Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-21
FORMER PASTOR WHO KILLED
Av,s LtNNELL Dies IN ELEc-
TRyc CHAIR.
SPENDS LAST MoMENTs
SINGING WITH MINISTER
Walks Ereetly to Chair and Maintains
Hls cempos.rs - Brother Claims
-nody Astsr Autopsy 10 Performed
PS;een Gent to Riohsson in Mail In
as~esptsd by Warden.

Boston. May 2l-clarence v. T.
Richeson was exacuted at 1871 a. m.
today, The current was turned on at
l2:lo:oa and the prisoner was declared
dead.at 1871. ss
The former: Baptist clergyman, con-
fessed poisoner Of Miss Avis Linnell,
of Hyannis. his one-time sweetheart.
wses out wafdly calm when he entered
the death chamber and he maintained
his composure while the straps and
!, electrodes were being adjusted as he
sat IN the, electric chair.
Richeson walked to the electric
chAfr erect eyes straight ahead, un-
TIL he sat down. Then he closed his
eyes and kept them shut until the end.
Seated in the chair he was asked
series Of questions by ;ile i:oT. Her
bert 8. johnson. HIS spiritual adviser.
During his answers he said:
.God will take care Of my soul, and
pray for everybody. forgive all"
a,.s.. ...sss Willing to Die.
The last of the question was:
Are you willing to die Tor Jesus
sake!'
The reply, in an even. well modu-
lated tone, was simply:
II am willing to die"
The current applied was 1900 volts,
eight amperes. One application was
sufficient
when the OFFICIALS and witnesses Of
the execution entered the death cham
Tho rNriSnn ward
In pelting rain, they heard sounding
,hrn the walls the strains Of song.
Il was Richeson and his spiritual ad-
vi.ers. Mr.. johnson and Chaplain Steb-
hins singing. Distinctly audible as
Hhav3 closed were the words:
..For I know what 'e'r befan me.
Iesa,s doeth all things well"
- Richeson left his cell at 1908.
BeYoee starting on the death march,
M shook hands with William A. Morse.
his counsel, who at the last moment
had been admitted as a witness OF the
execution. and with the two chaplains,
the Rev. M. ]. Murphy. the Catholic
prison chaplain. being also present.
! Am Ready.
Then he said:
"1.m ready and walked on. He was
dressed plainly In a 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
sbined. His head was shaved down the
middle. The party then entered the
chamber. Richeson accompanied by the
clerxymen, followed soon after, the un-
frocked minister appearing as calm as
either of his companions.
10 Sent Poison.
Among many letters addressed to
Richeson which were opened by War
den Bridges yesterday, was one which
was found to contain cyanide Of pot
assium. It Eas mailed from New York
city on May 10 at 3 p. m. 1t contained
nosclue to the sender, the powder be-
ing enclosed In small sub-envelope
marked headache powders. Analy-
sis Of It showed that 1t was poison of
the same nature which was used In
killing Avis Linnell. Attorney Morse
advised Warden Bridges to make pub
tic the receipt Of the powders. Richie
son was innocent Of any knowledge OF
| the sending, the attorney said.
/ The Rev. Herbert w. Stehbins. the
Irrison chaplain, proceeded the con-
demned man in the march to the chair
Solehlnly his deep voice rang out
thru the chamber as he read passa ges
from the Bible
Passage From Hebrews.
AS Richeson settled himself slowly
in the electric chair and threw back
his head and closed his eyes. the
minister read an appropriate passage
from Hebrews.
Four prison guards picked up the
straps dangling like tentacles from the
chair of death and slipped them into
y place thru their buckles. There was a
culver in every mans hand and even
the electrician twice placed the face
strap over the doomed mans face, be-
fore he could adjust it satisfactorily
Turnout the entire time the former
estly. With full steady voice, as he
gave an6wer after answer to questions
propounded to him by Mr.. Johnson. AS
Richesop expressed q willingness 10
die, Warden Bridges gave signal.
Lever Falls.
There wa 50 sound Of falling lever
and Richesonswas no more.
The; 1.-the form Of the former pastor
surged forward in the leather thongs,
but no sound came from the victim.
minute and eight seconds. The man
was deadsthe instant of the contact,
which was made at ten minutes and
two seconds after midnight.
After the electric wires were dis
connected from the chair. the physi-
clans declared the victim dead,
0Sothsr Claims Body.
Douglas Richeson, Of Chicago broth
,to@l taA
v. u. Richeeon, who paid the penalty
for the mpfder OF Avis Linnell in the
electric chair at the state prison just
after midnight. claimed the body to-
day. Before the body could be turned
over "a. relatives IL was necessary for
Or. B. q. McGrath. medical examiner
4 SUFFOLK county. to perform the
@tt *.