The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-21
AVIS LINNELL'S
MURDERER PAYS
DEATH PENALTY
SLAYER WENT TO DEATH
CALM AND SMILING.
Pronounced Dead in Five Minutes
After First Shock Was
Turned On.
Sensation in Prison When Letter
For Prisoner Was Found
With Poison In Ii.

BOSTON. Mass. May 2i.-Rev.
Richeson was electrocuted this MORN
Ing. The current was turned on at
l2:lO;O2 and the prisoner was de-
clared totally dead at 1917. The
former Baptist clergyman confessed
poisoner OF Avis Linnell OF Hyannis.
his one time sweetheart. was out
wardly calm when he entered the
death chamber and he maintained his
composure while the straps and cleo
trodes were being adjusted as he sat
In the electric chair
Richeson walked to the chair erect.
eyes straight ahead until he sat
down. Then he closed his eyes and
kept them shut until the end. Seated
In the chair. he was asked a series
Of questions by the Rev. Herbert s.
Johnson, his spiritual adviser.
During his answers he said:
God will take care OF my soul and
! pray for it all forgive every
body"
The last Of the questions was:
Are you willing to die for Justices
The reply in an even. we'll modu.
lated tone, was simply Il am willing
to die"
Dead After First Shock.
The current applied was OF 1900
volts, eight ampergs. One application
was sufficient. When the officials and
Witnesses Of the execution entered the
death chamber after walking through
the prison yard in a IeltinG rain they
heard sounding through the walls the
strain OF songs. n was Richeson and
his spiritual advisers. Mr.. Johnson
and Chaplain Stebbins. singing Dis.
tinctly audible as they closed we're
4he words.
For know. Vhate'er befsIl me,
Jesus doeth all things well"
Lett Cell Smiling.
RiCheson left his cell smiling at
1908. Before starting en- the death
march he shook hands with William
4. Morse. his counsel. who at the last
moment had been admitted az a wit
ness OF the execution. and with the
two chaplains, the Rev. VI. ]. Murphy.
the Catholic prison chaplain. being
also present Then he said.
I'm ready" and walked on lie
was dressed plainly in a black cheviot
suit. frock coat. white vest. white
shirt. turned down collar and black
bow tie. with gold studs on his shirt
front and with low black shoes. bright
~ shined. His head was shaved down
the middle.
The party then entered the cham
Der. RichesOn. accompanied by the
clergyman, followed soon after. the
unfrocked minister appearing as calm
as either Of his companions.
Poison Sent Minister.
Among many letters addressed TO
Hfnhnanm "a hrs
Warden Bridges to-day was one which
eas found 10 contain cyanide Of po-
fassium. ~ was mailed from Station
y. New York city. on May 10. at 3 p.
m. ~ contained no clue as the
sender. the powder being enclosed in
small subenvelOpe marked head
ache powders.' Analysis developed
that b. was poison OF the same nature
as that which killed Avis LinneH
Attorney Morse said that he advised
Warden Bridges 10 make public the
fact ~ The receipt ~ the powder
RlchesOn WAS entirely innocent of any
knOwledge OF its having been sent. the
attorney declared lie added that he
had every rason 10 beliye the con
dcmncd man had no expectation oi
any such means OF death
The Hev. Herbert W. stebbins. the
prison chaplain. preceded the con
demned man in tho march 10 the
chair SolemnIy his deep voice rang
ont through fhe chamber az be read
from ftr -fa' Psalm
Have mercy upon mo. - God. ac.
c0rdinr NJ fhv loving kindness. ac
c1rdiaE unto thr muIrtude Of Thy
tender merclrs blot ont my trans.
-ressions. Wash me thoroughly from
mine iniquity and cleanse me from
az Fln For ! srkr0u ledge my trans.
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