Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], October 26, 1911, Page 10, Image 10

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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10
RICHESON IS ARRESTED.
WILL FACE MURDER CHARGE
LIGHT IN LINNELL MYSTERY.
NEWTON DRUGGIST GIVES CLEW.
Identifies Cambridge Minister as Man
Who Bought Poison Supposed io
Hnve Caused Death of Girl Music
Student.
A narrow, stone-walled cell in the
Charles-street jail at Boston holds Rev
Clarence Virgil Thompson Richeson. the
young pastor of the Immanuel Baptist
church of Cambridge, who was arrested
Friday lor the murder of pretty Avis
HsaHu ..-^r
Bi- •
■ ’•Ay'-'
REV CLARENCE V T. RICHESON.
(Cambridge minister charged with murder.]
Linnell of Hyannis, to whom he had been
engaged. His commitment to the jail
Friday afternoon, foliowing his ap
pearance in the municipal court, where
he was held without bail on a charge of
first degree murder, marked a temporary
end to a chain of circumstances which the
police detectives have followed assiduously
since the death of Miss Linnell a week ago
last Saturday by cyanide of potassium poi
soning.
Miss Linnell, who was 19 years old. and
a student at the converatory of music,
was found dead in the bathroom of the
Young Women’s Christian association
home on Warrenton street, Boston. At
first the police believed that she had com
mitted suicide by poison, but later devel
opments indicated that she had unknow
ingly taken cyanide of potassium sent to
her by some other person, and that she
used it in the belief that it would remedy
a certain embarrassing physical condition.
For several days the police inquiries
made no apparent progress, hut informa
tion received early Friday that Mr
Richeson bad bought a large quantity of
this poison at a drug store in Newton
where he was personally known le i the
authorities to arrange for his immediate
arrest. This was not accomplished at
once. Instead, a dozen officers, headed by
Deputy Superintendent "William B. Watts,
were forced to maintain an eight-hour
vigil during the early morning outside the
fashionable home ,in Brookline of Moses
Grant Edmands, where the clergyman i
has been staying during the past ■> eek. i
Repeated mills at the Pur helis, rappings
and shunts failed, to bring any response
from those within the house through the
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MISS AVIS LINNELL.
[Hyannis girl who died from poison ]
night, and the police, who were without
a warrant, were unwilling to make a
forcible entrance.
The deputy superintendent and his as
sistants, with a crowd of newspaper men,
remained on guard until about 7 o'clock
Friday morning, when Mr Edmands
admitted them, expressing surprise at iln
appearance of the police and saying that
he had supposed that the besiegers were all
newspajier men. Mr Edmands is the
father of Miss Violet Edmands, for whose
marriage tn Mr Richeson on the 31st
cards had been issued. These invitations
were recalled Friday. The Edmands
family, however, maintains faith In Mr
Richeson and the only announcement in
connection with the withdrawing of the
cards was to the effect that the marriage
had been postponed.
DruKKist Huhn Give* Fact*.
Facing the accused clergyman. Drug
gist Hahn, who has known Mr Richeson
' for a number of years, told again the
facts which immediately led to the minis
ter's arrest. The druggust said that Rich
eson walked into ids store Tuesday even
ing. the 10th, and said: "I've go.t a dog
at home that is creating a disturbance.
She will be a nuisance unless 1 can kill
her soon." Mr Hahn said that he re
sponded to Richeson: "I never knew you
had a dog.” and that Richeson responded
that he kept it in his room. Inquiry by
the police at the Cambridge house where
Mr Richeson roomed developed the pres
ence only of a male dog owned by chil
dren of the landlord. The landlord snid
Richeson bpd never owned a dog during
the eight months he had lodged in the
house.
Hahn said further that be suggested
chloroform to Mr Richeson. but the min
ister said hr did n<»t like the odor, ami
wanted “somethin? that will work quirk.”
Cyanide potassium was mentioned as
acting instantlx. and rhe minister said.
. aecordin? to Hahn. ’•Well, ci re me some
lof that.” The druggist said he gave him
I enough to kill three (logs, but Richeson
: asked fur more and the preparation final
; ly amounted to enough to poison U* men.
1 As Mr Richeson turned to go. Hahn says
ihr clergyman reminded him of his coming
J wedding to Miss Edmands and said.
, "Don't forget to come." adding. "It must
seem mysterim * to you about my buying
' this, hut you ran keep a secret.”
It was this story, related early Fri
da> morning to Chief Inspector Joseph
Dugan of the Boston police by an attor
ney whom Hahn had retained, that set the
police off with the purpose of immediately
arresting Mr Richeson.
As told by Superintendent Watts, in an
official statement, the story of rhe arrest
was as follows: "When we went up to
Riehesoifs room he was in bed and awake,
bur looked much disturbed. "He trembled
as he dressed himself. I told Richeson lie
would have io go to police headquarters
and bo (barged with rhe murder of Miss
Avis Linnell. He looked perturbed and
asked that he might be allowed to drink
a glass of hot milk. He had the hot
milk. He asked to talk privately with Mr
Edmands. lie did so. He then went down
stairs with us and into the room where
Miss Viole. Edmands lay ill and unnerved
by tin shock. Her mother stood by the
bedside as we .entered. Richeson having
asked rhe privilege of saying farewell.
Richeson walked slowly to the bedside
ami as soon as be bent over to caress Miss
Edmands, the girl burst into tears, even
as she partly raised herself up and threw
her arms about his neck. Sho snid noth
ing. bur clung to him convulsively. ’Don’t
<ry. dear.’ said Richeson in a low, sooth
ing voice, ns he gently stroked her hair.
'Don’t try. Everything will bo all right.’”
