The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-20
R|CHESON MAKES
PEACE WITH GOD,
READY FOR DEATH
Murderer of Avis Linnell
Is Resigned to
His Fate.
HOURS MEASURE
TENURE OF LIFE
Former Pastor Will Go to Elec-
trio Chair Soon After Midnight
To-Night--He Is Calm and
Does Not Want to
Sleep, but Only
to Talk.


my peace with God: I am resigned to
my fate. 1 wish now to go to my death
as soon as possible-the quicker the
better
These words, spoken by Clarence ".
T. Richeson. former Baptist minister
and confessed slayer of Avis Llnnell,
to the Rev. Herbert II. Johnson, his
spiritual adviser. to-day. expressed the
mental condition OF the condemned
man. whose tenure OF life is now meas
ured only by hours. There Is much
reason to believe that hs will go to his
death in the electric chair shortly af-
ter midnight Monday night.
Reclining on a. cot in his death cell,
Rlcheson talked long and earnestly
with MIR. Johnson and tho prison chap.
lain. the Rev. Herbert w. Stebbins
L do not want to sleep. I have SO
littio time to live and So much l want
to say that must talk. talk" he said.
Part of the conversation was of med
itativc and religious nature and part
was reminiscent. The prisoner reviewed
countless incidents OF his boyhood in
Virginia and his college days at Lib
crty, Mo.
At the Final Hour.
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-geueral OF
the Commonwealth, will attend as the
legal witnesses Tho prison chan
lain also Is entitled to attend. Besides.
there may be three witnesses dasignat-
ed by the warden. An appeal having
been made to Governor F'oss by press
associations for representation. tn.
warden decided to accede to the wishes
of the Governor. and probably will
name rs the three other witnesses rep
reSentativcs OF three press organiza-
lions.
Late yesterday it was learned that
Richeson had requested that his coun-
sci, William "a Morse. be present, but
the warden was compelled to deny the
request. as all the witnesses permitted
by law had been arranged for.
Surgeons and medical societies. eager
to 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 re-
fused.
Richeson was deeply pleased to-day
when told that his father had prom
ised his body should lie beside that
of his mother in the family lot in Nir-
Eiuia.
Between Chaplain Stebbins and tho
Rev MIR, Johnson. Richeson has not
been without religious adviser at
any time since he received on Friday
the announcement that ,hcre was no
hope of his escaping tho electric chair.
day Mr.. Johnson and Richeson had
a long and earnest talk on religious
matters. When asked what passage Ut
the Bible pleased him most. Richescn
recited the Twenty-thir.l Psalm.
After reciting the Psalm" said Mr..
Johnson, "Richeson gave a most beau
tifu exposition of it, applying the
truths of it TO his own experiences and
his own life"
His Greatest Comfort.
But the greatest comfort the con-
demned man found. according 10 Mr..
Johnson was the seventeenth Verso OF
the twenty SECOND chapter OF Rcvols-
ton: And let him that Is athirst come.
And whatsoever will, let him AXE tho
water OF He freely This passage he
repeatcd To himself again and again.
The twelfth Verse OF the Twenty-sev-
cnth Psalm he frequently repeated. ap-
rarenty believing that it might appro-
priately apply To his case Deliver mo
not over unto the wil, of minc enc.
mics; for false witnesses are risen up
against NE, ana such as breathe out
cruelty"
"Eichcson is man of great talent"
said Mr. Johnson, after leaving tina
death cell. "IIe talked at leugth OF
the great spiritual truths which rei-
giou holds and which have oeen re-
vealed unto men lie Is in a calp
frame Of mind. and feel that he viii
meet death courageously and like
Christian man He has made his peace
with God. and he wishes now he says.
to so to his execution as soon as pos
sibe."
After visiting Richeson to-day, Dr.
MacLaughlin. the prison physician,
said that he found the condemned man
in a satisfactory condition. He IS
calm and resigned ana is resting 2as-
ily." said the doctor.
The crowds of curiosity seekers out
Side the prison gate became so largo
10 the prison yard had 10 be closed TO
special duty until aftsr tho execution
were kept busy enforcing their COM
mands to move on" The outer gates
TO the prison yard hal to bee losed 10
keep the crowd from enoroachiaS upon
the prison premises.
Douglas RIcheson, u Chicago, bro.
Their OF the condemned man. has ar
rived in Boston lie planned TO visit
the death honsc during the evening,
Rlcheson's counsel. William - Morse.
was :. visitoc during tn. afternoon
Douglas Richeson. who came here
from Chicago TO take caro- OF his
brothers body. said tonight that no