The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-25
EMO Of REV. c. '. 7. RICHES0N
FORMER PASTOR ELECTROCUTED
TUESDAY MORNING.
Calm During Monday Night-Eates
Little. But Smokes and Sings
Hymns--Says He Was Ready to
die.

Boston. May 21.-Clarence Virgil
Thompson Richeson. native OF Vir-
ginia, pastor Of the Emmanuel Bap-
tist church at Cambridge. was cleo
trocuted at 1910 O'Clock this morn
ing In the death house of the State
prison at Charlestown. The crime
Tor which Richeson paid the penalty
this morning was the murder of his
sweetheart. l9-year-old. Avis Lin
nell. Richeson confessed to giving
her poison, which caused her death
October Ia. 1911.
The current was kurned on at
12:10:O2 and the prisoner was de-
clared dead at 12:17.
The former clergyman was out
wardly calm when he entered the
death chamber and he remained his
eomposure while the straps and cleo
trades 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
series of questions by the Rev..
Herbert s. Johnson, his spiritual ad-
wiser. One OF his answers was.
God will take care of my sonl AMI
pray TO- al. forgive everybod ."
The last OF these questions were
Are you willing to die for Jesus
sake?" The reply, In an even, we'll
modulated to-day. was simply: 81
an willing to die"
The current applied was of 300
volts. ampers. One application was
sufficient.
Heard Strains of Song.
When the officials and witnesses
OF the execution entered the death
chamber after walking through the
prison yard In a pelting rain. they
heard sounding through the walls
the strains OF song. Ii was RichesOn
and his spiritual advisers, Mr..
Johnson and Chaplain Stebbins sing
ing. Distinctly audible as they clos
ed closed were the words:
For l know, whate'er befall ME.
Jesus doeth all things we'll"
Richeson left his cell at 1905.
Before starting on the death march
he shook hands with William a.
Morse. his counsel. who, at the last
moment, had been admitted as wit
ness OF the execution. and with the
two chaplains, the Rev. NJ. j. Muir
ply. the Catholic prison chaplain.
being also present.
Then he said I'm ready" and
walked on. He was dressed plainly
In a black chevoit suit, frock coat,
white vest. white shirt, turned down
collar and a black bow tie, with
gold studs on his shirt front, and
with low. black shoes. brightly shin
ed.
Appeared Calm.
The party then entered the cham
Der. Richeson, accompanied by the
clergymen. followed soon after. the
unfrocked minister appearing as
calm as either OF his companions.
Among many letters addressed to
Richeson which were opened by War
den Bridges to-day was one which
was found TO contain syanide of
potassium. IL was mailed at Station
". New York city. May 10, at p.
m. II contained no clue to the send
er. the powder being enclosed in a
small subenvelope, marked "head-
ache powders" An analysis develop
ed that IL was poison Of the same ma
ture as that which killed Avis Lin
Utlls NNhtSOH WAS entlTely innocent
OF any knowledge of its having been
sent. Attorney Morse declared.
The Rev. Herbert w. Stebbins, the
prison chaplain. preceded the con-
demned man in the march to the
chair.
cable to Save Them"
As .Richeson settled himself slowly
In the electric chair and threw back
his head and closed his eyes, the
minister turned to Hebrews and read:
For He is able 20 save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by
Him seeing that he ever liveth to
make intercession for them"
Four prison guards picked up the
straps dangling like tenacles from
the chair OF death and quickly slip
ped them into place through their
buckles.
Are you willing to die foy Jesus
sake?"
Il am willing to die"
As the word die" came from the
lips OF the man In the chair, the
gold-headed cane OF Warden Bridges
was tilted slightly upward. there
was crash OF a falling lever and
Richeson was no more.
The 1.-the form OF the pastor surg
ed forward In the great leather
throngs. but no sound came from
the throat of tho victim