The police took the clergyman to head
quarters without handcuffs.
Had Avis Linnell taken the poison in
(Vr other circumstances her death might
hnve been dismissed ns a suicide. The fa
tal powder, which the police believe she
accepted trustingly from a friend as a
corrective for the condition which she was
trying to remedy, was taken while the
young woman was seated in a chair in her
bathroom at the lodging-house of the
Young Women’s Christian association.
When she was fount! in a dying condition
her feet were in a tub of hot water and
by her side was a change of clothing.
Consideration of the circumstances induced
Medical Examiner Timothy J. Teary to
change bis first verdict of su«cide to one
of murder, as he thought the indications
were all against the young woman’s having
taken the poison to kill herself.
Edmands Securer < ounscl.
When Mr Edmands left the jail Sat
urday a half-hour after he had first
appeared before Mr Richeson’s ceil
he answered a few questions put
tn him by newspaper men. He said
that the prisoner is confident of ac
quittal. and that he looked forward to
the time when hi* name may be cleared of !
the charge which stands in the way of his
intended marriage. Mr Edmands was
asked whether he had retained counsel for
the clergyman. He answered; "Mr Riche
son wid have as good defense as money
can buy." This statement, together with
a fun her one to the effect that Mr Ed
munds. with the rest of his family, retains
confidence in Mr Richeson. was taken to
indicate that the wealth of the Edmands
family would be placed at the disposal of
the pastor for purposes of defease.
That eminent counsel will be engaged
to care for Mr Richeson’s interests was
made certain by the announcement Satur
day that a member of the firm of Bran
deis. Nutter & Dunbar already has the
matter entrusted to him. This firm is
headed by Louis D. Brandeis. Philip R.
Dunbar, one of its members, made a for
mal statement Saturday that lie will look
out for the prisoner’s interests. Mr Dun
bar would not say. however, who had re
tained him in the matter.
PASTOR’S TALK WITH DRUGGIST.
Statement That Police Were Carefully
Guarding Leaks Ont.
A startling bit of evidence, which has
been in the hands of the police for several
days, but which they have carefully guard
ed. leaked out Monday night and promises
to cast additional interest on the case.
When the police recently gave out
a statement as to evidence which had
beui given idem b> William ri. Habu, the
Newton druggist from whom the Cam- ,
bridge pastor is alleged to have bought
i-jauide of potassium on the Tuesday pre- ,
i eding the death of the Linnell girl by the I
same drug, they declared the pastor had
asked tile druggist for a poison which
"uould kill a <iog at his home which was
about to give biith to puppies.”
The statement stopped there. Monday
night it was stated on authority that Drug
gist Haim added another sentence to the
conversation he claims to have had with the
minister, on which the police lay consid
erable stress. According to this authority,
Mr Halm added that the minister also
said; "I want a poison which will kill
the puppies without killing the dog."
Druggist Hahn declared, it is claimed,
that he stated that he knew of no me^r
cine or drug which would bring about the
situation which the minister outlined.
While :iie stac- was collecting its evuieme
in the ca-e. Rev Mr Richeson late Mon
day faced two leading members of bis
church and declared. ' i am innocent and
will prove it when the time comes." The
two men. A. 1 . Watson, treasurer, and N.
E. Hughes, both of the Immanuel Baptist
church of Cambridge, paid a visit to tin
man in his cell Monday, as did Rev
George Holt, the Rhode Island clergyman
who is to marry the younger sister of
Violet Edmands, to whom Mr Richeson
was engaged. The pastor’s protestation of
his innocence was made to each of the
visitors.
LINNELL BODY IS EXHUMED.
Action Believed to Be line to En
deavor by Prosecution to Gain Far
ther Evidence — Richeson Writes
Letter to Hl* Chnreh.
The body of Miss Avis Linnell, the 19-
years-old tnusie student for whose death
by poisoning Rev C. V. T. Richeson of
Cambridge is under arrest at the Charles
street jail, was removed front the grave
iu the Hyannis cemetery and was brought
back to Boston Tuesday night by order of
District Attorney Joseph C. Pelletier.
Examination of the body only confirmed
the certainty that death was caused by
cyanide.
Letter to Immanuel Church.
Without expressing a word as to his in
nocence or guilt, asking only that the ques
tion as to his resignation as pastor be held
in abeyance, Mr Richeson Tuesday ad
dressed from his cell in Charles-etree't ,iall
a letter to his congregation at the Imman
uel Baptist church of Cambridge. The let
ter. which was sent in care of Charles F.
Cummings, one of his parishioners, follows:
To the Immanuel Baptist Church. Cambridge:
Dear Brethren: 1 appreclnte the position
In wh'cn the church is now placed, but I
ask Ite consideration until after the prelimi
nary hearing, or If the grand jury previously
meets, then nntll that time' Most frater
nally, < LAni:s<-B V, T. Kichbson.
The next regular meeting of the church
will come on Friday night, the day after
the grand jury is expected to begin ita
deliberations. The letter probably will
lie read at that lime, anti it is possible
thnt the grand jury may have then reached
n finding that the church will be able to
act on its report. The fart that Mr
Richeson asked consideration only until
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY. OCTOBER 26. 1911.
I after the grand jury meets was taken by
| his friends last night as strong indication
; of his hope that the government will fail
to make out a case against him.
The prisoner was in conference with his
j counsel most of Ihe day. Mr Dunbar be
i ing seated just outside the cell door and
j (here going over the asc preparing out
। lines for the early campaign of defense.
