The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-21

| old so. the last verse of the old hymn, IR1chesOn's favorite in boyhood and
 ministerial days. interrupted the en-
 trance of the men who had started
 to lead him to death.
 What they saw was RicheSon stand ing close to his cell door, both hands clasping the bars, singing, with face almost transfigured. They were not the same features that had faced the court, months before, and pleaded not guilty to murdering Avis Linnell. It was neither the same face that had changed this plea to one of guilty in the hope that he would escape death | and live out hin life behind prison walls and consecrate 1t to do good" The two ministers stood close to the cell adjoining during the singing. Attorn0 Morse. plainly showing his directly in front of the cell and be- 1 tween the ministers, smoking. He had been permitteds at RichesonS re- quest, to witness the execution. What he suffered to grant his clients last earthly request was obvious. those waiting in the death chamber in an instant. Two guards turned l quickly and searched Warden Bridges face.
 Although he made no perceptible sign they stepped short and waited | 1OE tuS S4u8 HE 8u0 pray SI IO 0llu There was no hurry by the singers. There was no dininution of the volume of sound as it swelled out in to the room where waited the wit ne6ses. The whitewaShed stone walls reverherated with the last hopeful words:
 For know what e,er befalis me. Jesus doeth al1 things well!'' Al 1t ended, the guards stepped for ward.
 "oood-bye MT. Morse" came the clear tones from Richeson as his door opened and he stepped out with a '0ood-bye Mr. Johnson and good- bye Mr. 6tebbinS. 7. said the doomed man as he thrust out his hand for a final clasp. His step was firmer than those of the ministers who accom- panied him and they passed him as he vas stopped on his way to the A. they psssed him, Rev. stebbins tures and pr. Johnson began his duestions.
 A the fatal straps and metals were being aajuSted and even after the and chin. leaving only hig lips and the lower part of his nattened nose slightly protfuding through the open iugs, Richesoyl continued to confess Chrigt and expres6 belief in salvation
 Would you like to confess Christ before these witnssges as your. Say copfsps Christ ss-ny sseviosir,;sssss an eweFed hicheson as he settled hfInself n tho chAir looking straight ahead and over the silent figures who stood before him. M
 ''Have you the peace of God in your heart at this hour 2? T have IL nA ky<~<2 l~~ t2A Aap n <av aes the answer in steady tones.
 Here Richeaon was slightly inter- Fupted for . traction of a second as the leg electrode was adjusted and the rubber face mask was put. on and then changed. Then, his lips tightening pressure of the rubber which flattened his nose and pro- truded his lips, he went on:
 God will take care of my soul.
 Does Christ give you the strength you need in this hour 2" Christ g1ves me the strength l need. he replied, and his arms were strapped to the chair arms and the small leather cap
 DO you .here repent of your sin?', was the next question put. and the group of witnesses leaned forward as he struggled slightly to answer, as
 
 face and to his shoulder.
 sI do"
 Do you forgive everybody 9" he was asked as the fatal wires were in-e serted in the leg and head electrodes. ssI do," he again answered..
 .Are. you willing to live or to die for Jesu1 sake ?" asked Dr. Johnson as the guards drew back and the exe- cutioher stepped to his dreadful task. Warden Bridges waited until part of the answer came. every word clear but labored through the rubber mask holes.
 For Jesus' sake" said Richeson, slowly, 1T am willing to live or die-.'' 7
 But the hand of the warden rose. The executfoner. his eyes fixed on that figure in the chair, twisted the switch. There was q short, cutting bur-r-r. The body stifYened terribly. The left hand tightly strapped. just above the wrist, writhed upward and backward. The head Jutted forward. A searing as when meat is placed in q hot skillet rasped through the room. From under the edge of the little leather cap at the right ear a weird wisp of white smoke was waited and then a barely perceptible odor of singefng flesh permeated the room. Nineteen hundred volts had shocked through the body of Avis Linnell.s murderer. He had paid the price. uc VOlLd8G WaS lOWSI0Q dIku lItC U0Qy5 sank back. Again it was turned on and again the thing that had been Rev. Clarence Richeson stiffened and through the slightly parted lips there trickled drop of blood. Once more the current was lowered and then turned full on.
 A nod from Warden Bridges and the wires were disconnected. The executioner stepped to the chair. The breast was barred and Dr. Mclaughlin placed his stethoscope over the heart Dr. McGrath and Surgeon Butler ex- amfned in turn for signs of life. It was at 12:10:02 that the first current had been turned on. Official notice of death was pronounced ct 12:17 The phySfcians agreed that death had been instantaneous with the first shock. 1t was only the reflex action of the heart muscles which they had tested.
 The body was unstrapped immedi- ately and carried to the prison nor gue, whence 1t was taken at o'clock to the North Grove street morgue by Undertaken McArdle.
 Story of the Crime
 Boston, May N-"And may God, in His infinite goodness, have mercy on your souls'
 Ringing in the ears of the tall, pow erfully built. waxen laced man on whom the stern mandate of the law was carried out in the death house yl~r =