Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-21
'R|CH[S()N PAYS DEBT
FOR |NHUhAN CRIME
.tcon.inuea From Page IL

had been easy to; the minister as the
pastor Of the church the family at
tenGed, and in short time he was ac-
Icepted as sutton for the daughter
hard. I =.
At thersame time Richeson was
meeting Miss Linnell as formerly. But
one day he borrowed the diamond ring
he had given her. on the pretext that
the stone needed resetting. He did not
return it,. Eventually the newspapers
announced the engagement of Rev. Mr..
Richeson and Miss Violet ,Edmands.
The Linnell family demanded an ex-
PLANTATION. The minister promptly de-
clared the story a newspaper fake
and was believed.
l. Miss LinnslI Found Dying.
The invitations to the wedding of
IRicheson and Miss Edmands were sent
Isout- the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. IA.
That 'saihe afternoon Richeson dined
with Avis Linnell at little restau-
rant in the Back Bay. While there the
girl appeared depressed. At times tears
rolled down her cheeks. When she re-
turned: to her lodging place. however,
shc seemed cheerful, altho quickly ex-
cusing herself and hurrying away to
her room.
Groans were heard coming from a
bathroom of the association quarters
shortly after o'clock that evening.
The door was broken in and Miss Lin
nell wasefound partially unconscious
and apparently in great agony. Half an
hour later she died without recovering
cons ciousness.
A belief that the girl had committed
suicide was at first general, but her
family were disposed to discredit the
report. and thorough investigation
was made.
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
chair with her feet in a~tub Of hot
water while beside 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 in
nocent belief that it would remedy
condition that later would be cause
of great embarrassment.
|; Murderer Continued to Preach.
! 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, dining with
member Of his parish in Someryille.
he was able to eat but little and spent
much time on a couch in apparent
mental misery. He explained that he
was overcome by the recent death of
dean friend" That night ne went to
the home of Moses Grant Edmands in
Brookline. father Of the girl to whom
he was to be mapried a week or 80
later, and there remained In secluston
thru the next few days preceding his
arrest.
In a weeks time material evidence
began to accumulate. A woman de-
clared that Richeson had telephoned
from her home making an appointment
for the afternoon Of Oct. IA with some
one at the Young Woman's Christian
Association rooms. Richeson's land
lady admitted her boarder had returned
a bowl to her with the remark that she
had better wash it thoroughly as 1t had
been used to mix paste which had con-
tanned poison. The. most damaging
evidence, however. came from William
IA friend of Richeson. According to
Hahn, Richeson came to him four days
before the Linnell girl died and bought
"a considerable quantity Of cyanide OF
potassium, explaining that he wanted
It ito xiii dog which was about to
have puppies" A Cambridge confec-
toner told Of Richeson coming to his
store on the afternoon Miss Linnell
died and purchasing a peculiar shaped
jar of candy, identical with a jar found
jim Miss Linnelrs room. A woman came
Ito the police and told Of seeing the
pastor and the weeping girl eating to.
gether in a restaurant on the same at
ternoon. AS a result Of this informa :
tfon the police felt warranted in taking
definite action and Richeson was ar
crested at the Edmands home.
Inspector Dugan and members Of his
force went to the home Of Mr.. Edmands
Ton Devon street. in Brookline, to ar
Erest Rev. Mr. Richeson on the sus-
picion that he was guilty OF murder.
Admission to the house was denied al
tho the hour was early. The police
lhad no search warrant and did not feel
justified In breaking into the magnif1-
cent residence upon the uncertainty OF
Richeson being inside. They therefore
remained on guard thru the night fire.
uuently knocking upon doors and win
Idows and calling upon the occupants to
omen and admit the officers
The weary vigil was kept UP until
daylight when a maid who appeared In
the kitchen was prevailed upon to noti-
Ify. Mr.. Edmands that the officers were
lsouteide and would break in If the door
twas not opened at once. At o'clock
1.-THE police were admitted. Richeson
was found in bed He was ordered to
Idress and accompany the officers. Be
fore leaving the house he took~in his
arms Miss Violet Edmands who was
weeping Historically. do not worry, y
| he said, Everything will come out all
fright" The minister came out Of the
house in the murky dawn. passing be-
Tween two rows of police. newspaper
men, and curious neighbors and was
taken to police headquarters in Boston
in taxjeab to be arraigned.
Arraisned on Wedding Day..
The case was set for Oct. 81 for a
lhearing and Richeson was committed
to the Charles street jail without bail.
Within asfew days the wedding invi-
tations Of the minister and Miss Ed