I» was with the advice of counsel that the
i pastor wrote the letter to his church. The
1 expectation that the accused clergyman
■ would bo visited by his father. Col Thom- ;
jas VarUnd Rh’heson of V abend. Va., '
was not realized Tuesday. The aged eon
। federate veteran, declaring firm belief in :
the innocence of his son. arrived In Ro«- I
ton Tuesday morning from his Virginia '
, home. Later in rhe day he met Lis daugh- |
ter. Miss Russell Richeson of Saranac, '
j N. Y.. who has been at Boston since Sat- ;
। urday night. Miss Richeson had a brief
- interview with her brother at the prison |
Tuesday, and it is believed told him ।
i of the coming of their father.
District Attorney Pelletier visited sev- ’
1 oral places in Cambridge Tuesday and
i on reaching his office in the eourt-lumse
at.noon held n conference with Frank H.
Carter of Cambridge, in whose house Rev
Mr Richeson lived. When the police
reached the house last week, (luring the
progress of their search for evidence in
the case, they found that Rev Mr Riche
son's room had been ransacked. The dis
trict attorney endeavored to hscertain
from Mr Carter the identity of the per
son or persons who visited the room ahead
of the police and whether anything was
taken. Judge James R. Dunbar, leading
counsel for the accused man. confirmed
Tuesday the report that Rev Mr Riche
son wrote a letter on Saturday, the day
following his arrest, resigning as pastor
of the Immanuel Baptist church of Cam
bridge. The letter was withheld at the
suggestion of counsel.
THINKS RICHESON DERANGED.
Mrs Linnell Believes No Mistake Made
in Hi* Arrest, Bnt Tells o£ Pastor’s
Peculiarities.
“Thank God. I believe no mistake has
been made.” said Mrs Edgar Linnell,
mother of Avis Linnell, when she received
the news at Hyannis Friday that Rev
Clarence V. T. Richeson had been ar
rested for the murder of her daughter. In
seeming extenuation of the alleged act of
the former Hyannis pastor, however. Mrs
Linnell later voiced the belief that Mr
Richeson was not accountable.
"He must have been out of his mind,”
Mrs Linnell said when she recovered from
the temporary breakdown that followed
her receipt of the news of the arrest.
Then, between sobs, ami occasional inter
ruptions by her daughter. Mrs Vida Mc-
Lean of Brockton. Mrs Linnell told of
cenain peculiarities of Richeson, which
she noticed while he was a caller at het
home during the time he held the pas
torate of the Baptist church at Hyannis.
"Mr Richeson. whom I loved as a son
even before he became formally engaged
to Avis, worried us often by attacks which
he had at our house," she said. "Al
though they did not appear to be serious,
they left him in a highly nervous state,
and he was often forced to leave the
table because of them. He worried about
this trouble and once broke his engage
ment with Avis, giving his physical Vendi
tion as the reason. Their engagement was
renewed, however, and Avis. I firmly be
lieve, was engaged to him when she died,
poor girl.”
Between Mrs Linnell and Mrs McLean
the story of the acquaintance of Avis Lin
nell and the young pastor was told. Avis,
possessed of a fine voice, was a singer in
the Baptist church choir when Mr Riche
son assumed the pastorate there four
years ago. She was only 15 years old
then. The new minister showed marked
attention to the child, and within a few
months was calling at the Linnell home.
"At first. I objected,” said Mrs Lin
nell. “but only because I thought Avis too
young. I liked Mr Richeson and thought
him an admirable man, and finally con
sented when Avis told me that he loved
her unfi that they were engaged. The
wedding was set for last October, but Mr
Richeson’s attacks troubled him and he
broke the engagement, saying he would
renew it if he found his physical condi
tion warranted. He became engaged to
Avis again, but they had never set a date
after the first, I believe."
The talk led around to the visit to Bos
ton last week of Mrs Linnell, when she
saw Avis for some hours and also met Mr
Richeson. “My little girl seemed in the
best of spirits and appeared happy in her
relation with Mr Richeson.” Mrs Linnell
said, and added that the minister told hei
st that time that reports that he was en
gaged to Miss Violet Edmands of Brook
line were untrue. "So gay and light
hearted did Avis seem that day that one
would think the child had not a care in
the world." said her mother. "Her music
lessons were delightful to her and every
thing was pleasant. Not a word or sign
did she give me to indicate her condition.”
EFFIGY OF BICHESON HANGED.
Baptist* of Hyaunls, Linnell Girl’s
Home, Show Their Feelings
Against Former Pastor.
An effigy of Rev Clarence V. T. Richeson
hung Saturday from the limb of a tall elm
tree in the yard of the Baptist church of
which the clergyman, accused of the mur
der of Miss Avis Linnell of Hyannis, was
formerly pastor. The effigy was discov
ered lit dawn Saturday. It had been
hung up some time during the night after
the regular Friday evening prayer-meet
ing at the Baptist church had ended.
The figure was fully dressed and pinned
Io the coat was a large placard bearing
the inscription: "The Rev Richeson."
Nailed to the foot of the tree was a boaril
on which was painted these words:
"Guilty—read Luke xvii: 2." This s --.’in
tural reference is: "It were better for
him that a millstone were hanged about
his neck and he cast into the sea, than
that he should offend one of these little
ones." Another card, bearing the signa
ture: “I ig. committee,” requested that
rhe effipy lie allowed to bang until 10
o'clock Saturday night, when it would be
burned on the Hyannis baseball grounds.
The presence, of the effigy was reported
to the deacons of the Baptist church early
iin the day. The deacons held a confer
; ence and finally decided to allow the effigy
Ito remain in the tree. It was the seoti
' ment of the deacons that if the effigy
I represented the feelings of the people of
Hyannis it might be a good idea to allow
it to remain hanging in the chnreh y ird
। as a warning to the youth of the town,
I and leave its removal to the town au
thorities.
