The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-20
Rev. Clarence Richeson, Al
legged Poisoner of Avis Lin
nell, Boston, Cuts Himself
With Tin Today.
ATTRACTS
PRISON OFFICIALS
Four Physicians Were Sum-
moned and an Emergency
Operation Was Performed
Upon the Clergyman.
(Natioual News Association

BOSTON, Dee. 2o.-The Rev. Clar-
ence Richeson, former pastor of the
Immanual Baptist church of Cam
bridge under indictment for the mur-
der of Miss Avis Linnell, the pretty
young Hyannis choir singer. by poi
son, attempted to commit suicide in
his cell in the Charles street Jail early
today by gashing himself with a sharp
piece of tin. Richeson was bleeding to
death when his means of pain betray-
ed his attempt at self-destruction. Four
doctors performed an emergency oper-
alton on the young clergyman, but it
was admitted that his condition was
serious. The Jail authorities declared
that it was mystery where Richeson
had procured the tin. The accused
minister's trial was set to begin Janu
airy Is.
The first intimation of the young
clergyman's act came when attendants
were attracted to his cell by means of
pain The found that he had gashed
his body with piece of tin in the eff
fort to sever an artery and bleed to
death. Surgeons were Immediately
summoned who pronounced his condi-
tion critical
Suffered Great Agony.
The first cries that came were heard
from the cell at 3 a. m. The minister
was suffering terrible agony from his
wounds. The tin he used in the en-
deavor to kill himself had been rough
ly shaped into a knife blade form and
it's jagged edges had made frightful
decorations.
whats the matter" exclaimed the
guards as they rushed into the CELL
1--WE cut myself; I'm bleeding to
DEATH" moaned the clergyman.
The cries of the would-be suicide
aroused the other prisoners and in
tense excitement prevailed throughout
the prison.
Four doctors were summoned in all.
after a brief examination they decided
that an operation would be necessary.
Richeson was Immediately put un-
der the influence of an anaesthetic and
the operation was performed in the
Jail by doctors Brough, Ames, Sar-
geant and Lothroy.
While the young minister was in the
surgeons hands the jail officials en-
deavored to communicate with his at
torneys. They finally succeeded in get
phone and he hurried to the Jail. Word
of Richeson's attempted suicide was
sent to Philip r. Dunbar. Richeson' S
Virginia attorneys, John L. Lee and
Beverly Harrison, are in Virginia for
the Christmas holidays.
Secrecy Attempted.
| The district attorney could not be
reached at that hour of the morning,
but his assistant, Thomas D. Lavelle
was communicated with and he hur.
| ried to the Jail. and with Attorney
Morse took legal charge of the situa.
ton.
Every effort was made by the Jail
authorities to conceal the clergyman s
suicide attempt, but the facts We're
made public by a prisoner who was
| freed from the Jail after witnessing all
the early morning excitement When
his story became public the Jail Off.
! cials seeing thai it would be impossi.
BILE to further conceal the facts, gave
out the full information.
! At the Jail nobody would state
whether Richeson had assigned mo.
tive for his suicide attempt. His law.
yers here. it is said. are greatly down
cast by his act, as they fear that it
must almost hopelessly prejudice his
case in the minds of jury.