Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-05-24

I
The list of those appointed To attend
the execution of Clarence Y. T.
Richeson, given out by the Warden
last evening, included besides the
/ three physiciauS who were official
| witnesses, the Rev. Herbert III. john
son, the prisnor'S spiritual adviser;
| Edmund c. Kelley, deputy sheriff of
SulforlS county, and one represent
ative for each of thaee press associa-
tions.
The three medical witnesses we've
DR.. George b. McGrath, Or. Joseph
|. Mclaughlin, the priSoniphysician,
and DR.. j. Z. Butler, representing
the surgeon general of the state.
Rev. Herbert W. Stebhins, the prison
chaplin, the warden, General Bridges
and assistants made up the rest of
those granted admission To the death
chamber.
DID NOT CARE FOR SUPPER.
RicheSon had no supper, saying
| that he desired none. After eating
little fruit, he lighted a cigar, and
| he was sitting on the edge of his cot,
apparently enjoying his smoke,
/ when Deupty Warden Allen entered
his cell with the black suit of clothes
to he worn during the execution
RichesOn nodded calmly to the depu-
ty, but said nothing.
Attorney Morse who visited Richie
son in the afternoon, found his client
calm and anxious to have the sen
! tence of the law carried out.
WANTS IT OVER.
Mr.. Morse in an interview said:
"RichesOn had made his mind to
die and did not want any delay.
This has been a long story and the
last chapter is now written
"Richeson died without holding a
grudge against anyone. He has
scarcely uttered harsh word, and
to me personally and 10 those who
came in contact with him he again
and again expressed his gratitude"
When the officials and witnesses of
the execution entered the death
chamber after walking through the
prison yard in a pelting rain they
heard sounding through the walls
the strains of songs 1t was Richie
son and has spiritual advisers Mr..
Johnson and Chaplain Stebbins sing
ing. Distinctly audible as they
closed We're the words;
"For | know what e'er befalls me,
Jesus doeth all things we'll"
LEFT CELL SMILING.
RIchesOn left his cell smiling, at
| 12.0S. Before starting on the death
march he 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. NJ. j.
Murphy, the Catholic prison chap
lain, being also present.
Then he said: 'I'm ready" and
walked on. He was dressed plainly
III 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 shined. His
head was shaved down the middle.
The party then entered the chamber
RicheSon, accompanied by the
clergyman, followed soon after, the
unfrocked minister appearing as calm
as either of his companions,
POISON IN ONE LETTER.
Among many letters addressed to
RicheSon which were opened by
Warden Bridges today, was one
which was found to contain cyanida
of potassium. 1t was mailed from
Station \, New York City, on May
l9 at p. m. 1t contained no clue to
the sender, the powder being enclosed
in a small envelope marked "head-
ache' powders" analysis developed
that it was poison of the same nature
as that which killed Avis Linnell.
!. Attorney Morse said that he advised
Warden Bridges to make public the
facts of the receipt of this powder.
Richeson was entirely innocent of
any knowlege of its having been
sent, the attorney declared. He
added that he had every reason to
believe the condemned man had no
expectation of any such means of
death.
WALKE ED TO CHAIR CALMLY.
KEPT HIS EYES CLOSED
Boston, May 20. Richeson walk
ed to the chair erect, eyes straight
ahead until 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 the Rev. Her
bert S. johnson, his spiritual adviser.
During his answers he said: "God
will take care of my soul and pray
for all. | forgive everybody. "The
last of the questions was: "Are you
willing to die for Jesus sake The
reply, in an even, well mOduated
tone was simply, ~ am willing to
die"
The current applied was of 1900
volts eight ampheres. One appli