Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-17
Calm Upon Learning He Must
Die in Electric Chair.
MONDAY EXECUTION DAY
Avis Linnell's Slayer Now Denies
Confession" of Guilt.
ALIENIsTS DECLARE HIM SANE
Gov. Foss Declines to Interfere.
Former Pastor Protests Love for
Miss Edmands.

BOSTON, May 1.-THE news that he
must be electrocuted next week for the
murder of Avis Linnell of Hyannis was
received calmly by Clarence v. T. Richie
son today. He was informed that Gov
Foss had declined to lay the petition for
communication of sentence before the
executive council by his attorney, Will
liam A. Morse, and his spiritual adviser,
the Rev. Herbert s. Johnson, pastor of
the Warren Avenue Baptist Church, who,
with the prison chaplain the Rev H. w.
Stebbins. and Deputy Warden Allen, were
admitted to the death chamber this fore
noon.
Although the former clergyman ex-
pressed disappointment. he showed no in
dication of collapsing physically. and
when the prison physician visited the cell
at noon his services were not required.
Messrs. Morse and Johnson remained with
the condemned man until after noon.
Richeson read the governors statement
in the morning papers carefully, and after
talk with Mr.. Morse and Mr.. Johnson
sent for some books from the library.
At End OF Resources.
Attorney Morse in an interview today
said that he could do nothing further to-
ward saving his clients life. Mr.. Morse
and Rev. Mr.. Johnson went to the prison
shortly before 10 am. and there had a
lengthy conference with Richeson, pre-
pairing him for the news that the alien
lists had reported adversely.
While the attorney and the minister
made a request to see the morning papers
and a guard took the papers to him.
The execution Of Richeson probably will
take place early next week. There is a
prevalent sentiment against a Monday
morning execution as occurring so close
after Sunday, which has been recognized
by the warden of the prison. An excep-
tion may be made, owing to the highly
nervous state Of the condemned. and it is
not improbable that Rfcheson may go to
the chair Monday morning.
The time within the week of May 10 is
entirely at the warden's discretion, and
only the legal witnesses will know be-
forehand at what time the sentence Of the
law will be carried out.
Confession Not His.
Coincident with the announcement last
night that the alienists have reported that
Clarence v. T. Richeson was sane and
that Gov. Foss would not interfere with
the sentence OF DEATH came the state
ment that Richeson declared to his alien
lists that the confession" sumbitted for
him was not made by him.
Richeson Is quoted as saying that he
demanded a trial and was misled by his
own lawyers, who overruled him.
THE confession that was given out"
he declared to the alienists, was not the
one / wrote. The one 1 wrote, which was
longer, was destroyed. In mine l said
that when l gave Avis Lnnell the
cyanide it was not with homicidal in
tent"
MY lawyers told me-" Richeson con-
tinued, that If would confess the muir
der they would get me of with sentence
for murder in the second degree, which Is
imprisonment for life.
When I discovered that I had to go
to the death cell they told me that public
opinion would shift in my favor and that
the governor would be forced to commute
my sentence"
Richeson. it is said. told his alienists
quently proclaimed his love for Miss Vio-
let Edmands, whom he would have mar
ried but for his arrest.
Edmands His Best Friend.
Moses Grant Edmands. Miss Edmands'
father" the prisoner said, lis the best
friend I have on EARTH
II would have married Avis Linnell
had she agreed to wed after we became
engaged at Hyannis," Richeson said.
First she delayed our wedding with the
excuse that she wanted to finish her mu-
sic course at the New England Conserva-
tory. Again she refused unless / leave
the ministry and enter business She told
me certain members Of her family were
opposed to her marrying a Baptist clergy
man. She knew a year before her death
that she would never be my wife.
Before I met Avis I would have mar
ried Miss Howe of Georgetown had her
father not broken our engagement after
had one OF my spells. on the ground
that l was crazy. ! wasn't crazy. but in
those spells my actions were strange.
was at the home of this girl for more
than a week, and when I got well enough
after my attack her father told me to
get out and not return"
Gov. Foss' Statement.
Gov. Foss issued statement last night.
in which he says that no executive Glenn
ency would be shown to Richeson.
while there is some divergence OF
opinion among the alienists as to whether
attacks of hysterical insanity indicate
actual insanity the governor says,
elusion that Richeson Is accountable for
his crime and that the exercise Of exc 4
tive clemency in this instance would be
contrary to the public good
The decision Of the governor was made
known last night after he had carefully
| studied the reports of Dr. Edward B.
Lane and DR.. Isidor H. Coriat. acting for
the defense; DR.. L. verbob Briggs, act
ing for the governor. and Dr.. Henry r.
Stedman and DR.. George I. Tuttle, repre-
senting the commonwealth.
Richeson ate heartily three times yes
| terday. and seemed In excellent spirits
when he was visited by the prison chap
lain, the Rev. H. w. Stebbins, and the
tjail ply sician. DR.. Joseph T. Mclaughlin
Expected to Tell All.
That Richeson will make a statement
covering many Of the details Of his crime
which never have been made public be-
fore he goes to the chair is believed.
i Gov. Foss received the reports Of Drs
| Stedman, Frost and Tuttie yesterday aft
ernoon. He also had an hours confer,
ence with DR.. Stedman. These alienisti
agreed with Drs. Briggs and Coriat thai
Richeson had been suffering from out