Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-05-23
Former Clergyman Walks
Calmly to Electric Chair
and Declares Himself Will
ling to Pay Penalty.
BROTHER CLAIMS
BODY AT PRISON
Remains Will be Taken to
Old Home in Virginia To-
night; Brain is Not Given
to Specialists.

Boston, Mass May 21.-Douglas
Richeson of Chicago, brother of the
former clergyman, Clarence V. T.
Richeson, who paid the penalty for
the murder of Avis Linnell in the elec-
trio chair at the state prison just after
midnight, claimed the body today.
Before the body could be turned over
to relatives it was necessary for DR..
Geo. B. Magrath, medical examiner Of
Suffolk county, to perform the autopsy
required by law. This he planned to
do during the forenoon.
Reports that the brain and other
organs of the executed man might be
Igiven to the medical institutions and
medical specialists for examination and
study were declared untrue by DR..
Magrath.
Richeson's body will be taken back
to his old home in Virginia II his
wishes are carried out and will be
buried in the little cemetery at Am
herset court house. The last words
as the remains are committed to the
grave will be said by Rev. Herbert s.
Johnson of Boston who acted as Richie
sons spiritual adviser after he was
taken to the death house One of the
last requests made by Richeson was
that Mr. Johnson accompany the body
carry messages from the executed
murderer to his relatives.
Richeson left no will but in CONVEX
A. Morse his counsel during the hours
preceding his death. he gave direc-
tons as to the disposition of his per.
sonal effects. His library Richeson left
to clerical friends.
The execution of Richeson IS said By
to have been the most sue
cessful of any Of the fourteen that
have been held at the state prison
since the electric chair was adopted.
1t was only necessary to apply the
current once and less than Is minutes
after Warden Bridges and the party
left the prison Office for the death
house they filed back and attached
their signatures to the paper stating
that the order of the court had been
complied with.
Calm as He Goes to Death.
After his collapse of last Friday 1t
had been feared that Richeson would
not be able to stand the final strain
but on the way from his cell to the
execution chamber his steps did not
falter and he answered the questions
as to his faith in God, put to him oy
his spiritual adviser calmly
Within few days the death house
will be occupied again by Lena Cusa-
mano and Enrico Mascioli Of Hull who
have been sentenced to death during
the week of June for the murder Of
the woman's husband.
Richeson walked to the electric chair
erect and eyes straight ahead, until
be sat down. Then he closed his eyes
and kept them shut until the end.
Seated in the chair he was asked
a series of questions by the Rev. Her
During his answers he said:
God will take care Of my soul, aud |
I pray for everybody forgive ELL"
Willing to Die.
The last of the questions was:
Are you willing to die for Jesus
sake?'
The reply. in an even, well modulat-
ed tone, was simply:
Il am willing to die"
Richeson left his cell smiling at
1908. Before starting on the death
march, he shook hands with William
A. Morse, his counsel, who at the last
n oment had been admitted as wit
ness of the execution, and with the
wo chaplains. the Rev. J. Murphy, the
Catholic prison chaplain, being also
present.
Is Dressed in Black.
Then he said: I'm ready" and I
walked on. He was dressed plainly in
/ black cheviot suit. frock coat, white ;
est. white shirt. turned down collar, ]
md black bow tie. with gold studs on {
lis shirt front, and with low black
hoes. brightly shined. The party then
ntered the chamber. Richeson. ac-
ompanied by the clergymen. followed s
oon after, the unfrocked minister ap-