The position of the effigy was such that
it could he seen for a distance of about
lOtK) feet on either side of the church
and most of the townspeople journeyed to
the clnirr-h to make a close inspection of
it. The effigy was finally cut down by
J. S. Nickerson, whose home is directly
opposite the church. Mr Nickerson is
not a Baptist and has no friendship for
Mr Richeson, but he did object to such
a erewsome object hanging opposite bis
residence.
A NATIVE OF VIRGINIA.
j Richeson Waa Alwaga Physically
Wrnk—Ml*a Kdmanda the Daughter
of Prominent Baptist.
Rev Glarence V. T. Richeson is a na
tive of Virginia. He was horn in Rose
Hill, and is 33 years of age. Evon in his
early student days at high school in Am
herst Court. Va., and at Carrollton pre
paratory school, be was ambitious to be-
<<»nic a minister. Throughout his school
life, college life and bcminury life, he was
t onquuled to work his way through, and
okiit at \twton thcologLal seminary he
assisted himself by working in a Boston
rcsiaurant. Before entering the Newton
^ctninary he was graduated from the
n uham Jewell college in 1906.
He was ordained to the ministry in the
1 hird Baptist church of St Louis and for
a time took a course in the Southern Bap
tist seminary at Louisville. Ky. His pas
torate at Hyannis was his first regular po
sition. Hr became pa*ior of the Imman
uel Baptist church of Cambridge after two
years at Hyannis. His greatest foe in
his rist' in his profession was his physical
weakness. He was always, even in his
early student days, of a peculiarly nervous
temperament, and be never was in the best
of health, according to his friends.
\ io’et Edmands, the present fiancee of
the minister, is the daughter of Moses S.
Edmands of Devon road. Brookline. Her
parents are very prominent in Baptist
circles, as her mother is president of the
Baptist missionary society and her father
a trustee of the Newton theological sem
inary. It was at one of the entertain
m nls given by the students of the theo
logieal school that she met Richeson. Miss
Edmands is in her 30s.
Richeson n Mnch Ensagred Man.
Rev Clarence V. T. Richeson was pastor
of the Bethany Baptist church in Kansas
City. Mo., from ltM»l until 1004. when he
resigned by request, upon sensational dis
closures by three young women, each of
whom accused him of being engaged to
her. A scandal was created among the
congregation when the three women, two
of them members of the church, made
their accusations against the pastor at the
close of “ne of his Sunday morning ser
mons. "All through the sermon.” said a
member of the congregation Saturday,
"the three sat together in the front row.
The sermon was an eloquent one on
‘Temptations of young girls in a city.’
Just after the service the three women ap
proached the preacher. ’You promised to
marry me.’ said one; ‘are you going to
do it?’ ’You promised to marry me. too.*
said the second; ‘are you going to do
that'?’ And me. too.’ said the other, cry
ing. ‘How about me?’ The women all
wept hysterically. Rev Mr Richeson was
calm, said there must he some mistake,
and left the church. Then he went to
Liberty. Mo. The trustees wrote for his
resignation.”
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT TAFT
trges she Importance of Red Cross
Endowment Fund — Hampden Coun
ty Commitee to Raise SSOOO or
More.
The Hampden county committee, ap
pointed by President Taft to assist in
raising the proposed $2,000,000 permanent
endowment fund for the American Red
Cross society, met in the Union trust com
pany building in thes city Monday after
noon. for organization. Miss Amy B.
Alexander of the local branch of the Red
Cross society was present to explain the
work that is desired from the committee.
Congressman Gillett also attended as
a representative of the national body.
It is expected that Hampden county
will contribute at least SSOOO for the
endowment fund, and it is hoped that the
total will reach SBOOO in view of the fact
that there are three cities, and several
large towns in the county containing
many well-to-do people.
Tetter From President Taft to En
dowment Fund Committee.
Gentlemen:—
The time lias cbfue when the American
Red Cross should he placed on a perma
nent and efficient basis by an endowment
fund whose Income will enable it to be
prepared at all times to carry out the
purpose^ for which it has been created.
It is the authorized official organization
of the United States for volunteer aid in
time of war or great disaster.
The funds for relief work received by
the American Red Cross within the last
five years amount to nearly- $5,000,000,
and prove the confidence the public places
in the society. Public confidence is most
important, but it is of equal importance
that the society should be able to m» in
tain an organization which is capn-de of
administering such large funds to the
greatest advantage. The experience in re
lief matters gained by a permanent or
ganization is beyond question and insure*
a far abler and wiser expenditure of re
lief funds than can be secured by tem
porary and suddenly created committees.
The accounts of the Red Cross are re
quired by law to be audited by the war
department. The officers of the society,
with the exception of the national director
ami secretary, serve without compensa
tion, some of them devoting the greater
part of their time to its work. By its
methods, the cooperation of such or
ganizations as can be utilized for active
relief work is beinp secured, thus assuring
trained service without the necessity of
maintaining a corps of its own workers.
Experience has shown that in cases of
great disasters, such as occurred at San
Francisco and in Italy. large contributions
are received by the Red Cross, but in the
constantly recurring disasters. whore
smaller communities are stricken and
should receive a certain assistance, the
contributions are far too small to meet the
need. Moreover. in the case of great dis
asters. the Red Cross should have such a
balance in ham! as to enable it to take
immediate actum without being forced to
wait unt'l contributions are received. To
provide this first prompt assistance at
times of disasters of great magnitude and
to render the necessary aid in cases of
calamities to smaller communities, without
too frequent public appeals, the American
Red Cross should be assured of an ade
quate income. By enabling the society to
continue and extend its system of first aid
instruction under the first aid department
and its courses In simple home nursing of
the sick for « men under its nursing de
partment, a personnel valuable in time of
disaster will i t only be secured, but in
struction of mutant and continuing use
fulness will in- provided.
