New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-21

ciates his ambitions widened. lie began TO
nav court TO Miss Violet Edmands OF
RrookIine the daughter OF Moses Grant
Fdnsnds. a prominent Baptist layman ana
trustee of the Newton Theological Semi
nary from which Richeson had been grad
mated. Miss Edmands was prominent so
c,aIlv md was wealthy In her own right
as well as entitled to share in the estate
Of some $4,000 left by her grandfather.
Entrance TO the exclusive home OF the Ed
mands had been easy to the minister as
tho pastor OF the church the family at
tended and In a short time ne was &C
cepted as sutton for the daughters hand.
At the same time Richeson was meeting
Miss Iinnell as formerly. But one day n"
borrowed the diamond ring he had given
her. on the pretext that the stone neeneu
resetting. He did not return II. Eventual
" the newspapers announced the engage
ment OF Richeson and Miss Edmands. The
IinneU family demanded an explanation.
The minister promptly declared the story
newspaper fake" and was believed.
Wedding Invitations Sent Out.
The invitations 10 the wedding OF Richie
son and Miss Edmands were sent out the
afternoon OF Saturday. October "A. That
same afternoon Richeson dined with Avis
Linnell ut little restaurant In the Back
Bay. While there the girl appeared de-
pressed. At times tears rolled down her
cheeks. When she returned to her lodging
place, however. she seemed cheerful, al
though quickly excusng herself and hurry
Ing away 10 her room.
Groans were heard coming from a bath
room of the association quarters shortly
after o'clock that evening The door
was broken In and Miss Linnell was found
partly unconscious and apparently in great
agony Half an hour later she died with
out recovering consciousness.
belief that the girl had committed
suicide was at first general. but her fam
lily was disposed to discredit the report
and thorough investigation was made.
Soon after the girl died IT was learned
that some one had telephoned TO Richie
son. az the girls nearest friend. and In
formed him Of the circumstances. lie
coldly denied at first that he knew the
girl at all. Then. finally. admitting that
she had been n member Of his former par
ish in Hyannis. he suggested that her
brother-in-law In Bridgewater be notified
Before hanging up tho receiver he asked:
Did she say anything before she died.
The theory OF suicide was dispelled whom
the real conditions surrounding the death
Of Miss IAnnoll were made known. The
girl had been sitting IN chair, with her
feet I'm a tub OF hot water. while beside her
was IA fresh change OF clothing. The hu-
topsy revealed the fact that she had taken
dose Of poison. and the conclusion was
drawn that she had done 20 In the inno-
cent belief that It would remedy condl-
ton that later would be a cause OF great
embarrassment.
Minister Remains in Seclusion.
ON the day following the girls death
Richeson preached what was TO he his last
sermon I'm the Cambridge church and In
his prayer referred briefly 10 the death OF a
near friend That afternoon, dining with a
member OF his parish In Somerville, he was
a bic TO eat but little and spent much Time
on "a couch In apparent mental misery lie
explained that he was overcome by the re-
cent death OF a dear friend That night
he went TO the home OF Moses Crane Ed
mands, In Brooklne father OF the girl 10
whom ne was 10 be married a week OF so
later. and there remained In seciusion
through the next few days preceding his
arrest.
Scores Of police and newspaper men took
I'D the mystery of the death Of Avis LIN
nell 1t seemed apparent at the outset that
the belief In a suicide theory was one
which the murderer had planned TO foster
Given the crime and the reason for 1t. the
next step was to find the man responsible
for the condition OF the victim. The police
had not far TO seek, and the newspapers
made no pretence at mystery in directing
their suspicious. The girl had but one
sweetheart. and she made no cohcea'iheh'
OF her affection for Richeson.
In a weeks time material evidence began
Ia accumulate \ woman declared that
Richeson had telephoned from her nome
ma king an appointment for the afternoon OF
October II with some one at the Young
Women's Christian Association rooms
Rcheson's landlady admitted her boarder
lad returned bowl TO her with the re-
mark that she had better wash II thor
oughly as 1t had been used TO mix paste
which had contained poison. The most
ds maging evidence, however, came from
William Hahn, IA druggist OF Newton Centre
and a friend of Richeson. According TO
Hahn. Richeson came to him four days be-
fore Miss Linnells death and bought con-
siderable quantity of cyanide OF potassium
explaining that he wanted 1t TO XIII dos
which was about TO have puppies.
Cambridge confectioner told OF RlcheSoH
coming to his store on the afternoon MISS
L.nnell died and purchasing a peculiarly
shaped lar OF candy. identical with jar
found in Miss Linnell's room. The minister
had taken a Boston bound car In 'front.' ol
the candy store. A woman came to the ponce
and told OF seeing the pastor and the weep
ing girl eating together in restaurant on
In, same afternoon. As result OF TINS IN
formation the police felt warranted IN TAX
ifK definite action
Admission to House Denied.
ON the evening Of October 10 Chlef In
spector Dugan and members of his force
wont In the home OF Mr.. Edmands, III