The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-21
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Confessed the Murder of His Sweet
heart Avis Linnell.


| Confessed the Murder of His Sweet
heart Avis LinnelI.
The crime for Which Clarence Virgil
| Thompson Richesun, at the time or MS
arrest pastor of the Emmanuel church
of Cambridge. vas sentenced 10 ale N
the electric chair, was the confessed
murder of his former sweetheart, -
years old Avis LirEell of Hyannis,
pupil in the New England ConserVa-
tory of Music in Boston.
The girl stood in the way of the
minister's marriage to Miss Violet Ed
mands, a society girl and heiress OF
Brookline. both through an engage
ment which still existed between the
two and because of condition IN
which Miss Linnell found herself. The
girl was deceived into taking poison
given her by Richeson, which she be-
lieved would remedy that condition
and died in her rooms at the Dung
Woman's Christian association, on the
evening of October IA, 1911. On that
day invitations had been issued for the
wedding ceremony which was to unite
Rev. Mr.. Richeson and Miss Edmands-
As pastor of a small church in the
Cape Cod town of Hyannis two years
before, the handsome and eloquent
minister, then 33 years old. had been
attentive to Avis Linnell, who was an
exceptionally prettJ girl of IL years.
She lived with her parents, her father.
Edgar Linnell, being a contractor and
come a teacher AMI she was attending
the state Normal school al Hyannis.
Miss Linnell Joined Richeson's
church, was baptized by him and be-
came a member Of the church choir.
In a short time. early in 1903, Miss
I-innell was displaying diamond ring
and conflded in her girl friends that
she was to be married to the minister
the following October. Abandoning
her plan of becoming a school teacher
Miss Linnell began preparations for
her wedding. Some of her trousSeau
was completed and the two paid visit
to Rev. Edward S. Cotton of Brewster,
who was asked to officiate at the cere-
mony-
Trouble With His DeaconS.
Friction developed between Richie
son and his deacons in June, 1910,
over the young minister's impetuous
manner and his violent language.
There was also a question as to the
loss of $50 in money which had been
left by a parisl.ioner in the pastor's
study. The minister declared he had
been rCbbed of the money. Shortly
afterward it was learned he had sent
a similar sum by money order from
nearby town to women in Salt Lake
City, Utah. His resignation followed
and he accepted a call to the I'm
manuel Baptist church of Cambridge.
When Richeson went to Cambridge
Miss Linnell went to the Conservatory
of Music in Boston. She was induced |
lister in the idea thai by the cultivation |
of her voice. which had given signs of
much premise in the Hyannis church |
choir she would better fit herself to |
become his wife. On the minister's |
the girl took room |
at the Young Woman's Christian assoc |
citation quarters on Warrenton street, !
Boston. She proved a diligent student |
and continued her church work by /
teaching in the Sunday school of Ire |
mont Temple, tho leading Baptist |
church of the city There were fire. |
quent meetings between Miss Linnell
and Richeson.
The successes which the young |
preacher attained in his larger sphere
of usefulness made a marked i'm pres
sion upon him. Surrounded by in
fIuential friends and associates, his
widened. He began to pay
court to Miss Violet Edmands of
Brookline, the daughter of Moses
Grant EdmandS, a prominent Baptist
layman and trustee of the Newton
seminary, from which
Richeson had been graduated. Miss
was prominent socially and
was wealthy in her own right, as well
as entitled to share in the estate of
some $SS0,000 left by her grandfather.
had been easy to the min
ster as the pastor of the church the
family attended, and in a short time
ne was accepted as sutton for the
daughters hand.
Borrowed Her Ring.
At the same time Richeson was
meeting Miss Linnell as formerly. Gut
1ne day he borrowed the diamond
ing he had given her, on the pretext
hat the stone needed resetting. He
lid not return it. Eventually the
newspapers announced the engage
nent of Rev. Mr.. Richeson and Miss
Violet Edmands. The Linnell family
10Y he
ster promptly declared the story a
newspaper fake" and was believed.
The invitations to the wedding of
Richeson and Miss Edmands were
sent out the Afternoon of Saturday,
october IA. That same afternoon
Richeson dined with Avis Linnell at
little restaurant in the Back Bay.
While there the girl appeared de-
pressed At times tears rolled down
Ter cheeks. When she returned to
seemed cheerful, although quickly ex-
using herself and hurryiEg away to
Ter room.
Groans were heard coming from a
bathroom of the association quarters
shortly after O'Clock that evening.
rhe door was broken in and Miss Lin
Iell was found partially unconscious
md apparently in great agony. Half
IN hour later she died without recov-
hing consciousness.
A belief that the girl had committed
uicide was at first general. but her
amily were disposed to discredit the
eport, and a thorough investigation
vas made.
Denied He Knew Her.
Soon after the girl died it was
earned that someone had telephoned ,
o Richeson, as the girls nearest
riend, and informed him of the cir
umstances He coldly denied at first
hat he knew the girl at all. Then
inally admitting that she had been a
nember of his former parish in Hy- :
nnis, he suggested that her brother
a=law in Bridgewater be notified.