Though willing to contribute generously
for relief after great disasters, it is difficult
to obtain in this country a large member
ship contributing small annual dues. The
American Red Cross received in 1908 from
the .>0 per cent of annual dues paid into
the national treasury lew than S4OOO, The
Japanese R d Cross in 1908 received front
the annual dims of its 1.440.0000 members
over $1,000,000. The brief statement in re
gard to the endowment fund of the Amer
ican Red Cross compared with those of
tne societies of several other nations shows
hew far this country is behind in this r<-
spect.
An endowment fund for the central office
of tile Red Cross, far from hecmujug a
stagnating inftnence as in cases where en
d< wments arc fo r | nra t purnoses, will pro
vide (h e means of continued stimulation to
the state h" rds and cbapt .rs scattered
over the I nited States and its dependent
possessions ,
The standing of this remarkable organi
zation throughout the wor’t. its import
ance to <„ir own country, and its beneficent
intluem" for peace and good-will in inter
national relief work commend it to he
pubmesmrited mon and women of tbe
I nited Slates. J believe, gentUn-en. you
cannot appeal to them in 'ain to aid in
providing the American R-d Cross with
on endowment fund of $2.000 000, 'ess than
•In funds of the societies of tbe other firrt
lowers, so >hat mir national society may
take its proper placr in this g’»nt inter
national institution. Yours sincerely.
Whxum H. Taft. President.
M athinnton. 11. C„ Soiem'brr 23. tfiOf).
An English aviator in an address to an
aerial longue used the phrase "cold feet."
Ho explained that this was airmen's slang
for being afraid. Its use has never been
confined to a single occupation in this
country.
GIFTS FROM THE SHAKERS
iTO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
I Canneetleui Valley Society Hold* It*
j Annual Meeting and Receive*
Vinny New Member*—Flection nt
oncer*.
! rhe Conuecticnt Valley historical society
' held their annual meeting Tues-
। <lay evening in the Art museum
building, in this city, assembling at
j S o'clock for a brief business session, which
1 was followed by n view of the art treas
[ nres of George AValter A’incent Smith,
I which are shown every year by Mr Smith
; for the enjoyment of the society and their
I friends, a large number of whom came
, after the meeting. A feature of the meet.
I ing was the announcement of the gifts
i which have been made to the society by
•the Shaker eolony at Enfield of a great
many valuable and interesting products of
their industry. An indication of the
growth of the society and its increasing
prestige was the admission of 28 new
members, the largest number that has ever
been voted upon at a single meeting.
The report of William C. Stone. »he
treasurer, showed the society to be in
healthful financial condition with a balance
of $127.97. This is independent of the
balance in the publishing funds, the build
ing fund and the Pynchon fund. An
amendment to the by-laws, increasing the
number of the executive committee from
six to nine, was passed by the society.
The report of the nominating committee
was adopted and the following officers
were elected: President, W. F. Adams:
vice-presidents, J. Stuart Kirkham and
Andrew .1. Flanagan; honorary vice-presi
dent. Alfred M. Copeland; clerk. Henry
A. Booth: corresponding secretary, Henry
A. Booth; treasurer. William C. Stone;
curator. William C. Stone: executive com
mittee, Edward A. Hall, Frank G. Tobey.
John L. Rice, J. Brewer Corcoran, Charles
H. Barrows and Charles A. Frazer.
The business meeting lasted less than
half an hour and from 8.30 to 9.30 the
museum of treasures collected by Mr
Smith was viewed by the society and
their friends. The priceless and wonder
ful illustrations of art and handicraft
that have been gathered together in the
museum to which Springfield people have
access would afford material for years
of interesting study. Examples of the art
of every nation, selected with the care
and wisdom of a connoisseur, are to be
seen in the Art museum, forming a col
lection that richly repays frequent visits.
The year has been an unusually rich
one in gifts to the historical society and
their stock of treasures has been in
creased to a larger extent. Among the
most notable of the gifts are a number of
manuscripts from Mrs Mary Morris Cal
houn, a rare map of Springfield dating
from 1835. and three chairs from ’.lie
timbers of the old Pynchon fort, the gift
of Charles A. Nichols. There are also
many pictures and old documents of in
terest.
Gifts From the Shakers.
The historical society has been presented
with a large number of articles of cloth
ing and household utilities made and used
in years past by the Shakers of Enfield.
Ct. The articles were put into the hands
of W. F. Adams a few days ago by the
remnant of the colony in Connecticut, with
the statement that they knew that it would
not be long before the last of their number
had passed away and they were desirous
of leaving something that might be pre
served by the historical society for future
generations.
Among the gifts to the historical society
are three frames which contain many sam
ples of the cloth materials which the
Shakers made for clothing. Gloves and
tape of their own manufacture are also
there, as are also sheets and pillow eases
of fine linen and a corded bed on which
they were used. A typical costume like
that worn by the men and another worn
by the women are in the list. A heavy
gray winter coat and the light summer
coat of the same color for the men and a
white shirt with plain collar band that
went about the throat are some of the
articles of clothing. The costume ns worn
by the women is complete. It has the
cape, kerchief, plain skirt of ample propor
tions and an apron. There is one of the
broad Quakerish felt hats such as
the men wore, and there are poke
bonnets and house caps as worn by
the women. Al! these articles have been
used and in nearly every ease the names
of the owners are written on tags which
are fastened to the articles.
