The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-08
Richeson Will Receive
His : entence Tomorrow

tnaC ne knew II ne went to trial, con-
viction was absolutely certain. But he
knew and his lawyers knew, that /
Governor Foss is opposed to capital
punishment. They also all knew that
1t has always been customary for the /
state to recommend some degree of !
leniency where criminal pleads
guilty, and saves the state the ex-
pense Of a trial and also the chance of
miscarriage Of justice. So Richeson,
who is craven at heart, according to
the attaches OF the Jail, and who has
hardly slept since he was first arrest
ed because of the visions that came in
the silent watches of the night, OF the
little room, with small light, and
the brilliantly lighted shining instru-
ment Of death in its center, decided
that he would take the slim chance
left-active interference. That was
the thought which stimulated his
confession on Friday, according to the
district attorneys and his jailers.
They say that Richesons demeanor
throughout has shown that he feared
death in the chair.
His lawyers frankly admit that they
hope to have the death sentence,
which must be imposed on him un-
der the Massachusetts law, commuted
to Imprisonment for life. They will
argue that he was not normal.
His abnormality was indicated by
the manner of the killing, his lying
and his recent mutilation of himself,
they will argue. This reasoning will
be presented to the governor and
council in support of the contention
that the state should not execute
man who is of the mind of Rev. Rich
ieson
But the district attorney has ex-
haustive examinations of the accused
made by noted alienists These men
absolutely deny the existence of men
ital fraility which would permit the
state to interfere, md the dispositions
/ will be filed with the council the min
lutte that the application for the COM
mutation of the sentence is made.
Richeson passed quiet night in his
icell. Since he made the confession, he
has shown by his attitude that he be-
ilieves he will eventually be sentenced
/ to life Imprisonment. no matter what
THE initial mandate or the court may
ihe.
The minister-murderer from the
moment he signed his confession, has
spent most of his time reading works
ION theology. According to the special
officer at the jail who watched him
4 through the night, he read until late
and then went easily to sleep. While
1 his sleep was troubled, it was no more
80 than recently and he seemed strong
and confident today. John L. Lee and
VIM. Morse, chief counsel for Richie
son, went into consultation today.
They will reserve all their energies
for an appeal to the governor and his
council. Attempts to get statement
from the attorneys today failed.
i According to those conyersant with
4 the real facts In connection with the
administration of the poison the crime
was even worse than the state ever
thought it could prove.
4 The minister had been told by the
4 girl that she was in delicate con-
3ldition, and appealed to him to right
1.-THE wrong he had done her. He had
i promised that he would and so when
4 he met her on the afternoon of the
lday she died, Oct ID, he had with him
1.-The deadly cyanide of potassium, with
which he planned to end her life.
g They met by appointment in front
of the Hotel Touraine and took a walk
! to a little cafe at the corner of Ire
mont and Boylstcn streets. There
they had luncheon together. and al
that time. the minister gave the cir
the deadly drug and told her that II
she took it, she would be saved from
disgrace. She promised that she
would take 1t and they parted
n The minister left the girl that he
had 90 cruelty deceived, at the corner
!, of massachusetts avenue and Com
monwealth avenue, with a handshake
and swinging himself on car, nc
went out to the home of Miss Ed
mands. 1t was because he was a.
this place that afternoon that Richie
son at first thought he could build VI
his alibi. However, 1t is understood
that the district attorney mas two
witnesses, who. while they could mo-
positively identify the minister or the
, Girl from photographs, were prepared
"a testify that man who looked
, like the minister met the girl IN the
cafe and the district attorney expect
|, ed 10 show by the Edmands family
that the time of arrival at the home o.
: picheson corresponded with the time
! he must have left the girl
l district Attorney Pelletier received
today a letter from Thomas w Law
!, son IN which the financier demands
thai the prosecution insist that Richie
: CON he executed for his crime. Amons
! other things, he says:
"For Gods sake and for humanity
sake and for the sake OF the countless
aanendents upon you and those situat
{ 9th arwiSa helnleSS moth