Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-23
MORGUE HOLDS
The BODY OF
RICHESON
WILL Be DISS. CTED LATER
Brain May Go to Harvard
University

| Boston, Mass. May 22.-The body OF
Clarence V. T. Richeson, who was ex-
ecuted early yesterday for the murder
of Avis Linnell, lay in a morgue last
night. Earlier in the day. DR.. George
B. McGroth, medical examiner for
Suffolk county, performer the autopsy
required by law and declared Richie
sons brain was normal. Douglas e.
Richeson, of Chicago, brother of the
dead man, was undecided regarding
the disposition of the body and the
matter is yet unsettled.
1t was the understanding previous
to the execution that the body of the
former Baptist minister would be TAX
en- to his boyhood home in Virginia
for burial, but circumstances have
arisen which prevented the plan from
being carried out.
The Rev. Herbert S. Johnson, who
as spiritual adviser, accompanied
Richeson to the electric chair, issued
a statement today explaining that
certain questions Were asked the con-
demned man as he was being strap
ped in the chair for the purpose of
taking Richeson's mind off his ordeal
and to meet Richeson's wish to leave
some religious testimony for the wit
nesse
Mr.. Johnson's statement in part was
as follows:
The warden said that he wished
could make the man talk from the
death chair, as that would take his
thoughts off himself and his passing
could occur without a period of dis
tressing suspense.
Chaplain Stebbins and l agreed
that we would induce Richeson to
leave some kind of religious testimo-
ny for the witnesses to the execution.
He had wished that he might do soma
good before he died. He had failed
in his ministry and he thought tat
IS testimony at his execution might
lead to a religious life any witnesses
who might not be Christian men"
The confession of RichesOn, given
to his counsel, Messrs. John L. Lee,
William A Morse and Philip r. Dun
bar, several months ago, and by them
read in open court, but which the
ex-minister afterwards denied, read
as follows:
Deeply penitent for my sin and
honestly desiring as far as in my
power lies do make atonement, l
hereby confess that l am guilt OF
the offense of which | stand indicted.
| am moved in this course by no in
ducement or self-benefit or leniency.
"Heinous as is my crime, God has
not wholly abandoned me, and my
conscience and manhood, however de-
Nraved and blighted, will not admit
of my still further wronging by
nublic trial her whose pure life
havn DESTROYED
Under the lashings of remorse,
fave suffered and am suffering the
tort"ree of the damned.
"In this I find measure of com
fort.
In my mental anguish I recognize
that there is still the mercy of the
Master, some remnant of the Divine
srark of goodness still lingering witt
me.
81 could wish to live only because,
within some prison walls, might in
some small measure redeem my sinful
past, help some other despairing soul
and at last find favor with my God.
"You are instructed to deliver this
m the district attorney or to the judge
! of the court"
! The confession was written ami
signed by Richeson after the self-mu-
tilation which he accomplished in the
Charles street jail
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