A velvet traveling bag of the carpet
bag type, familiar to those who remem
ber when the Shakers would come into
Springfield on a day’s trip, is one of the
gifts. Its tag slates that it dates back
to 1855 and also notes that the wagon in
which the Shakers would ride to Spring
field when they carried the bag in that
year is to-day in good condition. A large
iron key. hand-made, and too clumsy to
fit comfortably in anyone’s pocket, and a
wooden cup. made in the days before pitch
ers were common, wore on exhibition last
night. Another thing of interest is an old
fashioned paring-machine made by the
Shakers to pare fruit. It consists of a
wheel set on a frame like the old spinning
wheel frames. The wheel was turned by
foot-power or by hand, and a five-pointed
wooden arrangement pared and cleaned
the frnit.
A pair of stockings has knitted in them
the date 1869 when they were made. A
pair of silk gloves are of the date IS6O,
and every step iu the making from the
care of tile silkworms which produced the
silk was done by the Shakers. A picture
of tin- settlement with all its buildings
j —made by a member of the colony—is in
; a frame made by a Shaker and gives an
excellent idea of what the settlement
looked like. An old-fashioned basket
made by David Terry at the ago of 71 is
in the collection. Hi- died in 1820. The
machine on which the Shakers wove straw
hats is also there. It was found that the
straw alone wns not strong enough for
general wear, and consequently thread
was woven with it.
A stove in which hot coals were placed
for warming a room was made by the
men of the colony. It has no stove-pipe,
but is a low affair of about four feet in
length and two feet in width. With it are
shovel and tongs and a hammer, all of
homo manufacture. A settee from the
meeting-house is also in the list. Candle
sticks and snuffers, candies of homo manu
facture and various boxes are among the
things of interest. A curly-maple chair
1 dates to 1840. A foot-warmer which was
' mnife by Lovicy Farrington, who died in
1869. and who was a daughter of Ixiviey
Farrington. Br. signer of the first Shaker
covenant in 1796. is also there. There are
also many other smaller things too numer
ous to mention: One of interest, how
ever. is a large braided rag rug.
The Declining Shaker*.
A Baptist minister was the first Con
necticut Shaker. David Meacham was his
name and he dwelt in Enfield. He is re
corded ns having been "brought to great
labor of mind” in January. 1781. having
heard of a strange people living near Al
bany, N. Y. He wns converted by Mother
Ann Lee nt Watervliet and returned to
Enfield, where his parents made every ef
fort to shake bis faith. Mother Lee her
self and all the vlners went to Enfield in
June of that year to vist Meacham. The
steady old Connecticut folk wore much
alarmed: u mob gathered at the house and
the selectmen ndvised the elders to leave.
They departed, but returned the following
March nnd violence wns then stirred up.
Capt Jonathan Bush of the militia, fresh
from the wars, led an attack on the Mea
cham house during devotional exercises.
Mother Ann and the elder* thought it pru-
dent to leave the town without an applica
tion of tar and feathers.
Persecution gave Shakerism in Enfield
such an impetus that just 10 years later,
in 1792, Eiiphalet Comstock, a pious and
energetic man. was commissioned the first
elder of the new “society of believers."
With but one hammer the brethren built
that year the first dwelling-house of the
community. The community began life
with three families which slowly increased
I until 1842, when there was a “great awak
[ eniug” and a burst of prosperity. The
i three small families became five, with 90
: members in the Church family and 300 in the
I community. I'ntil the civil war the Shakers
i held their own. but since the war they
| have gradually lost in numbers. In 1889
there were bnt 80 on the roll, and to
day there are scarcely more than 12.
With their gray dresses, severely plain,
the bottle-green shawls and the poke straw
bonnets, the Shaker women were for years
familiar objects in the streets of Spring
field as were also the brethren in broad
brimmed Quakerish hats and long linen
dusters. Communism in property lias left
the remnant of the eolony at Enfield with
much valuable property. A long stretch of
beautiful meadow land is theirs and barns
and houses, bnt their decreasing numbers
have left them with more buildings than
they can use. The abolition of the marital
state and the fact that few or no converts
have been made in recent years, are re
sponsible for the dying out of the colony.
In years past boys and girls would fre
quently he left with the Shakers to be
brought up, and the expectation was that
they would stay with the colony. As they
grew up. however, these young people
found the life of the outside world very
attractive and they left the colony.
WEDDINGS OF LOCAL INTEREST.
It was learned Friday by the friends
of Capt Harold H. Flower that he and
Miss Kelsey Black, the daughter of Mrs
Alexander Black of Deerfield and Paris,
were married on Thursday. The bride
was met by the groom on her return from
Paris, where she has been with her
mother during the summer and the mar
riage took place at an Episcopal church
in New York city, being attended by only
a few intimate friends. Mrs Flower was
formerly a teacher in Deerfield academy
nnd she and Capt Flower became
acquainted at the time, of the presenta
tion of the first season's plays at the
Harrow theater in Deerfield, in which
both took part. The groom is one of -the
most prominent young men of Greenfield
at the present time. He is the son of
Archibald D. Flower, and is associated
with him in the practice of law. He is
captain of Co L of the 2d regiment,
Massachusetts volunteer militia, and is
the representative to the General Court
of the 2d Franklin district. Capt and
Mrs Flower will spend their honeymoon
at the G. Spencer Fuller farm at "The
Bars” in Deerfield.
Miss Florence Mae Morrison, daughter
of Mr and Mis Charles S. Morrison, and
Rev George H. McClelland, pastor of
the United Presbyterian church of South
First and Rodney streets in Brooklyn,
N. Y., were married at the home of the
bride, on Central street in Thompsonville.
Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The
ceremony was witnessed by the relatives
of the bride and groom and a large num
ber of invited guests. The bride is a
graduate of the Enfield high school and of
Mount Holyoke, and since her graduation
from the latter, about five years ago. has
been a teacher in the public schools at
Springfield. Guests were present from
New York, Brooklyn. New Britain. New
London, Pittsburg and from all parts of
the town of Enfield.
A wedding of local interest took place
in North Wilbraham last week Tuesday
when Miss Marjorie Helen Perry, daugh
ter of Mr and Mrs Joseph Malcolm
Perry, and Charles Joseph Weston of this
city, were married in Grace Union church.
Rev Nicholas Van der Pyle of Haverhill,
formerly of Wilbraham, officiated and was
assisted by Rev Thomas E. Williams cf
North Wilbraham. Mrs Weston is well
known in Springfield, where she and her
parents have spent their winters for a num
ber of years and has a great many local
friends. Mr Weston is a member of the
firm of Buzzed, Ballard & Weston. I iw
yers of this city. He is a graduate of
Dartmouth college in the class of 1907
and has lived in this city since his gradua
tion.
A pleasant home wedding took place last
week Wednesday afternoon at the home of
Mr and Mrs Frank Warren Tower of
Spring street, this city, when their daugh
ter, Edith Belle, and Edwin Leonard Bow
ker of Cleveland. 0.. were united in mar
riage by Rev Dr Neil McPherson of the
First Congregational church, of which both
the bride, and groom are members. The
Mr and Mrs Bowker left in an automobile
after the reception for a wedding trip, aft
er which they will make their home at the
Halcyon apartments, corner of Carnegie
avenue and East Forty-sixth street, Cleve
land. 0.. where they will receive their
friends after December 1.
Miss M. Grace Thayer and H. Clifton
Moore were married Thursday at the home
of the bride's parents. Mr and Mrs R.
Lewis Thayer, m Enfield. The officiating
clergyman was Rev Frederick D. Thayer
of Dudley, a brother of the bride. The dou
ble-ring service was used. Mrs Moore is a
graduate of Wesleyan academy, Wilbraham,
and for one year was a special student in
Simmons college. Boston. For the past two
seasons she has been manager of the Dud
ley inn at Dudley. Mr Moore is a funeral
director with bis father. Mr and Mrs
Moore left on a trip and after December 1
will be at home to their friends.
The wedding of Miss Alice Louise Walk
er. daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles O.
Walker, and Wendell Albert Hodgkins, of
Boston took place Saturday evening
at 6 o'clock at the home of the bride’s
parents on Brown street, in this city.
The ceremony was performed by Rev
R. A. Colpitts, pastor of Wesley Methodist
Episcopal church. Mrs Hodgsins was
graduated from Mount Holyoke col
lege in the class of 1909. and Mr Hodg
kins received his education at Rockridge
hall. Wellesley Hills. The couple were re
membered with many beautiful gifts from
their friends.
Miss Mary White Lyman, daughter of
Mr and Mrs Arthur W. Lyman of 1553
Riverdale street, West Springfield, was
married Thursday evening to Stanley
Dexter Wheeler of Springfield. The
wedding was at the home of the
bride, and the ceremony was performed by
Rev Dr Neil McPherson of the First Con
gregational church of Springfield, of which
Miss Lyman is a member. Many guests
were present, and the ceremony was fol
lowed by a reception. Mrs Wheeler is the
granddaughter of C. B. Lyman of South
ampton.
Miss Jennie S. Bullard, daughter of
Maik Bullard of Greenfield, and Mar
tin Coombs of Springfield were mar
ried Inst week Wednesday afternoon
at the home of the bride on the
Bernardston road. The ceremony was per
formed by Rev Edward P. Root of North
ampton, who is in charge of the First
Congregational church during the absence
of the pastor, Rev Carey H. Watson.
They were unattended. After a brief wed
ding journey they will make their home
in Greenfield.
Miss Ruth C. Dart, daughter of Andrew
P. Dart of 90 Oak street, and James C.
Pool were married Thursday afternoon. The
bridemaid was Miss Gertrude M. Shean and
the best man was Harry C, Baxter of Bos
ton. The ceremony was performed by Rev
George S. Rollins of Hope church, at the
home of the bride’s sister, Mrs C. I* Hig
gins of Florence street in this city.
A pleasant autumn wedding took place
Tuesday livening lust week nt the
home of Mi mid Mrs J. Clark Tem
ple in East Clmrlenumt, when their ilnugli
ter. Miss Inez Temple, and Frank Clark,
son of Mr Clark of East Charlenumt.
wore married. Rov Holla Hunt of Shel
burne Falls performed the ceremony.
Miss Lucy Ransom Parker, daughter
of Mr and Sirs Adrian R. Parker of 518
Liberty street, this city, and Charles A.
Samble, son of Mr and Mrs N. T. Sam*
ble of 5G Huntington street, were married
in the chapel of Christ church Wednesday
afternoon last week. Rev Donald N. Al
exander performed the ceremony.
Miss Maude Sprague Chase, only
daughter of Mr and Mrs Franklin S.
Chase of Torrington, Ct„ and Harold A,
Bliss of West Springfield, were married
Ihursday evening at their new bungalow,
Wtß Riverdale street. West Springfield. Rev
Dr J. L. R. Trask of Springfield per
formed the ceremony.
Charles McDonald of Monson and Miss
Mary V. Merchant of Westboro, who has
been acting as teacher of the Quarry school
in .Monson, were married at Miss Mer
chant s home in Westboro last week. Mr
and Mrs McDonald following their wedding
trip will make their home in Monson.
