Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-05-17
REVEREND
RICHESON
HOPELESS
HISTORY OF HIS CRIME AND THE
CONFESSION HE MADE THAT
WILL END THIS CAREER MAY
90.


Richeson's last hope of escaping
death on May 20, the date set for his
execution, for the murder of Avis
Linnell, Of Hyannis, expired when
Governor Foss announced he would
not refer Richesons petition for COM
mutation of sentence to the execu-
tive council.
The prisoner has borne himself
calmly since he was transferred from
the Charles-street jail Tuesday. 1t
was apparent he still hoped clemency
would be extended and it was be-
lleved this alone was keeping up his
spirits.
The statement in part follows;
Executive clemency will not be
extended in the case of Clarence v.
T. Richeson. The prisoner was sem
fenced upon his own confession and
without trial for crime which 1t
appears impossible that any normal
man could commit.
"The evidence shows that Riche-
sons family is heavily addicted with
insanity, that he himself is neu-
rotic, somnambulist and a neuras-
thenic; that he is subject to excite
ment, emotional disturbances, marked
by loss of memory which two alien
lists had diagnosed as hysterical in
sanity one physician adding the al
ternatlve term of hysterical dellrium,
and the majority opinion indicating
that these attacks are hysterical,
marked by emotional disturbances Of
brief duration, with loss of memory
during the attack and for a varying
period following.
"The evidence, however, while
clearly revealing these attacks, indl-
Gates that his crime was not commit
ed by him during such an attack
Therefore, while there is divergence
Of opinion among the alienists as Ia
whether the facts indicate actual in
sanity, there is sufficient ground for
the conclusion that he Is accounta-
BILE for his crime and that the exer-
else Of executive clemency in this in.
stance would be contrary to the pub
lie good.'
Events Leading uD to Death.
March %, 19l1--Engagement oi
Rev Clarence Virgil Thompson Rich
eson, pastor Of the fashionable I'm.
manuel Baptist church, Boston, t.
Violet Edmands, heiress of exclusive
Brookline colony announced.
June July, and August, 1911-
Richeson frequently noticed dining
alone with 19-year-old Avis Linnell
August 31-Richeson and Miss Lin
nell attend Hyannis fair, Avis tellI
girl chums she is to marry th'
preacher.
October 1O--Richeson IS alleged t
have bought cyanide Of potassium II
Newton, Mass, to kill a dog"
October 12--Boston papers an
nounce Richeson and Miss Edmand
to be married October 81.
October IA, . p. m.-Avis Linnel
found dead in chair in bathroom #
Y. W. c. A. Friends phone RichesoT
, He asks: "why do you phone me
! Tell her relatives"
October 1G-Autopsy shows dea
girl was to become a mother Polio
say she was induced to take cyanid
by promise that II would hide he
shame.
q October 15--Rev Richeson at nlgt
= takes refuge in Edmands mansion.
/ October 19-Richeson secretly er
+ cages counsel.
}. October 20 - Richeson arreste
while in bed in the Edmands' hom
|. Later Identified by druggist Hahn Z
: man who bought cyanide from hi
= and Immediately formally charge
!. with murder.
: October 23-special grand jury b
}. gins investigation Of murder charg
a rfV.atf-..~A -. -. a.