The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-01-08
Death PENALTY
FOR RICHESON
Governor Foss May Commute Extreme
Penalty to Imprisonment
For Life.

Richeson, who Saturday, in a written
statement, confessed the murder of
his former sweetheart, Avis Linnell.
From a source close to Gov Foss the
statement came today that the atti-
tude of the executive probably would
be in favor of a communication of SEN
tence of death in the electric chair to
one of life Imprisonment, il the laws
fullest penalty is imposed by the court.
Members of the Governors counsel
are known already to have been APP
preached concerning their attitude in
case the death penalty is imposed and
petition for Communication is made.
No lieniency for Richeson on the part
of the district attorney is expected
in the first degree will meet with his
| approval, according to a statement
which he reiterated today so that the
| only hand that seems able to stay
Richeson's march to the electric chair
is that of Gov Foss.
Ri0heson is expected to arDear in
court late tomorrow afternoon and ask
to be permitted to change his former
plea and be adiudged guilty of muir
der. Whether Judge George A. San
dersen and DISTRICT Attorney Pelletier
will accept this change, or will put
aside the confession for future CON
sideration in order that the regular
procedure may be followed and a jury
called upon to pronounce the verdict
was not announced tonight.
Reads Press Comments.
Richeson learned today from the
papers that his confession was known
throughout the land, but while he read
the various accounts, he made no COM
ment upon them. He passed quiet
day. Even his counsel did not visit
him.
While the confession was known to-
day to every member of the Emmanuel
Baptist church in Cambridge, over
which he was presiding as pastor when
arrested, it received no mention in
anv Of the services. Mr. Richeson's
resignation as pastor was accepted
several weeks ago, although his state
ment that he was then STRONG in the
thought of innocence" caused many of
his staunchest supporters at that time
to vote against acceptance.
Richeson's confession as made pub
lie yesterday, was bare of details. It
is understood that he enlarged on it
in conversation and possibly in writ
ing to his counsel, and that the Dis
trict Attorney is now in possession of
most of the information which has
come to the defense. While no per-
son can be quoted as responsible for
1t, the statement is made on high au-
thority that Richesons amplifitd con-
fession to his counsel was on the fol
: lowing lines:
After purchasing a quantity of cyan
ide of potassium from William Hahn,
a Newton Center druggist. Oct. 10. the
minister took the poison to his rooms
in Cambridge. A few days later he
borrowed from Mrs Frank H. Carter,
} in whose home he was a lodger, an
earthenware mixing bowl Ito make
some book paste" Returning the
bowl to Mrs. Carter an hour or two
later, he warned her to be sure and
wash it out thoroughly, saying 81 have
been mixing poison in it." 1t was in
this bowl and at this time, it is said,
that the minister, by mixing the cyan
ide of potassium with flour and water,
made the capsule which ultimately
caused Miss Linnell's death This was
Thursday, Oct. 70.
Gave Poison in Park
Saturday, Oct IA, Richeson met by
appointment his one-time fiance. who
still believed herself his intended wife.
In accordance with their custom. the
couple had a short walk and then
went into Boyleston street cafe.
Here they had luncheon, after which
they took another walk. This time to
the Fenway. It was while seated on a
secluded bench in tho park, after the
girl had again told him of her worry
over her physical condition. saying she
feared II was becoming apparent to
her friends. and had once more en-
treated him to procure some remedy
for her, that the minister Is said to
have handed the girl the capsule, de-
claring it was medicine which would
act in the manner desired.
He directed her as to the manner OF |
taking It, and then the pair walked to |
the car line. Miss Linnell wen to her
room In the Young Women's Christian