The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-17

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arrest pastor OF the Emmanuel Church
OF Cambridge. was sentenced TO die In
the electric chair. was the confessed
murder OF his former sweetheart, nine
teen-year-oid Avis Llnnell. OF Hyann!s.
Il pupil in the New England Conserve
tory Of Music in Boston.
The girl stood in the way OF the
minister's marriage to Miss Violet Ed
mands. society girl and he.ress Of
Brookline. both rhrougA an engage
( inent which se,ll existed between the
two ana because Of condition IN
which Miss L:nnei! found ne-seli. The
girl was deceived into taking & poison
given her by R!chcson. which she be-
iieved would remedy thlt condition
/ and died in her rooms at the Young
Woman's Christian Association on the
evening OF October IA. 1911. On that
day invitations had been Issued Cor
the wedding cerc,nony which was to
Unite Ruv. Sir. Richeson ana M!:s Ed
maEds.
AS pastor OF small church In IN.
Cape Cod town of Hyannis TWO years
be.ore. the handsome and eloquent min
lister, then thirty-in-ec years old, had
been attracted 10 AVIS Llnn.ll, who
was all exceptionally pretty girl Of
seventeen years. She lived with her
parents. her father. Edgar L.nnen,
being contractor and builder. IL was
her ambition to become teacher. and
she was attending TIE State Normal
School at HyaHn!s.
Miss Linnell joined Richeson's
church, was baptized by him. and e.
ma. n ,G,t,f, ~ r~h, s-rhD Lrtr T.,
a short time. early in 1903. Miss Lin
nell vas displaying a diamond ring.
and coRfdcd 10 her girl friends that
she was 10 be married 10 the nj mister
tho following Octohe. rdonlng
ner plan OF becoming a school .each-
err. Miss LinneN began preparations for
her wedding. Some OF her ;roussea IL
was completed. and the two paid a
visit TO Rev. Edwsrd s. Cotton. OF
! q; the ceremony.
Friction in Church
Friction developed between Richeson
! nd his dtacons in June, 1910. over the
young minister's !mpetuous manner
ana his violent language There was
! also question as 70 the lo-s o: $50 IN
money which had been lef, by par
| ish!oner in the pastors study. The
! minister declared he had been rolb ed
L
was learned he had sent a similar sum
! by money order from a neaIfoy town
/ to a. woman ia Salt Lake City, Ctah.
( His resignation followed. ana he ac-
/ cepted a call to this Emmanuel Baptist
/ Church OF Cambridge.
When Richeson want to Cambria e
| Miss Lianeu went TO the Conservatory
OF Music in Boston. She was Induced
TO attend the conservatory by the min
+ lister IN the idea that by the cultivation
! OF her voice. which had given signs or
| much promise In the Tyannls church
! choir. she would better NJ herself to
I become his wife. On the minister's
recommendation tho girl took a room
| at the Young WoInan's Christian Aszo-
citation quarters on Warrenton Street,
| Boston. She proved a diligent student
ana continued her church work by
teaching In the Sunday school OF IRE
mont Temple, the leading Baptist
church OF the city. There were ire
! ruent meetings between Miss L.nnall
! and Richeson.
| The SUCCESSES which the young
| preacher attained il, his larger sphere
of usefulness made marked impress
sion upon him. Surrounded by infu-
| entail friends end associates. his am
! billions w!densd. lie began to pay
court to Miss Violet Edmands. OF
| Brookline. tho daughter OF Moses Grant
/ Edna nds. prominent Baptist layma n
and trustee of the Newton Theological
I Seminary. from winch Richeson had
/ been graduated Miss Eimands was
prominent socially. AID was wealthy
/ In her own right as we'll as entitled
/ 20 share in the estate OF GONE sSS1.01O
/ 'eft by her grandfather. Entrance to
the exclusive home OF the Edna ndse :
! mad he@n easy to the minister as the
! pastor of the churcr IN" family at
I tended, and In short time he was ac-
! copied as sutton for tho daughters
. hand
At the sam. time Richie -on was
meeting MSS Linneil as formerly But
| one day he borrowed the diamond ring
| he had given her on the pretext pha I
| the stone needed resettlng. lie did
not return It. Eventually the news.
i papers announced tina engagement of
! Rev. Mr.. Richsson ana Miss Violet Ed
mands Thu Nnnell family demanded
an explanation. The minister proximity
declared the story "ncwSpaper fake :,
| and was believed.
The invitations to the wedding OF
| Richeson and Miss Edmands were sanf
! oat the Afternoon Of Saturday. Octo-
/ her H. That same afternoon Rlcheson
! dined with Avis L!nneii at little res
| taE:ant in the Back Bay. While taers
| he girl appeared depressed. At times
. tears rolled down her seeks. Who,
she returned to hsr lodging plac..
! however. she seemed hserful nj