Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-01-08
Riehessn's Victim, at First Believed to
Be a Suicide.

The crime alleged against Rev.
Clarence Virgil Thompson Richeson,
pastor Of the Emmanuel Baptist church
of Cambridge is the murder of Avis
Linnell, on the night of Saturday, Oc-
tober IA. Miss Linnell, girl of 10
sears, was a native of Hyannis, a
small Cape Cod village where Richie
son formerly preached, and was study
ing at the New England Conservatory
Of Music il this city. Miss LlnneIl
was found dying in a bathroom in the
Young Women's Christian association
building on Warrenton street, where
she lodged. At first it was believed
that the young woman had taken poi
son with a suicidal intent, but day
or two later it became generally known
that she had taken cynaide of potas-
sum in the belief that it would rem
edy q condition that was later to be
a cause Of great embarrassment to an
other as well as to herself.
On the day following Linnelps death
Richeson preached his last sermon in
the Cambridge church, and the same
evening he went to the home of Moses
Grant Edmands, in the Chestnut Hill
section of Broollline. Mr. Edmands is
a prominent Baptist Iayman, q trus-
tee of the Newton Theological insti-
tute, where Richeson studied for the
ministry, and is the father Of Miss
Violet Edmands, to when RichesOn
was to have been married on October
81, last.
In their investigation into the death
Of the Linnell girl the police found
evidence, they claimed, which tended
to implicate Richeson. 1t was report
ed to the police that the young pastor
had been engaged to Miss Linneii and
that the girl believed that she was
to marry him and did not know of his
engagement to Miss Edmands. 1t was
also a police theory that the minister
was the person to whom Miss LinnelIS
physical 5ndition would cause the
greatest woTriment. On the night of
Thursday, October 10, William Hahn,
druggist at Newton Center, reported
to the police that a few days before
the death OF Miss Linnell, Rtcheson
had purchased cyanide Of potassium
nom him. The minister, according to
Hahn, said that ne desired to kill a
dog, but cautioned the druggist not
to mention the fact that he had sold
lciscn to the minister.
Early on the morning Of Friday, Oc-
tOber 20, RichesOn was arrested at the
! Edmands home in Brookline. He was
given a brief hearing in the Boston
municipal court and his case was con-
tilUad until October 81, the day set
for his marriage to Miss Edmands. In
the meantime the wedding invitations
were recalled.
Before the date for the continued
! hearing Of the case arrived. q special
| session Of the grand jury was called
ano, on October 81. an indictment con-
aiming five counts for murder in the
| nrst degree, was returned.
! Before the report of the grand Jury
was made, Richeson wrote u letter to
| his congregation, reslgnlng his pas
! toTate, but the church refused to ao-
| cept II. Later o second resignation
/ was submitted, which was accepted A
I few days after the Indictment was
! ieturned, Rchcsun was arraigned H.
| the superior criminal court where he
pleaded not guilty and his trial was
/ hTre for January Is, next
| Rlcheson, who is about So years
/ OLE, was Dorn at Rose Hill, Va, and
| was educated at the Amherst Court
| house high school, Virginia, ana al
| William Jewell college, Liberty, Mo
After studying for three years at the
! Newton Theological institute he was
/ graduated from that school in June
] 13v5' tdhIhs POST graduate course the
| following year He was ordained tc
! the ministry in the Third church, st
/ Louis, No, and had preached at vari-
Gus places in the south and north, his
| lIyaunis pastorate being nearly two
/ years IN length. During his brief pas.
torate Of Emmanuel church, Cambridge
/ he had made a favorable impression
among the majority Of kis parishion.
| ers.
/ Riches5n is tall and good locking
| with wavy black hair. He is described
by some Of his fellow students as i'm.
| pulsiye, gallant and fiery His friend:
| declare that they know positively thai
he severed his relations with Miss Lin.
| nell before becoming engaged to Mis-:
Edmands and that after his engage.
nent to the Brookline girl he wa:
merely friend of Miss LinneI.