The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-05-18

member of his former parish in Hyan-
mis-. be suggested that her brother-in-
law in Bridgewater be notified. Be-
fore hanging up the receiver he ask |
ed: did she say anything before she
died?"
The theory of suicide was dispelled |
when the real conditions surrounding |
the death Of Miss Linnell we're made |
known. The girl had been sitting in a |
chair with her feet in tub of hot wa
ter 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 a
condition that later would be cause /,
Of great embarrassment.
On the day following the girls
death Rev. Mr.. Richeson preached what
was to be his last sermon in the Cam
bridge church, and in his prayer re-
ferred briefly to the death of a near
friend, That afternoon, dining with
member of his parish in Somerville,
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
a dear friend" That night he went
to the home of Moses Grant Edmands
in Brookline, father of the girl to
whom he was to be married a week or
SO later, and there remained in seclu-
sion through the next few days preced-
ing his arrest.
Scores Of police and newspaper men
took up the mystery of the death of
Avis Linnell. 1t seemed apparent at
the outset that the belief in suicide
theory was one which the murderer
had planned to foster. Given the
crime and the reason for IL 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 mys-
terry in directing their suspicious. The
girl had but one sweetheart and she
made no concealment of her affection
for Richeson.
In a weeks time material evidence
began to accumulate. A woman de-
clared that Richeson had telephoned
from her home making an appoint
ment for the afternoon of October Ia
with someone at the Young Woman's
Christian Association rooms. Richie
sons landlady admitted her boarder
had returned a bowl to her with the
remark that she had better wash it
thoroughly as it had been used to mix
paste which had contained poison.
The most damaging evidence, how
ever, came from William Hanna drug
gist of Newton Centre and a friend of
Richeson. According to Hahn, Richie
son came to him four days before the
Linnell girl died and bought con-
siderable quantity Of cyanide of potas-
SUM. explaining that he wanted 1t "to
kill a dog which was about to have
puppies" A Cambridge confectioner
told of Richeson coming to his store
on the afternoon Miss Linnell died
and purchasing peculiar shaped jar
of candy, identical with jar found in
Miss Linnell's room. The minister
had taken a Boston bound car in front
Of the candy store. A woman came
to the police and told of seeing the
pastor in restaurant on the same
afternoon. AS a result of this infor-
nation the police felt warranted in
taking definite action.
The evening of October 10 Chief
Inspector Dugan and members of his
force went to the home of Mr.. Ed
mands on Devon street, in Brookline,
to arrest Rev. Mr.. Richeson on the
suspicion that he was guilty of muir.
der. Admission to the house was de.
MED although the hour was early. The
police had no search warrant and did
not feel justified in breaking into the
magnificent residence upon the
uncertainty of Richeson being
inside. They therefore remain
ed on guard through the
night, frequently knocking upon doors
and windows and calling upon the oc
cupants to open and admit the off
GERS.
The weary vigil was kept up unit
} daylight, when a maid who appeared ii
the kitchen was prevailed upon t.
notify Mr.. Edmands that the officers
/ were outside and would break in If the
door was not opened at once. At
: o'clock the police were admitted
r Richeson was found in bed. He wal
r ordered to dress and accompany tn,