New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
|R|CHESON A MORMON
SAYSBOST0N WOMAN
Former Worker in the Church
SWears Murderer Was Secret.
Iy Active in Faith, Though
Filling Baptist Pulpit.
AN ELDER EVEN, SHE AYERS
Makes Affidavit Declaring Slayer
Of Miss Avis Linnell Was Con-
verted While in College by
One of the Girls He Had
Promised to Wed.

Promised to Wed.
Boston. May 7-Clarence V. T. Rich"
eson, under sentence Of death for the
murder of Miss Avis Linnell. has been q
Mormon elder and secretly connected
with the Mormon organization severai
years, although preaching from a Bap-
tist pulpit, according to a sworn state
ment Just .ade before William A.
Thibodeau. an attorney and justice of
the peace. The author OF the affidavit,
Mrs. Louie f. Britain, swears she was
formerly connected with the Mormon
Church and was a celestial wife OF
New York man who is at the head Of
the Mormon organization in the East.
In the statement Mrs. Britain as
serts she has known Richeson for sew.
eral years, first meeting him three years
ago at a Mormon conference on Staten
I'd. where. she says. the Baptist
clergyman was recognized as one Of the
Mormon elders. and was particularly ac-
tive in the affairs OF the conference.
She since has seen him many times In
and about Boston. and has given 10 him
the Mormon signs. which were always
answered she declares
Richeson at Mormon Conference.
She says she attended n Mormon con-
ference at Providence. little over a
year ago, at which Richeson was present.
and that she received commands from
him as a Mormon elder at a Boston
gathering of the leaders Of the Church.
A short time ago Mrs. Britain became
converted from Mormonism. she con-
tinues, although for eight years pre-
vious she had been aiding in the propa-
ganda OF the Mormon Church in Boston
and New England.
According 10 Mr.. Thibodeau. OF tho
firm Of Thibodeau & Ellsworth, who gave
out the affidavit tonight. Mrs. Britain
recently divulged to some OF her close
friends her knowledge Of Richeson's al
legged connection with the Mormon
Church. and she was prevailed upon tc
make the facts known before the time
set for the execution Of Richeson, as Il
was felt that the information. IL with
held until after his death. would seem
unfair
Converted While in College.
Mrs. Britain has become known dur
ing the last few years TO evangelical!
workers in and about Boston. In the
presence Of Duncan A. McPhee, secre-
tary Of the Evangelical Alliance, Mrs.
Britain said tonight that to the best
Of her belief Richeson was converted TO
Mormonism while still student at Will
lam Jewell College, in Liberty, Mo. from
which he was expelled in 1889. At that
time Richeson became attached 10 a
young woman who now makes ner home
in Salt Lake City. To this young woman
is due Richeson's trend toward Mormon
ism. Mrs. Britain believes.
The affidavit made by Mrs. Britain
described some Of the meetings at which
she said she had seen Richeson. and con-
cluded
Il have always considered Elder Clar-
ence V. 7. Richeson member Of the
Mormon organization in good and per-
feet standing. and do to the present day.
and believe that he is considered so by
the Mormon organization.
While 1t Is not common. 1t is not un-
usual to find the more educated OF the
Mormon elders preaching in the pulpits
of evangelical churches which baptizs
by immersion"
Though IL has not been generally under.
stood that Richeson was interested in
Mormonism II is known that one OF the
several young women who have figured In
his unpleasantly romantic career is a res
ident Of Salt Lake City. She is Miss
Patsey Felts TO whom he became en-
gagged in 1908 while he was student in
William Jewell College, at Liberty. Mo.
Miss Felts was at that time teaching
there She loaned $40 10 him with which
TO pursue his studies. This money has
never been repaid.
Miss Felts is now suffering from tuber.
culosis at the home or her sister In Salt
Lake City. According to the detectives
who worked on the murder case. the min
listers engagement to Miss Felts was
never broken. On the very day after Miss
Avis Linnell. one Of his former hancees.
met her death at his hands Richeson. then
STAYING at the home Of Miss Violet Ed
mands, to whom he was engaged, wrote
letter TO Miss Felts who still claimed his
troth.
In that letter he said that he would
soon be on his way West where he would
seek a church in which he might preach
10 thousands instead of to hundreds"
This may have referred to a possible Nor.
mon congregation.
Richeson may have been interested In the
Mormon propaganda I'm this city. II IL
known that leaders of that faith are
actively at work here. Last fall delega-
ton of them secured an option on land near
Jamaica. Long Island. with view to
founding colony.
Elected from Girls Home.
While at william Jewell College Riche-
SON created a sensation one night by going
TO the home of young woman who was
said to have Tilted him and refusing 70
leave till 2 o'clock in the morning. At the
time he apparently had ft. and was
finally removed by fellow students who
were called In by the family. The anair
was hushed up at the time. he was cx'
pelled from college In his senior year. how
ever, for cheating in examinations
Another sensational incident Of his career
forced his resignation from Bethany Bsp-
tist Church, of Kansas City, In 1904. Three
Young women entered the church one morn
ing and sat in the same pew. At the close
Of his sermon the trio approached him ~
he left the pulpit and each In turn de-