The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-21
R|CHEsON PAYS PENALTY.
CONTINUED from Page %

been ordained at the First Baptist
church in ST. Louis. For time he
worked as conductor on the street
cars Of the latter city and was prom
i:lent in strike of street car men,
his fiery eloquence making him 4
natural leader.
While AT Budd Park Baptist church
in Kansas CiGy, Richeson became in
vClyed with a widow. One Sunday
she appeared unexpectedly during the
church service. Richeson upon see
ing her, fell in a faint. 4 brother
CT the woman called at Richeson 5
rooms and the young minister let
town suddenly. \ note to the dea-
cons explained that he had been driv-
Il away by jealous women.
At another church three young
women interrupted the service one
Sunday. simultaneously rising each
inquired of the minister if he intend-
ed to carry out his promise to marry
her. The sensation led the deacOns
O. the church to write for the pas
tors resignation.
RichesOn entered Newton TheOlOs-
zeal Seminary in the fall OF 1906 and
graduated in 1909. During his course
liz earned money by working in res
taurants and shoe stores. He was
called to the Hyannis church in 1909
| and remained there until June, 1910,
when he resigned to accept the pas
torate of the Emmanuel Baptist
church in Cambridge. RumOrs of his
interest in women while a preacher
III Massachusetts have been current.
Miss Edmands, upon the arrest o.
her tiance, left Cambridge to escape
publicity and, it is said. has been en-
saged in charity work
Interest in the case was intensified
on Dec. 200 when it became known
that Richeson had mutilatcd himself
in his cell at the Charles street Jail.
The public apparently lost all SYM
pathy for the prisoner following his
strange act, which was interpreted
as a confession of guilt At llyannis.
the home of Avis Linnell, the minis
ter was hung in ciligy, with a placard
on the dummy reading, Guilty. Read
Luke l1:a." In Boston Il conference
g Baptist ministers was called and
Hicheson was formally deprived OF
his title of reverend
Richeson confessed his guilt in a
statement written by himself on Jan
. and given out by his counsel on
: Jan. 6.
Richeson was taken into court on
Jan. ., pleaded guilty of the murder
Of Avis Linnell and was sentenced It
. he clectrocutcd at the Charlestowl
. State prison in the week bcginnin.
May 10.
, a negro murderer, Henry II. Butts
has been the constant companion o
Elcheson since his act of self mu,ila
ton. The negro has taken a certain
pride in serving Richcson, who ha
!. become SO attached to the attcnt ion
Of Butts that the negro has been al
lowed to remain. although his Grim
calls for imprisonment at Charlie.
town
The counsel for the condemnc
man bent their efforts during tn
ID last few weeks 10 securing supper
"a for a petition for Communication q
tie death sentenc" TO lie imprisOn
ment. The ground alleged Is insan
ity due to abnormal traits, which az
oording to the lawyers would nc
constitute legal insanity, bu have
~ unique character of their own wal
Of ranting clemeney.
e. RichesOn. on April 20, sent a pet
ton for Communication of sentence
Gov. Foss. 1t reads:
II respectfully request that tn
sentence of death pronounced again!
Lie by the Superior Court for III
County of Suffolk be commuteJ
imprisonment for life, and | lea'
= the presentation of this requrst an
the reasons in support Thereof wi'
my counsel Clarence V. T Rich
- SON"
simultaneously with the prei.nt
ton Of the petition, Counsel villa
a. Morse and Philip R. Dunbar.
Boston. and John L. Lee, Of Ignc
burg, Va, filed numerous depo-'' io
relating TO evidences of insanity
the part of members of the X h"s'
family in Virginia and as 70 =" ull