The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-05-23
RICHESON IS
PUT TO DEATH
Prisoner of Avis Linnell Elec-
1trocuted This Morning Just
After Midnight. Says 4 am
Willing to Die Singing
HYMNS When Summoned to
Death Chamber.

p,obeson was electrocuted at 12:l7
o,cloek. eastern time, this morning.
The current was turned on at
,a.1O:O2 and the prisoner was de
cared dead at 1911.
The former Baptist clergyman, con.
tossed poisoner of Avis Linnell OF n.y.
o,nis his one-time sweetheart, wac
outwardly calm when he entered the
death chamber and he maintained his
composure while the straps and cleo
trodes we're being adjusted as he SAT
IN the electric chair.
Richeson walked to the electric
chair erect, eyes straight ahead until
be sat down. Then he closed his eyes
and kept them shut until the end.
Seated in the chair, he was asked
ouestlons by the Rev. Herbert S
Johnson, his spiritual adviser.
During his answers he said
GOD will take care Of my soul aud
pray for ALL forgive everybody ,
The last of the questions was:
Are you willing to die for Jesus
sake?"
The reply, in an even, well modu-
tone, was simply:
81 am willing to die"
The current applied was 1900 volts,
eight amperes. One application was
sufficient.
When the officials and witnesses OF
the execution entered the death cham
her after walking through the prison
Yards in peltipg rain they heard
ihe strains of song. 1t was Richeson
and his spiritual advisers, Mr.. John.
son and Chaplain Stebbins. Distinct
" audible as they closed were the
words: -
"For | know, whate'er befall me
Jesus (oeth all things well"
Richie son left his cell, smiling. at
l2:CS. Before starting on the death
march ne shook hands with William
A. Morse, his counsel, who at the last
koment had been admitted as a wit
fs& Less of the execution, and with the
two chaplains, and Rev. M. ]. Murphy
the Catholic priest.
Then he said I'm ready and walk
ed on. He was dressed plainly In a
black cheviot suit, frock coat,
white vest, white shirt, turned-down
collar and a black bow tie, with gold
studs in his shirt front and with low
black shoes brightly shined. HIS
head was shaved down the middle.
The party then entered the cham
Der. Richeson, accompanied by the
cergymen, followed soon after, the
unfrocked minister appearing as calm
as either of his companions.
,mong many letters addressed 10
Rlcheson which were opened by War
den Bridges was one which was
found to contain cyanide of potas'
SUM.
II was mailed from Station n, New
Yory city, on May 10 at p. m. IL
contained no clue to the sender, the
powder being enclosed in small SUD
envelope marked Headache powd
ers." Analysis of it showed that II
was poison of the same nature which.
was used in killing Avis Linnell.
Attorney Morse advised Warden
Bridges to make public the receipt cl
the powders.
Richeson was innocent OF any
knowledge Of the sending, the attor
ney said.
It is expected the wishes OF the
dead man will be carried out ano
that he will be buried beside his
mother in the family lot in Virgini'
brother, Douglas Richeson, OF chi
cago, is in Boston to take charge o.
the body.
In a statement given out after tue
execution the Rev. Herbert johnson
Rlcneson's spiritual adviser, said II
part
My opinion has grown constantly
mat Mr. Richeson was not norma
man For the past two days have
spent hours in talking with him about
whe Ininutest details OF his crime.
think that no man who could know
us opinion and have heard his state
"ent concerning the crime could 81
'ape the deep conviction that II thl.
'u"h was not insane, he was on thu
Oorder line of insanity"
'lcheson left no public statement
Ou' his counsel, William A. Mcrse
an s,,Az