The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-23
MURDER IS HIDDEN.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

Il want the body of DR.. Richardson
exhumed and a postmortem examina-
ton held. I remember his face after
death was puffed and fiery red.
Could E1na Nielsen have taken her own
life despite the statements of the coroner
and others, that such a thing was i'm
nossible? And If she did, was 1t the
love for DR.. Richardson or because he
had not kept his promise to make her
the beneficiary under his VIII or ADOPT
her as his own daughter?
These are the questions that are be-
ing asked of the people of Hutchinson
by their neighbors. The general bellef
is that she was murdered although Dy
whom or for what purpose are not now
known But there are many mysterious
features connected with the case and
all is guess work save the actual facts
connected with the history Of the
stran quartet whose affairs have
lately been discussed in every home in
Reno county
Six years ago NJ. J. Nelson, a farmer
died at his home in the Pretty Prairie
neighborhood. He left II children of
whom eight were girls. An acquaint-
ance of the family was DR.. E. E. Rich
ardsOn. an old man of striking appear
Pitzer, were known as the western
Specialists He persuaded Edna Mel
son to come to Hutchinson and keep
house for him. She went against the
aQNlCe ana COuuSet OF n6I I1OIHcf- fl1CH-
ardson agreed to adopt her and make
her his heir. Her other sister became
an office girl for Richardson and his
partner and lived at the Richardson
home with her sister.
The appearance Of the quartet, the
old doctors and the young women, the
latter always robed in black, always
aroused gossip But nothing resulted
from the talk. A year ago Richardson
was arrested for performing an abor-
Logging. He was acquitted on both
charges
It was a strange mixture of spiritual
ism and orientalism that the four the
old men and pretty girls, practiced in
the Richardson home There were
noises at night which alarmed the
neighbors- Men and women came and
drove away in closed carriages. There
were rappings and clippings oil
through the night. What the secrets Of
this mystic cult are can only be i'm
agined- Edna Nelson's sister could tell
but she viii not. She would not admit
that it was possible for her sister to
have been murdered until almost forced
to do so by the action of the coroner's
jury and neighbors. DR. Pftzer could
also tell But he will not Men and
women from distant cities visited the
house of mystery but who they were or
where they were from no one knows
So there is little likelihood of their
throwing light upon the subject.
DR.. Richardson seemed to have had a
prennon1tion that he would die soon.
He went to an attorney and had a viii
drawn leaving practically all his wealth
to three married sisters. Rent for one
year and the household furniture were
all that was left to the girl he had
promised to make his heir. Three weeks
ago he became i'll while writing a let
ter. Ten minutes later he was dead.
His death WIZ pronounced due to heart
trouble Now it is believed by some
persons that he was poisoned or that
his death was the result Of a suicide
pact between him and Miss Nelson.
The coroner is inclined to believe that
some drug caused his death.
Then Miss Nelson announced that
she too would die soon. She didn't want
any new hats or clothing. A man was
seen going into the house where she
was found later last Saturday after