The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-05-24
RICHESON DIES
SINGING HYMN
Avis Linnell's Poisoner Goes
to Electric Chair Calmly
THE END COMES AT 1910
"Am Ready to Die!" His Words Al
Current is Turned On-Makss
No Public Statement-Re-
pents His Sin.

chair with eyes closed and face calm.
ly at rest, Clarence V. L. Richeson
paid the penalty for his crime at
12.10.Os Tuesday morning, at the State
prison in Charlestown, with the
words Il am willing to die" literally
on his lips.
Erect. with head up and eyes to
the front, he had walked steadily into
the death chamber clad in black min
isterial garb, wearing a white vest
and with his low black shoes highly
polished.
Seating himself in the chair, he
leaned back and answered ten ques-
tions propounded by the Rev. Herbert
s. Johnson, showing himself to be at
peace with God and the world.
The current was turned on as
Richeson finished stating that he was
ready TO die, and at 12.17 he was pro-
nounced legally dead.
From the time that he was notified
TO be in readiness until the end Richie
son showed no signs Of finching, and,
buoyed up by the word Of the Gospel
which he had renounced and again
confessed, he went to his death
Seated In the death chair was the
minister, his hands folded and eyes
closed, while before him stood the
Rev. Herbert S. Johnson. The Off
cals and witnesses stood at one side,
watching with breathless attention,
while in the background, nonchalant-
ly standing at ease, was the grim
eXecutioner.
Amid a silence which was painful,
the Rev. Mr.. Johnson propounded his
questions, answered in a full, clear
voice by Richeson:
Would you like to confess to Christ
before these witnesses, as your
saviour?
do confess to Christ as my saviour.
Have you the peace of God in your
heart this hour?
have.
Does Christ give you the strength
you need in this hour?
Christ gives me the strength | need.
Do you repent of your sins2
do.
Do you forgive everybody
do.
Have you the peace of God in your
heart?
God will take care of my soul, and
will pray for all.
Are you willing to die for Jesuss
sake?
am willing to die
At this point, t2.1oo2, the current
was turned on.
AS the word die" came from the
firm lips of the man in the chair the
gold headed cane of Warden Bridges
was tilted slightly upward, there was
the snap Of a falling lever and the
soul Of Clarence Virgil Thompson
Richeson was hurled into eternity at
the feet of it's Maker
Richeson left no public statement,
but his counsel gave out statement
Immediately after the execution in
which he told Of the last hours spent
with the prisoner
The crime for which Clarence Virgil
Thompson Richeson, at the time OF
his arrest pastor of the Emmanuel
Church Of Cambridge, paid the death
penalty in the electric chair, was the
confessed murder of his former sweet
heart, l9-yearold Avis Lnnell of Hy
annis, a pupil in the New England
Conservatory Of Music in Boston.
All the preparations of the defence
were shattered and the strong conf
dence Of loyal friends was given a
terrible shock when Richeson threw
the Jail into a turmoil in the dark
ness of the early morning Of Dec. 90
by what was at first thought to be an
attempt at suicide but proved to be
strange act of selfmutilatlon.
He had taken a tin cover of a mar.
malade jar. sharpened It on the floor
Of his cell into razor-nke keeness and
inflicted fearful cuts on his person.
His cries, Il am dying; get Doctor"
aroused all the prisoners and brought
wardens and physicians hurriedly to
his side. An operation was per
formed at once and the prompt treat
ment probably prevented the develop
ment of blood poisoning.
A marked Bible passage in his cell
Indicated that he had sought to emu.
late the self-mutilation of ST. Origen.
On Wednesday, Jan. 3, when his
counsel conferred with him. Richeson
announced his desire TO confess his
guilt. They dissuaded him, believing
that his weakened physical and
mental condition prompted his sug.
gestion When they saw him again
on Friday, the 5th, he again asserted
mis- desire to make full confession
of his guilt.
He sat down in his cell at 9 o'clock
Friday afternoon and penned his re-
markable confession His lawyers
watched him silently and requested
him to make another copy OF the
| document that condemned him to die
In the electric chair. Without hest.