The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-21
Complete History Of
the Richeson Crime
nv United Press j

IBy United Press.1
BOSTON, May 21.--@And may God,
/ In His infinite goodness, have mercy
on your soul"
Ringing in the ears OF the tall, pow
| erfully built, waxen faced man on
whom the stern mandate OF the law
was carried out in the death house in
Charlestown prison early today were
! those words, uttered four months and
two weeks ago to him, as he chung to
the railing in the crowded courtroom
In Boston. by Judge Sanderson, as the
latter imposed the only penalty posi-
BILE for his admission Of the most
cruel murder In the history OF the
state. Rev. G. v. T. Richescn, Bap-
list minister, who first betrayed and
then murdered confiding. trusting
Avis Linnell, belle Of the little village
OF Hyannis, down on Cape Cod, had
hoped by his own confession to avoid
the ignominious death In the cruel
chair. His lawyers had told him that
he could probably earn Communication
of the death sentence by clearing up
murder mystery which, no matter
how conclusive the evidence. would
always have left suspicion In the
minds Of those opposed to circumstan-
tfai evidence In capital cases. And
the man who had degraded his holy
calling, grasping at the straw, had
pleaded guilty in the hope that after
all he might save his life, even though
doomed to spend the remainder OF 1t
in prison.
Rnt the closing words Of the black
robed, stern faced Judge brought the
realization OF how slender his hope
was and Richeson had to be carried
out OF the courthouse to the prison
van that returned him to the Charles
street Jail where most OF the time
since his sentence has been spent.
Jail officials admitted today that he
was greatly depressed from the mo-
ment he was brought back from hear
ing his fate pronounced. He realized
that the closing words of the court.
although formula dating from past
centuries. meant that his only hope
was in the God whose calling he had
betrayed and ever since his waking
and sleeping hours have been haunted
by the spectre of the broad arm
chair, with its bright metal base and
cruel network Of wires.
TWO Women and a Man.
Beginning In the little Cape Cod vii
lage of Hyannis, the love tragedy
which eliminated in the murder and
today's execution was the world old
triangle-two women and man !.
Back in 1909. Richeson graduated on
ly a few months before from the New
ton Theological Seminary, was called
to the pastorate OF the Hyannis Bap-
list church. Handsome, polished in
manner, with a wonderful amount Of
personal magnetism, he was soon
social favorite. Young and old were
attracted to him and the church con
gregation was doubled in the first few
months of his incumbency. Little
comment was occasioned by the fact
! that he was seen frequently in the
company of seventeen year old Avis
Linnell, the brightest of the local high
school students She had been bap
1 TIED and received into the church BY
the young minister and the old COS
sips of the little village considered
them naturally attracted to each othel
/ and look for them to wed.
There was no formal announcement
! Of an engagement. But Miss Linnel
/ had given UP most of her social diver
sions and was spending nearly all o.
her time in church work. She was
the right hand" of the pastor II
most Of the events and took his par
in a dispute that arose from hi.
methods of preaching. 1t was Richie
sons boast that he always called e
spade a SPADE, and his forcefu
preaching, in which he assailed sin II
every g1Iise, soon split the congrega
ton IN factions. In April, 1910, Rev.
Richeson resigned and stated that ht
, has accepted charge in Emmanuel
Cambridge. He had planned to sta!
there only q short time and later t.
j marry Miss Linnell, according t,
what their friends understood and q
TO China rs q missionary.
To Aid Her Husband.
Then ATis Linnell, who had splen
, did yoice. left the little country VII
iage and vent 70 Boston. She state
that sbe vas going there 10 study Il
: the Conservatory Of Music so tina
: she might be better able to aid he
husband" in his church work. A
> that time she Wig wearing hand
! tome diamond ring which it Was ur
: derEtood by her people had been th
i gift OF the minister.
Meanwhile Rlcheson had been fl
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