The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-24
GIRLS SLAYER
DIES IN CHAIR
Rev. Clarence RiChesOn Meets
Fate Like Stole Of Old.
CRITICISES CUT OF PANTS

He IL Ready For Death - Mystery |
Surrounds Letter Containing cy- !
| snlde Of Potassium Delivered at
Jail For Condemned Msn-Body
VIII Be Taken to Virginia.
Boston, May 21.-At 12:10:02 this
morning the electrician at the state
prison threw the switch which put an
end to the career of Clarence v. L.
Richeson. the self-confesed murderer
OF Miss Avis Linnell. and former
Baptist clergyman. The first shock
caused instant death and at 12:17
Richeson was pronounced dead by
the attending physician.
The condemned met death with
composure, as he said he would. He
stepped from his cell into the corridor
and through a door into the death
chamber. When he had taken IL
PAGES he was in front Of the electric
chair. He took his seat in it, the
| straps and electrodes were quickly
rut in place. The four guards who
had accompanied him from his cell
and Chaplain Stebbins, who preceded
him into the room. stepped back.
Warden Bridges raised his cane as
signal, and in the next second Rich
eson's spirit had left his body.
II was learned that among the en-
velopes sent to the prison addressed
20 the condemned man was one which
contained blank sheet of paper in
which was a small quantity of white
POWDER Warden Bridges had it an
| alyzed and the powder proved to be
cyanide of potassium. the same kind
of poison that RichesOn used to en-
compass the death of Miss Linnell.
The envelope was postmarked New
York city. Had the powder reached
! Richeson he could have committed
suicide.
Last night the prisoner asked that
his nails be manicured He has been
endeavoring to cleanse them with q
piece o. folded paper. not being per
Ihitted to have any pointed metal in
etrument. The guard performed the
task, which seemed to please Rich
eson immensely.
Barber shsves Head.
Three hours before midnight Henry
T. Merrill, who does the barbering in
the prison. went TO the cell and cut
on a considerable quantity of Rich
cson's coal-black hair and shaved a
spot OF his head about twice the size
OF a silver dollar. On this spot rest
I'd the electrode which was placed on
the condemned mans head the second
he took his seat in the chair. Shortly
afterwa-d RichesOn was told he must
put on the clothing which had been
sent IL him. This seemed to annoy
Richeson somewhat. He looked the
trousers over and commented upon
their cut, and as for the shirt. he
could not bear 10 pull it down over
8 his shoulders. The left leg of the
trousers was slit nearly to the knee
and this interested the prisoner also.
but he asked no questions. knowing
full well that II was there to permit
: the quick application of the other
. electrode TO him. The clergyman
prayed with him constantly as the
final hour drew near. and Richeson
repeated many chapters from the
Scriptures.
The gates OF the prison yards were
; closed and none was permitted TO
enter who did not have business
there. Just before midnight the legal
witnesses reached the prison and
were introduced to each other.
They went into the warden's Office
and met some OF the other 15 men
who we're TO witness the execution.
Electrician Curricr was in the room
behind screen.
After the straps had been adjusted
scross his thigh, legs and chest and
before the death-dealing current OF
800 volts was turned on, Richeson
was asked series of questions by
his spiritual adviser. To one he re-
piled in a distinct voice. MY God
will take care OF my soul. and l pray
for all forgive everybody"
The last OF the questions. which
was. Are you willing to die for
Jesus sake" Richeson replied in an
even tone, Il am willing TO die"
Richeson has feared all along since
he learned that he was to- die that
as soon as breath had passed. from
: his body the physicians were going
, to dissect his body. Upon leaving
I the prison Mr.. Morse, attorney for
l. Richie on. said:
n Dies at Peace With World.
n "Richeson is going to die without
T holding a grudge against anyone. He
talked to me calmly about his fu-
neral He said he wished to be
buried in Virginia. and II appears
{ that this will be done. He told when
II and how he wished TO be buried. He
= save a list OF the hymns that he
e wished sung at his funeral. Most OF
+" them were familiar. One OF the
d. hymns was not familiar TO me. He
asked me II knew IL. and replied
in the negative Then he hummed
the tune over to me. He told me
~ about the disDosition of his little