The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-07
lspeelal to Tho Times.Dlspatch.I

Ispecial to Tho Times Dlspatch.I
Boston, Mass. January Grey.
Clarence Virgil Thompson Richeson.
expastor of the Fashionable Emmanuel
Baptist Church In Cambridge, CONFESS.
ed murderer of Avis Llnnell, walks to.
night in the Valley OF the Shadow or
Death"
Confession OF his guilt. perhaps, de.
spite his contrary protestations made
in tho hope Of suving his life, may
prove futile. The death chair soon may
claim the singer OF the girl ne betray-
cd and slew.
Although no official announcement
has been made, there is ground Cor the
oellct that Richeson on Monday morn
ms Will be taken before Judge Sand
erson, OF the Superior Criminal Court
OF Suffolk county. and will change his
| plea from that OF mot guilty" to gull
ty OF murder in the first degree"
Death. quick death. death In tho elec4
tric chair, Is tho only sentence that
! may be imposed under such Il plea.
Then, unlens Governor Foss end the
Executive Council intervene, the man
or cloth who violated all the laws OF
! tho God he was consecrated to serve.
VIII perish In the chair in winch the
State cXacts the toll of the law or
Moses. IAN eye for an cye." O life for
a life"
Startling In suddenucHs.
With startling unexpectedncss the
man whose voice has often cried from
| tho pulpit tho commandment OF the
Master that Thou shalt not kill" this
afternoon pitcously confessed hag
frightful crime and pleaded for his
life. life which no admitted would
| DO sweet to him behind prison walls,
| though he says nothing of the life he
took when it was placed SO completes
| ~ in his keeping. VI
| Richeson's confession, classic In
criminal literature. was given out by his
attorneys after they had pleaded In
vain with District Attorney Joseph G,
Pelletier for word that would save
the murdcrous pastor from death.
The confession Is as follows:
"Boston, Mass, January 8, 1912,
"John l.. Lee, Esq, William A. Morse.
| Esq, Philip L. Dunbar, Esq. 500
! "Gcntlemcn,--DecDly pcuitent for my
sin. md earnestly desiring, NJ far rs
in my power lies, to mike ntoncments
I hereby confess TINT 1 nm guilty of
the orcnse of which sSanI indicted.
| ~ mn moved Co thin course by NO in-
ducement of scIf-bcncfit or icnicncy.
| "1icinous as Is my crime, God haa
not wholly abandoned me, and my COM
science aud mnnhood, however deprnxcd
and bliEhtcd, VIII not admit of my still
further wronsinE by public trinl her
WHOSE pure young life have DESTROYED,
! "undcr the lushings of rcmorscslE
have suffered md nm suffering the tor
lures of the damned. In this find
| n measure OF comfort.
| "In my mental anguish I recognize
that there IL still, by the mercy of the
| Master, some remnunt OF the divine
| N still lingering xyith
| me. 3 8
~ could wish to live only because
within come prisons walls 1 misht, In !.
some small measure, redeem my sinful
past, help some other dsspnirinE soul,
and mt Inst iind favor with my God.
| "fUu nrc instructed To deliver this to
the district attorney or to the judge
OF the court. Sincerely yours,
| (SiEncd)
"CLARENCE; V. II. RICHEsoN.'
VIII Not Save Him. ilf
| That the confession will not save
Richeson from death Is the confident
belief of lawyers mere to-night wac
know that District Attorney Pelietier,
to what ne believes to no his duty. the 1
| carrying out of that Mosaic law on
which Is based the Law OF. tho State
| he represents. nHsi-af5' =
Although MIR, Pelletier and Attorney
John L. Lee. the virgnian who rs
counsel for the son OF his native State.
| usClineu .tO-nleh! 10 confirm. tncG 6lOfyfs <
there Is little doubt that Monday Ricfe-5
son will be taken before Iudgs.Sander-
son. Mr. Pcilct;cr will announce that
the minister desires to change his pieaS
and to enter plea OF guilty. E.838
! Whether no will enter Il plea of gull
| ~ Of murder In FIRST or second de-5
| gree la problematicaI.s MFR. gPeiIetieFS3
demands n plea OF first degree murder
and avons he wiz accept no other.
l IF such a plea IL entered, Richnaoiis
can bsS sentenced 10 nothing short pe&
a plsasant psstin,e /. ma al,ins jnsles aHs ssss3
Il ... ing the Il III sFSses
"Tho Velvet Kind