Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-06
He Signs Statement in Which
He Declares That He is
Deeply Penitent for His Sin
and Wants to Atone.
LASHING OF REMORsE Is
TORTURE OF DAMNED
Fallen Minister However AS
serts That in His Anguish
Finds Some Hope That God
Has Not Abandoned Him.
tBy l1vsnaag Fsraia :. p. LsassA wirsI


t@x Hvsnsng neFaid =. 2. Leased warsI
Boston, Jan. 6.--Rev. G.. " n.
RichesOn, former pastor of the Im-
manuel Baptist church OF Cambridge
to-day made written confession 10
the effect that he poisoned his former
sweetheart Avis Linneli Tho stato-
ment was given into the hands of his
counsel who made Il public al D. m.
The fun text OF the confession fol-
lows;
Boston, Jan, Q. 1919
John L. Lee, Esq. william A Morse,
Esq. Philip x. Dunbar Esq
'Gentleme men--Deeply penitent for
my sin and earnestly deslring, so far
as In my power lies to make atone
ihcnt. ! hereby confess that am
guilty OF the ofrense OF which / stand
indicted
Fl am moved to this course by no
inducement OF settlement or leniency.
Heincous aa Is my crimo, God has not
wholly abandoned me. ana ux con.
science and manhood, however. de-
PRAYED ana bllghted, viii not admit
of my still further wrongdoing. by a
pubic trial. her whose pure life I
have destroyed. Under the laahlnra
OF remorse / have suffered and am
suffering the tortures OF the damned.
~ this ] and a measure Of comfort.
an my mental anguish recognize
that there IL still by the mercy OF
the master, some remnant of the dl-
vine spark of goodness still lingering
With me. I could wish To live only
because within some prison walls
might in some small measure redeem
my sinful past. help some other de-
spairing soul and at last, find favor
with my Cod
you are instructed To- deliver this
TO the district attorney or to the Judge
OF the court.
Sincerely yours
CLARENCE v. r. RICHESON."
Just before noon today the Judges
OF the superior court and the district
attorney went into conference at the
court house and about an hour later
representatives OF the press wcra
called 20 the office OF william A.
Morse, Leading counsel for the aceus-
ed clergyman.
In the office were nearly dozen
newspaper men 60 whom Mr. Morse
said.
"Gentlemen, now give you Mr..
Richeson's confession"
Typewriter sheets containing the
confession were then handed 60 the
newspaper men and those who paused
70 ask for some further explanation
were told that there was nothing
more 10 be said at this time
The fact that the confession was
dated three days ago was pointed out
10 the counsel, but they refused to
comment on IT,
District Attorney Pelletier said,
"rho trial will go on Just the same.
no matter what statement may DO
Issued by Richeson"
Richoson was indicted for the muir
der In the first degree Of Miss Avis
Llnnell Ay giving her cyanide of pot
assium. The penalty for such q crime
In Massachusetts, Is electrocutlon.
District Attorney Pelletier lately
admitted that Richeson possibly might
be brought into court before the day
set for the trial. but that such action
would depend on the attitude of his
counsel This was regarded as in-
dicating that some legal way 90 accept
a plea Of guilty of murder IN the Soc
ond degree and permit a life sentence
might be found.
Late this afternoon Mr.. Pelletier
said:
81 have no discretion Ia this mat
ter except 10 accept a first degree
plea OF guilty. / shall not accept
second degree plea or a manslaughter
plea. Poisoning is first degree Of
feusc ana you cannot make anything
else out of u."
Mr. and Mrs Moses Grant Ed-
mands, parents Of Miss Violet Ed-
mgnds, 90 whom Richeson was en-
gaged 60 bee married. refused 10 COM
mont on the confession. Neither
would they say whore their daughter
WAS staying az present