The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-05-23
R|CHESON PAYS
DEATH PENALTY
Slayer of Avis LinneIl EIectrocuted
This Morning. .a3>
BUT FEW PEOPLE ARE PRESENT
Current is Turned on at II; 1922 a. m.
and Minister is Declared Dead at,
12:17-one Application Was
All Necessary

Boston, Mass, May 21.-Special
Clarence V. Il. Richeson is dead The
electric current which ended life was
turned on at 12:10:2 and the prisoner
was declared dead at 1917.
The former Baptist clergyman, con-
fessed poisoner of Avis Linnell of Hy-
annis, his one time sweetheart, was
outwardly calm when he entered the
death chamber and he maintained his
cOmposure while the straps and cleo
trodes were being adjusted as he sat
in the electric chair.
. RichesOn walked to the electric
chair, erect, eyes straight ahead un-
til 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. Herb
ert S. Johnson, his spiritual adviser.
During his answers, he said:
God will take care of my soul, and
l pray for all. | forgive everybody"
The last of the questions was:
Are you willing to die?"
The reply in an even, well modulat
ed tone was simply
Il am willing to die"
The current was of 1900 volts,
eight amperes. One application was
sufficient
Richeson left his cell smiling at
1906 Before starting on the death
march, he shook hands with William
A Morse, his counsel, who at the last
moment had been admitted as a wit
ness of the execution and with the
two chaplains, the Rev. NJ. J. Murphy,
the Catholic prison chaplain, being
also present.
Among many letters addressed to
Richeson which were opened by War
den Bridges today was one which was
found to contain cyanide of potassium.
1t was mailed from Station N, New
York City, on May 10, at p. m. II
contained no clue to the sender, the
powder being marked Headache pow
ders." Analysis of it showed that it
was poison of the same nature which
was used in killing Avis Linnell. At
torney Morse advised Warden Bridges
TO make public the receipt of the pow
ders. Richeson was innocent of any
knowledge of the sending, the attor-
ney said.
Richeson began his last day on
earth calmly He fell asleep at day
break Monday. Worn out by fatigue
caused by his activity Sunday when
he spent most of his time reading the
Bible and singing psalms, his sleep
was as sound as child's.
The condemned pastor awoke short
ly after nine. He did not dress but
lay on his cot He was propped up,
and ate a little grape fruit, toast,
eggs and drank a small quantity of
tea. Rev. Mr.. Johnson sat on the only
chair in the cell and read the Book
Of Psalms. Richeson quoted from the
Bible and discussed his life with his
spiritual adviser.
About IL a. m. Prison Physician Jo-
seph Mclaughlin. together with Rev.
Father J. ]. Murphy, Catholic priest
at the prison, and Deputy Warden Ma
than B. Allen. went to the death cell.
whether he needed him, and the pris-
oner replied In the negative. The doc
tor stayed but few minutes and
made no examination.
Richeson's last wish will be graft
fed. His body will be taken back to
his old home in Virginia. where he
will be buried beside his mother in
the cemetery at Amherst. Richeson's
brother arrived in Boston Sunday. but
his grief is SO great that he did
not wish to see the condemned man
for fear that he would break down
His father and sisters prefer to re-
main away. 1t Is understood that
Richeson has given to his lawyer, Will
liam A. Morse, or to his spiritual ad-
wiser, several things to give to GER
tain people.
Those include a framed picture Of
Avis Linnell, which the condemned
man has asked to be returned to his
former sweetheart's mother, and also
several presents which his fiancee.
Violet Edmands. gave him. lie wants
these presents returned.