Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-05-21
EXPIATES
BRUTAL CRIME
IN ELECTRIC
CHAIR
UnfrOeked Minister Goes to
Death Calmly Protesting Be-
lief in Divine Forgiveness
for Murder Of Sweetheart.
TALKS BRAvELY TILL
DEATH CLOSES LIPS

Boston. May 2i.--DSuelaa Rlshe-
son OF Chicago, brother Of she former
clergyman. Clarence Y. r. Richeson,
who paid she penalty for the murder
OF Avis l.innali in the eiectTig chair
in the state prison just after mid
night claimed the body today. he-
fore the body eaaid he turned over
20 relatives X was necessary for DR..
George n. Mngrath, medical eSasn-
lnep of suffolk county, % perform the
aut9pAy required by law This he
planned "a do during the forenoon.
Reports that the brain ana other
organs Of the executed man might be
NIysn 70 the megseai lHFsitutsenis an an
medical specialists fer examination
and study were declared untrue by
DR.. Magrath
Richesun's body viii be- taken back
20 his old home ia Virginia Is hiss
wishes are carried out and VIII se
buried In ehe little cemetery AZ AM
berst court house. The last words as
the remains are committed 20 the
grave Will BE said hy Rev. Herbert 3.
Johnson Df Boston, who acted as
Rtcheson's spiritHa! adviser after he
was taken % the death house
one Of the last requests made by
Richeson was that Mr. johnson ac-
company the body 60 Virginia. Mr.
johnson also will carry messages from
the executed murderer 10 his relatives.
Richsson left no will. but In con-
versatlon with Mr.. Johnson and with
NJ. A, Mers4, hiss counsel. during tne
hours preceding hts death ha gave d.
rectlOny as 20 the disposition OK his
personal effects. dls library Riche-
non left to clerical friends
The execution of AiCheaOn lR said
by witnesses ~ have heen the most
successful 0f any of she f0urteen that
hnye been held al the state prison
ssnee the esectric chair was adopted.
II was only necessary 90 applv the
current once. and less tnan fifteen
minutes after Warden 4gldE4B ana
the gafty of witnesses lott the prison
office fOr tha death house they filed
hack ana attached their signatures 20
the papers stating that The order oi
she court had been complied with.
After hia collapse OF last Friday II
had bnen feared that RlcheBon would
not bg able 20 stand the final strain.
but on the wGy from his cell TO tho
execution chamber MS steps did not
/ fAlsers and he answered the questions
AZ % his faith IN God. pat 10 him ~
his spiritual advisers calmly. Within
n few days the death house win be
4 occupied bs lena CusamenO and Rsco
/ Anaciolla of Hall. who have been
sentenced 60 death during the week
Of June for the murder OF the
woman's husband.
Boston. May 2i.-Ciarence v. n
! Richeson was electroented al 1871
o'clock this m0rnlIlgs eastern time.
The current was turned on al
i2!iOsO2 and the prisoner WIS declar.
cd dead az 1917. The former Rap,
| tist clergyman. confessed murderer 81
Avis s.snnel Of Hyannls. his one-tlnl
sweetheart, was outwardly calm wfef
he entered the death chamber and hs
I vwuGnenluaH Nfp rutanaattrs. tahIla ths
u straps and electrodes were being nd.
iusted az he sat Ia the electric chair
lelcheaOn walked 10 th@ electric
chair erect, eyes straight ahead anti
he sat down. Then he closed his eye.
and kept them shut until the end
seated In the chair. he was askes
questions by the Rev Herbert s
Johnson, his spiritual adviser,
During his answers he said:
God viii take care OF my soul ans
pray for all. ! forgive everybody.
The last of the questions was,
Are you willing TO die for Jeuhs
sakeP"
The reply In an even. well medu
lated tons WAS simply. II am wiilinl
90 die"
The current employed was loOl
volts. eight amperCs. One appllcatiOl
was sufficient
When the officials and witnesses q
she execution entered the dealt
chamber after walking through tn
prison yard in a peitlng rain, the,
, heard sounding through the wallis tn
strains Of song II was Riches0n AM
his spiritual advisers, air johnson
( and Chaplain Ssebhins.
Dlsllnctly audible as they close
were the words;
I, "For I know what ere hefall M,
Jesus doeth ai things Well"
n Richeson left his coll smiling q
1908. Before starting on the daat
= march he shook hands with Willlal
= a. Morse, HIS counsel, who al the iai
p moment hRd been admitted a. a wit
G ness OF the execution and with th
2 Two chaPlaina, Kew NJ J. Mnrph,
g the cRtaollc priest besng also pres
y ent
Then he said
I'm ready" and walked on. n
naH dressed pialnly In a black chegis
3 suit trock coat white vest, whit
q shirt turned down collar and biac
4 tie with gold studs on his shirt froI
(, and with low black shoes bright
I, ahined, His head WAS shaved dOw
I. the middle
n The party then entered the chan
i Der. TIE unfrocked mlnhter appeal
y ed as caim as either OF his compai
a ions.
Among many letters addressed
illrheson which were opened Oy Wa
don Bridges WAS one which was fOur
% contain cyanide of potassium.
was mailed from station ri. New X0l
City. May ~, at 3 =. m.
"a contained no clow 10 the nende
the powder being enclosed ln a SIMS
nuh~tnVclopc marked "Hcadacl
powders" Analysis OF Il showed ta
Il Wnp poison 81 the same nRtu
which Was used IA killing Avis Llnn1
The Rev Herbert w. Stcbblns. Il
prison chaplain, preceded the col
demnea man III the march 90 q
chair. ao.emnly hls deep polco rnI
oat through the chamber az he re-