A quiet wedding took place at Suffield,
'' Tuesday, at the home
i i* aD< s A* StroDEi when their
daughter. Miss Carrie Louise Strong, and
A. Benton Crane, were united in marriage
by Rev Daniel R. Kennedy, Jr., of the
First Congregational church.
Miss Grace Ely Childs, daughter of
Augustus L. ( iiilds of this citv. and Roy
Perry Miles, son of Mrs Linus P. Mile’s
of Chicopee Falls, were married Satur
day at 12 o'clock by Rev Dr J. L. R.
Trask at his home on Marengo park, in
this city.
SUFFRAGE MEETINGS END.
Over $12,000 Raised for Work—Wom
en nt 43d National Convention
in Louisville, Ky., Passed Many
Resolution*.
Several hundred women, each of them,
if possible, more militant and more en
thusiastic as a suffragist than when she
went to Louisville, Ky., last Friday, for
the 43d annual convention of the national
American women suffrage association com
pleted the work of the convention Tuesday
night. Work up to the last minute was
the order, and Tuesday, the last day,
was marked by much being accomplished.
New Y r ork as the seat of the national
headquarters was retained by practically
a unanimous vote; important resolutions
pledging the association to certain pro
gressive movements were approved, and
something over $12,000 was subscribed for
the work of the association. In addition
to reports of progress in numerous states
were heard. Mrs T. P. O'Connor nnd
Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, notable En
glish suffragists, were warmly applauded
when they addressed the delegates. No
tice was given by the association that the
aid of political parties in the contest for
suffrage would be welcomed. Without em
bracing the tenets of socialism, the con
vention adopted the petition by which the
women's national committee of the so
cialist party seeks enfranchisement for
women through an amendment to the fed
eral constitution, and pledged the associa
tion to co-operate in securing signatures.
Other resolutions urged ratification by
the Senate of President Taft’s arbitration
treaties; approved universal suffrage in the
election of United States senators; de
clared for the same moral standard for
men and women and equal penalties for
transgressors; favored the erection of
a statue of peace at the mouth of
the Panama canal, the pardon of An
geiena Napolitano by the Canadian gov
ernment. and deprecated any efforts to
hamper or defeat honest efforts to enforce
the pure food laws.
WOMEN AGAINST SALOONS.
The first move of the newly-enfranchised
women of California against liquor traffic
was taken Tuesday at the town of Per
ris, Cal., where suffrage leaders sent out a
call for all women voters to register for
the purpose of making war on the munici
pal council, which is alleged to favor sa
loons. in their attempt to remove the
present conncilmanie board and elect an
other pledged against the liqilot traffic, the
women of Perris plan to invoke the recall.
SHERMAN ON PHILIPPINES.
Praise* Progress the United States
Has Made in the Inland*.
In the opening address before the Lake
Mohonk conference of friends of the In
dian and other dependent peoples at Mo
honk Lake, N. Y., last week. James S.
Sherman, vice-president of the United
States, spoke in part as follows:—
”1 believe that a study of conditions to
day in the Philippines, as compared with
a dozen years ago, will convince the most
skeptical that we are and have been pur
suing the wise course and we have brought
to these brown people over the sea bless
ings which they never could have acquired
had they remained under Spanish rule or
been left to themselves. No one can
truthfully deny that the Philippines are
to-day well governed. They have 000.000
children enrolled in their schools, and be
sides their primary and secondary schools,
industrial education has been so far ad
vanced that about 100,090 pupils are re
ceiving instruction in the -useful arts.
"When we took possession of these
islands, many different dialects were used
by the people, only 7 per cent speaking
Spanish. To-day more people speak En
glish than Spanish or any one of the na
tive dialects, and English will soon be the
language of the islands.
“A thousand miles of railways have been
begun, more than half of this being com
pleted. The finances of the people are in
a healthy state and a large revenue is
now made possible through tariffs and a
system of internal revenue taxes. Com
plaint is often made concerning the cost
of the Philippines to us, but, as the presi
dent recently said, the entire expense of
the civil government is now being paid
out of the taxes raised in the Islands. The
onlv expense that our national govern
ment has at all is the added cost of main
taining that part of the army which is in
the Philippines, including transporting
them thither nnd back. This costs less
than $5,000,000 a vear. The army which
we maintain is bv no means too large, even
if we did not have the Philippines. It
does not exceed one soldier in 1000 per
sons. Therefore, the only additional cost
is that of maintenance in such distant
islands and the transportation. The es
timate of this added cost has been placed
at about $250 more per man in the Philip
pines than at home. With 15,000 soldiers
In the Philippines at $250 a man, it would
amount to $3,750,000 to discharge our
seemingly manifest duty.
Speaking of Indian matters, Mr Sher
man said: “During the last half-century
we have conducted the affairs of the In
dians systematically and progressively.
Every agreement between the Indians and
the government lias been carried out; hon
est and intelligent supervision has brought
them to a state of contentment; millions
of dollars spent for their education and
their industrial welfare have been well
invested, as evidenced by their progress
| along lines of civilization. I am sincere
in the belief that the progress of the Amer
ican Indian in the past 50 years has been
greater, numbers considered, in all paths
leading to enlightenment and betterment
| of condition, than of any uneducated peo
। pie on the face of the earth.”
' At the evening session Thursday tho
principal speaker was Dr George
N. Briggs of the Philippine bureau
of education. who discussed the
question whether the schools in
the Philippines are meeting the de
mands with respect to technical and In
dustrial training. He admitted that there
i was room for improvement, hut thought
tluit n good start had been made. Mrs
Martin Egan of Manila explained the sys
tem Upon which tubereulosis was being
successfully combatted in the islands, and
James P. Connelly gave some interesting
information almut the Philippine district
schools. Charles P. Bowditch of Boston
was the last speaker.