El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-21

;
found. Richeson was taken into court
. TO plead to the charge Of murder on
the day he was to have been married
to Miss Edmands. The trial Of the case
was set for January 10.
Resigned.
Richeson had early written to his
church asking that judgment be sus-
pended until after the grand jury sit
ting. On November he forwarded his
resignation, but the church on Novem-
( Der 6, after a stormy meeting, refused
to accept il. Later a second letter OF
resignation was sent and accepted on
November "a.
The police had even at this time far
from a satisfactory case against Rlcn-
eson. The cOntainer Of the poison
which Miss Linneu had taken could
not be found tt was believed some
/ vial or box might have been left IN
the pocket of Miss Linnells bathrobe,
which had been buried with her me
body was disinterred in Hyanr1s on
October "A and brought 10 Boston Tor
a pOstmOrtem examination by 1--WE
prominent physicians. The cause OF
death was confirmed but no additional
evidence was found
At the same time the police began
an investigation into the life Of Richie
l-son. Every important act of his lie
from the date OF his birth at Rose Hlll,
Va, 50 years ago, until his advent IN
Cambridge, was gone into 1t was round
3
herst Courthouse, Va, high school, then
went to Carrolton. Mo, to work for
brother and attended local academy
] Three years later he went to Liberty
No and entered William Jewell col
lege to study for the ministry. While
a student he supplied pulplts in kan
sas City, No: Stewardsville, Miss; FL
Paso. Tex; Louisville, Ky, and other
places.
other Women FIascOs.
Richesons life had not been an I'M
I disturbed one, il was learned, and. many
tales were related Of his entanglements
with young women At Liberty, No,
while in William Jewell college, he had
been engaged to the daughter Of a pro-
fessor-. The young woman lent Ricne-
son money to pursue his studies and
up to the time OF his coming to Hyan-
mis- believed she was TO be his wife In
/ the meantime she developed tubercu-
I lOsis, which still necessitates her re-
naming in Salt Lake city, Utah- Inc
/ one bright ray OF light in HchesOn
/ career appeared TO be that he repaid
the money loaned ham as fast as pos
/ sible. The final aEOunts were sent
from Hyannis shortly before he came
/ to Cambridge.
Richeson was expelled from William
Jewell college for cheating in exam
nations shortly after he had been or
dained AT the First Baptist church IN
St Louis. For q time ne worked as a
L
latter city and was prominent in a
strike OF street car men. his fiery elO-
Quence making him a natural leader.
While at Budd Park Baptist church
in Kansas city Richeson became in
vOlved with a widow. one sunday she
appeared Unexpectedly during the
church service RtchesOn. upon see
ing her fell in a faint. A brother OF
the woman called at RichesOn's rooms
and the young minister left town sud
denly. A note to the deacons explained
that he had been driven away by 1eal-
Gus women
At another church three young wom-
en- interrupted the service one Sunday.
simultaneously rising each inquired OF
the minister If he Intended 10 carry
out his promise to marry her. The SEN
satlon led the deacons Of the church 10
write for the pastors resignation
MutIIates Self.
Interest in the case was intensified
on December 20 when it became known
that Richeson had mutilated himself IN
his cell at the Charles street jail The
public apparently lost all sympathy for
the prisoner following his strange act,
which was interpreted as confession
of guilt At Hyannis, the home OF AVIS
Linnell, the minister was hung in
effigv. with placard on the dummy
reading, Guilty Read Luke lI-2- In
Boston conference OF Baptist min
isters was called and Richesou was
formally deprived Of his title OF rev
erend-
his Confession.
RIcheson confessed his guilt In
statement written by himself on yanu-
arv and given out by his counsel on
January G. The confession was ad-
dressed TO his counsel and read
Deeply penitent before my sins, and
earnestly desiring as far as in my pow
or lies to make atonement I hereby
F1e m crrrfIfV- of the offence
Of which I stand indicted am moved
10 this course by no inducement Of
self benefit Of leniency- Heinous as Is
my crime, God has not wholly aban-
doned me. and my conscience and man
hood however depraVed and blighted.
will not admit Of my still further
v-ronging by a public trial her whose
pure young life / have destroyed.
Under the lashinEs or remorse 7
have suffered and am suffering the tor
lures Of the damned In this I find
measure Of comfort. In my mental
anguish I recognize there is still. by
the mercy Of the Master, some rem
nant Of the divine spark OF goodness
still lingering in me 1 could wish TO
live only because within some prisons
walls I might. in some small measure
ra1aero nv sinful past. help some de-
spairing soul and at last find favor
with my God.
s.You are instructed to deliver this TO
the district attorney or to the judge OF
the court. sincerely yours
Clarence Y. T. Richeson."
Plea OF Insanity.
Rioheson was taken into court on
January 9. pleaded guilty to the muir
der Of Avis Linnel and was sentenced
to be electrocuted at the Charlestown
state prison in the week beginning
May 10.
The counsel for the condemned man
bent their efforts during the past few
weeks to securing support for petit
ton for Communication of the death
sentence to life Imprisonment The
ground alleged is insanity due to alb
normal traits. which according TO the
lawyers would not constitute legal In
sanity. but have unique character OF
their own warranting clemency-
Wants Communication.
Richeson. on April 26, sent a petit
Gov. Foss. Tt read:
Il respectfully request tnat the SEN
tence Of death pronounced against me
bv the suDerfOr court for the county of