to the use Of the
fourth floor of the courthouse for the trial.
Three courtrooms and the adjoining rooms
and corridors will be set aside for court,
witnesses and the press. The court will sit
in The rotunda Of the largest courtroom
on the fourth floor, and the general public
will be admitted only as seats are vacated.
IT was learned to-day that the Rev.
Archibald A Mason, of the Baptist Church,
Of Passumpsic. Vt. had been committed 10
The State Hospital for the Insane at
Waterbury, VT, az q result OF mental
trouble produced by the Richeson case. Mr.
Mason was formerly pastor Of the I'M
manuel Baptist Church, of Cambridge. OF
which Richcson was pastor at the time OF
his arrest