Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-21
Slayer of Avis LinneIl
Avoids Breakdown
At Chair.
SAYSHE is READY YTODIE
Execution of Former Minister
Takes Place Without a
,Ch.

Boston, May 21.-Clarence V. T.
Richeson was executed at 12:17 this
morning
The current was turned on at
l2:lO:O2 and the prisoner was de-
clared dead at 12:l7.
The former Baptist clergyman con-
fessed Doisoner Of Miss Avis Linneli
Of Hyannis, his one time sweetheart,
was outwardly calm when he entered
the death chamber and he maintained
his compOsure while the straps and
electrodes were being adjusted as he
sat in the electric chair.
WITH EYES SHUT.
Richeson walked TO the electric
chair, erect, eyes straight ahead, un-
Ill he sat down. Then he closed his
eyes and kept them shut until the
end.
Seated in the chair, he was asked
heries Of questions by Rev. Herbert
). Johnson, his spiritual adviser.
During his answers he said:
God will take care OF my soul.
and / pray for everybody. / forgive
all"
WILLING TO DIE.
The last Of the questions was:
Are you willing to die for Jesus
sake?"
The reply, in an even, well modu-
lated tone, was simply:
Il am willing 10 die"
The current applied was 1900
volts, eight amperes. One application
was sufficient.
When the officials and witnesses
of the execution entered the death
chamber after walking through the
prison yard in pelting rain, they
heard sounding through the walls the
strains OF song. II was Richeson
and his spiritual advisers, Mr.. John
son and Chaplain Stebbins, singing.
Distinctly audible as they closed were
the words:
For | know what eer befall me,
Jesus doeth all things we'll"
SEES COUNSEL.
Richeson left his cell a: 12:OS. Be.
fore 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 chap
lains, Rev. NJ. J. Murphy, the Catho-
lie prison chaplain, being also pres
Cnt.
Then he said: I'm ready" and
"A 10 Il L.
In a black cheyiOt suit, 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
Rcheson. accompanied by the clergy
men, followed soon after, the unfrock
ed minister appearing as calm a.
either of his companions.
POISON SENT HIM.
Among many letters addressed tC
Richeson which were opened by War
den Bridges, was one which wa!
found TO contain cyanide Of potassium
II was mailed from New York Cit,
AZ
clue 10 the sender. the powder beinl
enclosed in small sub-enveIop,
marked headache powders" Anal
ysis Of IL showed that It was poison
Of the same nature which was use,
in killing Avis Linneu. Attorne,
Morse advised Warden Bridges u
make public the receipt of the pow
dors Richeson was innocent of an,
knowledge OF the sending. the attor
ney said.
Rev. Herbert W. Stebbins. tn
prison chaplain. preceded the con
demned man in the march to tn
chair.
Solemnly his deep voice rang ou
through the chamber as he read pas
sages from the bible.
PASSAGE FROM HEBREWS.
As Richeson settled himself slowl
In the electric chair and threw bac
his head and closed his ewes. IN
minister read an appropriate passag
from Hebrews.
-Four prison guards picked up th
straps dangling like tentaCles frOI
the chair Of death and slipped ther
into place through their buckle!
There was a quiver in every man
hand and even the electrician twic
placed the face strap over the doome
mans face. before ho could adius
IL satisfactorily. Throughout the Ell
tire time the former clergyman wa
talking bra ely. earnestly. with fu
steady voice as he gave answer afte
answer TO questions propounded {
al@ by Mr.. johnson. AS Richeso