The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-05-24
RIcHEsoN STRAPPED TO ELEc
TRIO CHAIR AND CURRENT
TURNED ON.
WAS EXECUTED At l2.l7 A. N.
Talked and Smoked In Afternoon
Hyannls Minister Chats With At
torney In Death Chamber,
Calmly During Last Day.

Boston, May 21.-Clarence V. T.
Richeson was electrocuted at 1917
O'Clock this morning.
The current was turned on at IL: 1O:
OF and the prisoner was decided dead
at 1917.
The former Baptist clergyman, con
fessed poisoner of Avis Linnell Of
Hyannis, his one time sweetheart, was
outwardly calm when he entered the
death chamber and he maintained his
composure while the straps and cleo
trodes were being adjusted as he sat
In the electric chair.
Richeson walked to the electric 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
a 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 question was:
Are you willing to die for Jesus
sake?"
The reply, in an even, well modu
lated tone, was simply:
81 am willing to die
The current applied was of 1,9O(
volts, eight amperes. One application
was sufficient.
When the officials and witnesses OF
the execution entered the death cham.
Der after walking through the prison
yard in pelting rain they heard
sounding through the walls the strains
OF song.
1t was Richeson and his spiritual ad-
visers Mr.. Johnson and Chaplain Steb.
bins. Distinctly audible as they closed
were the words:
For l know, whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well"
Richeson left his cell smiling at
1903. Before starting on the death
march, he shook hands with William
A. Morse, his counsel, who at the last
moment had been admitted as wit.
ness of the execution, and with the
two chaplains, Rev. NJ. j. Murphy, the
Catholic priest being also present
Then he said:
Pm ready" and walked on. He
was dressed in a black -cheviot suit
a frock coat, white vest, white shirt
turned down collar and a 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 clergy
men, followed soon after, the unfrock
ed minister appearing as calm as eth
er of his companions
Among many letters addressed tc
Richeson which were opened by War
den Bridges today, was one which was
found to contain cyanide of potassium
1t was mailed from station N, New
York city, on May 10, at p. m. II
contained no clue to the sender, the
powder being enclosed in a small sub
envelope marked Headache powders.
Analysis of, 1t showed that 1t was
poison of the same nature which was
used in killing Avis Linnell.
Attorney Morse advised Warder
Bridges to make public the receipt o.
the powders. Richeson was innocen
of any knowledge of the sending, the
attorney said:
The Rev Herbert w. Stebbins, the
prison chaplain. preceded the con
demned man in the march to the chair
Solemnly his deep voice rang GU
through the chamber as he read from
the fifty-first Psalm. Have mere!
upon me, o God, according to Thy
loving kindness; according unto thu
multitude of Thy tender mercies bio
out my transgressions. Wash mi
thoroughly from mine iniquity ant
cleanse me from my sin. For l &C
knowledge my transgressions; and my
sin is ever before me-"
Then he turned to II Timothy, thu
first chapter and 18th verse, 81 know
whom | have believed and am persuad
ed that He is able to KEEP that which
/ have committed unto Him agains
that day"