THE CHOIR GIRL POISONING CASE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 308, 11 January 1912, Page 8

THE CHOIR GIRL POISONING CASE.

After two hours' discussion, the Immanuel Baptist Church, New York, by 30 votes to 15, refused to accept the resignation, of the pastor, Mr Clarence Eicheson, who is accused of poisoning Miss Avis Linnel, a pretty choir girl, and against whom the Grand Jury re-' turned a true bill on November 14. The women formed the majority present, and they pleaded that the neaptanee of the resignation would prejudice the interests of the accused minister at the forthcoming trial. The controversy waxed warm, and many tears were shed. By another vote it was decided to adjourn the final decision until November 24. It was evident from the discussion that Richeson still has many friends in his congregation, and the ladies in particular are eloquent in his behalf. In the meantime the Brookline Baptist Church, where Mr Moses Edmonds, the minister's prospective fater-in-lnw, and daughter Violet attended, has sent the following communication to the Immanuel Church: "Greetings, dear brethren. We send you our love and sympathy in. your severe trial, and our prayer is that the great Head of the Church may sustain and guide you in all your ways." Miss Violet Edmonds, who was to have married Richeson on October 31, has now left Brookline, and is stated to have gone to England. The Rev. Edmond Miller, another Baptist pastor in Massachusetts, who has occasionally exchanged pulpits with Richeson, stated that the accused had admitted to him that he had been engaged to Miss Linnel, and in August last said that he had broken off the engagement. Mr 'Miller declares emphatically that Richeson could never have committed the murder unless' he was insane. ''He wasn't that sort of man," says Mr Miller. [This matter was referred to in our cables yesterday in which it was stated that Richeson had pleaded guilty to poisoning Miss Linnel and had been sentenced to death.]