Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — PRIEST UNDER ARREBT. [ARTICLE]

PRIEST UNDER ARREST.

Father Walser Held for the Death of Agatha Reichlin. .¶ Rev. Father Ferdinand Walser, assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Toledo, was arrested, charged with the murder of Miss Agatha Reichlin, the handsome sister of Father Churles Reichlin, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Lorain, Ohio, in whose house Father Walser was a guest. The murder was committed about 1 o'clock Friday morning. .¶ It is charged by the authorities that Father Walser entered the young woman’s room at the parsonage Thursday night during the absence of Rev. Charles Reichlin and crushed her head with a big paving stone. .¶ Bloodhounds were taken to the scene of the crime and given the scent of the murderer and, a dispatch says, they led the officers to the room occupied by Father Walser at the Reichlin home on the night of the murder. Later the dogs struck another scent and went directly to St. Joseph hospital, where Father Walser spent Friday night. The priest was taken into custody at the Reichlin home and taken to the county jail at Elyria. .¶ The officers admit that evidence against the priest is purely circumstantial, but say the chain is very strong. They further declare that there was much danger of mob violence at Lorain and they did not propose to take any chances in the case. While the feeling was very strong against the priest and a big crowd gathered when the officers boarded an electric car with their prisoner en route to the county jail, there was no demonstration. .¶ Sunday morning, upon the altar steps, the police who had arrested Father Walser were denounced by the brother of the murdered girl. Trembling with emo-‘ tlon from the stress of his feelings, Father Reichlin censured the authorities and exonerated the priest whom they suspected of killing Agatha Reichlin.