Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-05-24
R|CHESON DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
FORMER CLERGYMAN PAYS PEN.
Atty FOR THE MURDER OF
AVIS LlNNELL.
HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH
Confessed Slayer of Girl Who Put All
Confidence In Her Lover Prays,
Sings Hymns and Re-
cites Psalms.
CHRONOLOGY OF CLARENCE VIRGIL
RlcHEsoN FROM BIRTH TO
DEATH CHAIR.

l.
RlcHESoN FROM BIRTH TO
DEATH CHAIR.
Born in Rose Hin, Va, In 1882.
Attended high school In Amherst Court
House. Va.
Went to carrollton, No., In 1898 and Sc
cured employment In hardware store.
Secured position as conductor of ST.
Louis street car line in 1eeo
Became active leader among striking
employees.
Studied privately for the ministry In
1901, and taught In Sunday school.
Admitted to William Jewell college.
Ordained as minister In Baptist church
In 1902.
Meets Miss Patsy Felts In 1908, through
her father, faculty member.
Became engaged to Miss Felts and gave
her engagement ring.
Accused Of dishonesty In examin alton In
William Jewell college.
Leaves college 20 attend Newton Theo-
logical Seminary In 1908.
Romance with Miss Fets began to wane
In 1908.
Preached in Hyannls, Mass, and meets
Becomes pastor of Hyannls Baptist
church In 1902
Gives engagement ring to Miss Linnell
In 1909.
Rcheson's salary envelope mysteriously
disappears In 1909.
Goes through mock marriage with Miss
Linnell In December 1909, and gives her
wedding ring.
Engagement to Miss LInnell is reported
broken off In December, 1909.
Rlcheson calls upon Miss Violet Ed
mands during engagement to Avis LIN
nell.
Takes diamond engagement ring from
Miss Linnel and gives 1t to Miss Ed
mands.
Accepts pastorate of Emmanuel Baptist
church. Cambridge, Mass, In 1911.
October 10, 1et1-Rlcheson purchases
cyanide of potassium from druuaist
Mixes poison potion two days later.
Telephones Miss Llnnell on same after
noon to meet him.
October 14-Meets Miss LlnnelI and
takes her to lunch.
Gives girl capsule containing poison,
presumably to cure her trouble.
October 14-Avis LlnnelI found uncon-
scious in bathroom of Young Women's
Christian association.
October 2o-Rcheson is arrested.
November 2-Richeson Issues statement
denying guilt. and resigns pastorate.
December 2o-Makes attempt at suicide
In his cell.
January 8, 1e12-confesses guilt.
January e-Death sentence pronounced
by Judge George A. Sanderson.
May t6-Governor Foss refuses to COM
mute death sentence.
May 2t-Rlcheson dies in electric chair
at 1917 a. m.
Boston, Mass-Clarence " T. Rich
eson has paid the penalty for the
murder of Avis Linnell. The former
clergyman was electrocuted at 1917
on the morning of May 81 in the
Charlestown state prison.
The condemned man went to the
electric chair with more firmness and
courage than had been expected by
those who had observed him for the
past week. He had spent his last
hours in seeking spiritual consolation
in the Bible and in conversation with
his spiritual advisers.
The current was turned on at
| 12.10:O2. Richeson was pronounced
dead at 1917.
The man who gave the poison to
poor Avis Linnell in order that he
might be free to wed Miss Violet Ed
mands, an heiress, bore himself calmly
under the influence of religious guild
ance during the last hours of his
death watch. Before, however, he had
wept and prayed that Governor Foss
would relent.
Early in the evening before the elec-
! trocution Chaplain Stebbins, after
leaving the condemned man, said:
"Richeson is wholly resigned to his
fate. He has made what peace he
| can with his Maker"
The chaplain did not tell, however,
of the nerve wracking experience he
| and DR.. Johnson had with the con-
| demned man before they succeeded in
! having him resign himself to his fate.
Throughout all of the day before he
was to die, Richeson either prayed,
sang hymns or recited psalms. In
the evening he swallowed some BROTH
At 10 o'clock the prison barber came
in to shave him. Guards held Richie
son while this was being done.
Richeson asked about the hour set
for his execution. When will it be,
warden" was his anxious query.
1T depends entirely on yourself"
he was told.
At these words tears streamed down
Richeson's cheeks and in a quivering
tone he said: Don't be afraid of me.
There will be no scene"
The solemn hour of midnight found
Richeson praying, after which he re-
cited the Twenty-third Psalm.
Il am ready now" he said. A mo.
ment later the warden appeared to es.
cort him to the death chamber. Rich.
eson did not falter and walked to the
chair with firm step.
|
Two TitanIc's Victims Wills.