Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-05-18

vent IN Cambridge was gone lutO. IL
was found that he went to school
high school, then went to Carlton,
early at Amherst Courthouse, Va,
Mo-, to work for brother and attend
local academy. Three years later
he went to Liberty, Mo-, and entered
William Jewell College to study for
the ministry. While student he sup
piled pulpits in Kansas City, Mo-,
Stewartsville, Miss, Ell Paso Texas,
Louisville, KY, and other places.
Richeson's life had not been an un-
disturbed one, it was learned, and
many tales were related of his en-.
tanglements with young women. AT
Liberty, NO., while in William Jewell
College, he had been engaged to the
daughter of a professor. The young
woman lent Richeson money to pur.
sue his studies and up to the time OF
coming to Hyannis believed she was
to be his wife. In the meantime she
developed tuberculosis, which neces.
states her remaining in Salt Lake
City, Utah. The one bright ray OF
light in Richeson's career appeared
to be that he repaid the money loaned
him as fast as possible. The final
amounts were sent from Hyannis
shortly before he came to Cambridge.
Richeson was expelled from William
Jewell college for cheating in exam
nations shortly after he had been or.
dained at the First Baptist church in
St. Louis. For time he worked as
a conductor on the street cars of the
latter city and was prominent in a
strike of street car men, his fiery elo-
quence making him a natural leader.
While at Budd Park Baptist church
in Kansas City, Richeson became in.
volved with a widow. One Sunday
she appeared Unexpectedly during
the church service Richeson, upon
seeing her, fell in a faint. A brother
of the woman called at Richeson's
rooms and the young minister left
town suddenly. A note to the deac'
ons explained that he had been driv.
en- away by jealous women.
At another church three young wo.
men interrupted the service one Sun.
day. Simultaneously rising each in
quired of the minister IL he meant to
carry out his promise to marry her.
The sensation led the deacons of the
church to write for the pastors re-
signation.
Richeson entered Newton Theologl-
cal Seminary in the fall Of 1906 and
graduated in 1909, during his course
he earned money by working in rest
10 oh yryo
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 inter-
est in women while a preacher In
Massachusetts have been current.
Miss Edmands, upon the arrest of her
fiance, left Cambridge to escape pub.
licity, and, it is said, has been en-.
gagged in charity work.
Interest in the case was intensi-
fed On December 20, when it became
known that Richeson had mutilated
himself in his cell at the Charles St.
JAIL The public apparently lost all
sympathy for the prisoner following
this strange act which was interpret
ed as a confession of guilt. At Hy-
annis, the home of Avis Linnell, the
minister was hung in effigy, with a
placard on the dummy reading Gull
ty. Read Luke 17:2." In Boston a
conference of Baptist ministers was
called and Richeson was formally de-.
prived Of his title of Reverend.
Richeson confessed his guilt in a
statement written by himself on jan
uary and given out by his counsel
on January 6. The confession was ad.
dressed to his counsel and read:
deeply penitent before my sins,
and earnestly desiring as far as in my
power lies, to make atonement, l here
by confess that am guilty of the
offense Of which stand indicted. I
am moved to this course by no in
ducement Of self benefit or leniency.
Heinous as is my crime, God has not
wholly abandoned me, and my con.
science and manhood, however, de-
PRAYED and blightea, will not admit of
my still further wronging by public
trial her whose pure young life
have destroyed.
Under the lashings OF remorse l
have suffered and am suffering the
tortures Of the damned. In this
find a measure of comfort. In my
mental anguish I recognize there is
still, by the mercy of the Master,
some remnant of the divine spark of
goodness still lingering with me. I
could wish to live only because with.
in some prisons. walls I might, in
some small measure redeem my sim
full past, help some despairing soul,
and at last find favor with my god.
"You are instructed to deliver this
to the district attorney or to the
Judge Of the court. Sincerely yours,
Clarence v. T. Richeson."
Richeson was taken into court on
January 9, pleaded guilty of the muir.
der of Avis Linnell, and was SEN
tenceed to be electrocuted at the
Charlestown state prison in the week
beginning 4'.ay 10.
A negro murderer, Henry H. Butts,
has been the constant companion OF
Richeson since his act of self-mutila.
ton. The negro has taken a certain
pride in serving Ricaeson, go has be.
come so attached to the attentions OF
Butts that the negro has been allowed