The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-21
BROTHER CLAIMS BODY
FOR BURIAL IN VIRGINIA
Execution Said to Have Been
Most Successful of Series of
Fourteen Conducted Since
Electric Chair Was Adopted
in Massachusetts.


brother Of Clarence V. T. Richeson, who
paid the penalty for the murder of
Miss Avis Linnell in the electric chair
at the state prison shortly after mid
night this morning, claimed the body to-
day, but before the remains could be
turned over to his relatives, it was
necessary for the medical examiners Of
Suffolk county to perform an autopsy,
as provided by law.
This Dr. MaGrath planned to do at
the county morgue, where the body was
taken after the electrocution. The re-
port that the brain and other organs
of the former clergyman would be given
to a medical institution for examination,
was declared by DIR. MaGrath to be
untrue.
Richeson's body will be taken to his
old home in Virginia if his wishes are
carried out; and he will be buried in the
cemetery at the mountain town of the
Richesons, Amherst Courthouse. The
last words as the remains are commit
ted to the grave will be said by Rev.
Herbert S. Johnson, Rcheson's spirit
ual adviser. Richeson left no public
statement. He did, however, leave
personal communication for his spiritual
adviser, but the contents of it have not
been made public.
The execution of Richeson was de-
clared by the witnesses to be the most
successful of any of the fourteen held
at the state prison since the electric
chair was adopted. 1t was only neces-
sary to apply the current once,
The fortitude shown by the former
clergyman as he walked calmly from
the death cell, where he had been en-
gagged singing hymns, and took his place
in the execution chair was declared
to be remarkable His footsteps did
not falter He answered the questions
as to his faith in God, put to him by
his spiritual adviser, without hinching.
After walking straight to the death
chair, he closed his eyes and kept them
shut until the end.
Seated in the chair, he was asked a
series of questions by the Rev. Herbert
S. johnson, his spiritual adviser. In
the course of his answers. he said:
God will take care of my soul, and
i pray for ALL ! forgive everybody"
The last of the questions was "are you
willing to die for Jesus sakeY" The
reply. in an even, well-modulated tone,
was simply II am willing to die"
The current applied was of 1000 volts
eight amperes. One application was suf-
ficient.
When the officials and witnesses of |
the execution entered the death cham |
ber after walking through the prison |
yard in pelting rain, they heard sound |
ing through the walls the strains of |
song. IT was Richeson and his spiritual |
advisers, the Rev. Mn. johnson and |
Chaplain Stebbins, singing. Distinctly |
audible as they closed were the words,
For | know, what e'er befall me, Jesus |
doeth all things we'll"
Left His Cell Smiling
Richeson left his cell smiling. at 1908 |
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 witness of the eX-
ecution, and with the two ehaplains, the |
Rev NJ. J. Murphy, the Catholic pris-
on chaplain. being also present.
Then he said: I'm ready" and walked |
on. He was dressed plainly in black |,
cheviot suit, frock coat, white vest,
white shirt. turned down collar and
black bow tie, with gold studs on his
shirt front, and with low black shoes,
brightly shined. His head was shaved
down the middle three inches wide.
The party then entered the chamber.
Richeson, accompanied by the clergy
men. followed soon after, the unfrocked
minister as calm as either of his com
panions. The Rev. Herbert w Steb-
bins. the prison chaplain, preceded the
condemned man in the march to the
chair. Solmenly his deep voice rang out
through the chamber as he read from
the 5lst psalm:
Have mercy upon me, O God, ac-
cording to Thy loving kindness; accord
ing to the multitude of Thy tender mer-
cies blot out my transgressiOns. Wash
me thoroughly from mine iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin. For Lac
knowledge my transgressiOns; and my
sin is ever before me-"
Then he turned to II Timothy, the