The Sentinel=record., 1912-01-07
RICHESON
 CONFESSES
MINISTER ACCUSED OF POISON. ING YOUNG GIRL MAKES ADMlS
 SION OF GUILT.
Had Insisted to Attorney for Weeks That He Was Guilty and Wanted to Ease His Con-
 science.

Boston, Mass, Jan. 6.-The Rev. Clarence V. T. Richeson confessed his guilt of the murder of his former sweetheart, Avis Linnell of Hyannis in a document made public by his counsel today.
 The confession declares that the accused is guilty "of the offonse Of which he is indicted' which is murder in the first degree.
 Whether Richeson will pay the ex- treme penalty, which under tAe Mas sachusetts law is death in the cleo tric chair, no court official cared to predict today.
 The confession was as follows.
 Boston, Jan. 3, 1912. "John L. Lee, Esq. William A Morse
 Esq. Philip P Dunbar, Esq:
 "Gentlemen Deeply penitent for my sin and earnestly desiring, as far as in my power lies, to make atonement I hereby confess that am guilty of the offense of which stand indicted.
 "1 am moved to this course by no indueement of self benefit or leniency He'mous as is my crime God has not wholly abandoned me and my con science and manhood, however, de prayed and blighted. will not admit of my still further wronging by public trial her whose pure youn' life I have destroyed
 sUnder the lashings of remorse have suffered and am suffering thu tortures of the damned. 4n this find measure of comfort. In my men tai anguish recognize that there i' still, by the mercy of the Master some remnant of the Divine sparl of God goodness lingering in me.
 q could wish to live only because within some prisons walls might, ir some small measure, redeem my sin ful past, help some other despairins soul and, at last find favor with my God.
 "You are instructed 10 deliver this to the district attorney or to the judge of the court Sincerely yours,
 "CLARENCE V. T. RICHESON. v
 The indictment again Richeson charged that he feloniously, malicious Iy, and with malice aforethought gave Miss Linnell cyanide of potas sium with deadly intent, and that because of her death, he is guilty of murder in the first degree.
 District Attorney Pelletier declared today after the confession had been made, that the trial, set for January 15, would surely be called and that he would accept no compromise in the way of a plea to a lesser crime.
 It was pointed out that if the dis. trict attorney maintained this atti tude only an insanity commission oi commutation by the executive counci and the governor could save Richesor from the electric chair.
 It lies, however, with the court anc the district attorney to accept a m'n or plea such modification usually coming through some weak link in tlht governments case.
 Today's development was not alto gethef unexpected by some of those in close touch with the situaticn From the beginning the prosecuting authorities have asserted that tho evidence was strong, although wheI it came to the actual delivery of th' poison to the girl, there appeared tt be a missing link ia the chain.
 Richescn hImsslf procided tho greatest sensation in the case. whel in the early hours of the morning o December 20 he so horribly mutil ated himself that his life hung a the balance for some hours and wa saved only by an operation.
 It is said at that time Richeson in sisted upon eonfessing. Even whil bleeding from his wounds, he is sai, to have chung to his counsel, William A. Morse and pleaded to be aliowe' to tell him the whole story. Feelin that his client might be laboring fror a loss Of mental. as we'll as physica strength. Mir Morse refused to hea l him and during his convalescenc Richeson remained quiet. in fact a most speechless
 When the attorneys visited thei