Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-08

Boston, May 7.-C1arence V. T. Rich- eson, under sentence of death for the murder of Miss Avis Linnell, has been Mormon elder and secretly connected with the Mormon organization for sev- eral years, though preaching from Baptist pulpit. according to a sworn statement just made before William A. Thibodeau, an attorney and justice of the peace. The author of the affidavit, Mrs. Louie E. Britain, claims to have been formerly connected with the Mor- mon church and to have been a "ce- lestial' wife of a New ork man who is at the head of the Mormon organ ization in the east.
 Met Him Three Years Ago.
 In the statement. Mrs. Britain as- serts that she has known Richeson for several years past, first meeting him three years ago at Mormon confer ence held on Staten Island, where she says, the Baptist clergyman was rec ogniZed as one of the Mormon elders and was particularly active in the af- fairs of the conference. She has since seen him many times in and about
 Boston, and has given him the Mormon
 signs, which were always answered, oAlo CAd4AAAS. OIlt fSeiS Sue dLLGDu6Q q Mormon conference at Providence R. L, little over a year ago. at which Richeson was present and that she received commands from him as a Mormon elder at a Boston gathering | of the leaders of the church.
 Converted from Mormonism. A short time ago Mrs. Britain be- l came converted from Mormonism, she l afo or1sf yi,o71e el1 TT | she had been aiding in the propaganda of the Mormon church in Boston and | New England. According to Attorney | Thibodeaq of the firm of Thibodeau &1 1 Ellsworth, who gave out the affidavit l tonight Mrs. Britain recently diVulged l to some of her close friends her knowl- l edge of Richeson's alleged connection with the Mormon church, and she was prevailed upon to make the facts | known previous to the time set for the l execution of Richeson, as it was felt 1 that the information if withheld until l after his death would seem unfair.
 Became Mormon While Student.
 Mrs. Louie E. Britain has become | known during the past few years to l evangelical workers in and about Bos- | ton. In an interview tonight during 1 which she was accompanied by Duncan
 A. McPhie. secretary of the Evangeli-
 cal Alliance. Mrs. Britain said that
 to the best of belief Richeson was | converted to Mormonsim while still a student at William Jewell college in
 Liberty, Mo-, from which he was ex- | pelled in 1909. At that time Richeson | became attached to a young woman who now makes her home in Salt Lake
 City. To this young woman is due
 Richesons trend toward Mormonism, Mrs. Britain believes.
 A Mormon in Good Standing.
 The affidavit which was given out
 prior to the interview desecribed some | of the meetings at which she said she
 had seen Richeson. and concluded as
 follows:
 T have always considered Elder
 Clarence V. T. Richeson a member of l the Mormon organization in good and I perfect standing, and do the present 1 day, and believe that he is considered so by the Mormon organization. l While it is not common, it is not unusual to find the more educated of | the Mormon elders preaching in the
 pulpits of evangelical churches which | baptize by immersion"