The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-20
RICHESON CALM AND READY
FOR EXECUTION TONIGHT
DECLARES HE HAS MADE
HIS PEACE WITH GOD.
Condemned Man Spends Long
Hours in Discourse With
Ministers.
Likely Death March to Grim Chair
Will Be Started at Mid
night.

by peace Win GOd, i am resigned TO
my fate. wish now TO 20 to my
death as soon as possible,-the quicker
the better
These words. spoken by Clarence
V. T. Richeson. former Baptist min
lister and confessed slayer of Avis
Linnell, 10 the Rev. Herbert II. John
son. his spiritual adviser. to-day ex-
pressed the mental condition OF the
condemned man. whose tenure of life
is now measured only by hours.
There is much reason to believe
that he will go to his death in the
electric chair shortly after midnight
Monday night.
Reclining on cot in his death cell.
Richeson talked long and earnestly
with Mr.. Johnson and the prison
chaplain, the Rev. Herbert w. Steb-
bins.
II do not want to sleep. / have
so little time TO live and so much /
want to say that l must talk, talk"
he said
Reviews 5oyhood Days.
Part OF the conversation was of
meditative and religious nature. and
part was reminiscent. The prisoner
reviewed countless incidents OF his
boyhood in Virginia His college
days at Liberty, Mo-, furnished fur
ther topics.
When the hour OF execution arrives,
Mr.. Johnson. as his spiritual adviser.
will precede him in the short walk to
the electric chair. Three physicians,
the prison doctor, the county medical
examiner and the surgeon general OF
the commonwealth will attend as the
legal Witnesses. The prison chaplain
also is entitled 10 attend. Besides
this there may be three witnesses
designated by the warden. An appeal
having been made TO Governor Foss
by Press Associations for press repre-
sentation. the warden decided to ac-
cede to the wishes of the governor and
will probably name as the three other
witnesses representatives OF three
press associations. Late yesterday Il
was learned that Richeson had re-
quested that his counsel. William A..
Morse. be present. but the warden
was compelled 10 deny the request as
all the witnesses permitted by law had
been arranged for
Surgeons and medical societies.
eager 10 gain some knowledge from
the post mortem examination OF the
unusual subject have applied for the
brain and spinal cord of the victim OF
the death chair but these will all be
refused.
Richeson was deeply pleased when
told to-day that his father had
promised his body should lie beside
that OF his mother In the family lot in
Virginia.
Religious Conversation.
Between Chaplain Stebbins and the
Rey. Johnson. RichesOn has not been
without a religious adviser at any time
since he received on Friday the an
nouncement that there was no hope
Of escaping the electric chair To-day
Mr.. Johnson and Richeson had a long
and earnest talk on religious matters
When asked what passage OF the
Bible pleased him most. Richeson re-
cited the twenty-third psalm.
AFTER reciting the psalm said Mr.
Johnson. "Richeson gave a most beau
tiful exposition OF H. applying the
truths Of it 10 his own experiences
and his own life"
But the greatest comfort the con
demned found. according 70 Mr.. John
son. was the seventeenth verse Of the
twenty second chapter OF Revelations:
"And let him that d. athirst come.
And whosoeyer will. let him take the
water of life freely" This passage
he repeated 10 himself again and
aRain. Tho twelfth verse OF the 27th
psalm he frequently repeated. appar.
emily believing that Do might appro-
priately apply 10 his case. Deliver
me not over unto the will of mine
enemies, FOR false Witnesses are
arisen up against me. and such az
breathe our cruelty"
bcheson is "a man 0f great talent
sara Mr Johnson after leaving the
death cell He talked a. length of
ihe great spiritual truths which re.
hFion holds and which have been re.
vealed unto men BE ia i'm cairr
frame of glnd and feel that he viii
meet death couraRcouaiv ana ike a
Christian man. He had made bfs
peace with God and hr wishes nov,
he says. % go to bic execution AZ soon
az possible"
After visiting Richraon TODAY Mr..
MacLaughlln. thr prison physician
Faid that he found The condemned
man in n satiafacfory condition "He
81 calm and reslRnef and is resting
easily" said the doctor
The crowds Of curiosity saotor.
The prison gate became ro Iargn fo.
day that fhe policeman assigned to
special duty until after tho rrocutIor
was kept enforcing hls command fo
move on The outer yates fo tho
prison yard bad f0 be closed 90 keap
The crowd from encroachlng upon Tho
prison premises
Brother Reaches Boston.
Douglas Richca0n. Of ChIcago. a
brother ~ the condemned man ar
rived in Boston today Hc planned
to Vlaf the death-hOuse during tho
evening
Attorney Morae remained with tho
prisoner during the evening Richie.
fDn seemed in good spirits and kept
up rn animated c0uvcraaton Once
~ IL. -------- ----. Il - ----