Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-05-21
RlCHESON PAYS FULL
PENALTY AT MIDNIGHT
Continued from page ~

Violet Edmar1s, heiress of exclusive
Brookline colony announced
June, July and August, 1911.-Rich-
eson frequently noticed dining alone
with nineteen year old Avis Lnnell.
| August S1-Richeson and Miss Lin.
nell attended Hyannis fair, Avis tells
girl chums she is to marry the preach
err
October 10.-Richeson is alleged to
have bought cyanide of potassium In
Newton, Miss, to kill dog"
October 12.-Boston papers
nounce Richeson and Miss Edmands to
be married October 81.
| October Ia, q p. m.-Avis Linnell
I found dead in chair in bathroom in
Y. NJ. G. A. Friends phone Richeson.
He asks: why do you phone me.
H TEL her relatives.
October 16-Autopsy shows dead
II girl was to become mother Police
say she was induced to take cyanide by
promise that it would hide her shame.
H October 15.-Rev. Richeson at night
takes refuge in Edmands' mansion
October 19-Richeson secretly en-.
cages counsel.
October 20.-Richeson arrested
while in bed in the Edmands home
Later identified by Druggist Hahn as
man who bought cyanide from him and
Immediately formally charged with
murder.
october Especial grand jury be.
gins investigation of murder charge.
October 31-Date set for Richeson.
Edmands wedding, minister taken to
court for preliminary hearing but is
postponed as grand jury has voted
murder Indictment, 1t was returned
at almost exact moment set for we'd
ding
November G-From cell Rcheson
sends word to church that he is limo,
cent and resigns his Passionate.
November Rieheson arragned
before Justice Sanderson in criminal
court, pleads not guilty, date of trial
fixed for January Is.
December 2O.-Richeson mutilates
himself with shap piece of tin,
wounds not fatal.
January 6. 1912 -Richeson confess
ed guilt.
January 9.-Richeson sentenced to
death.
May Rcheson executed.
Boston, May 20. "And may God. in
His infinite goodness, have mercy on
you- soul"
Ringing in the ears Of the tall,
| powerful built, waxen faced man on
whom the stern mandate Of the law
was carried out in the death house
| in Charleston prison early today were
those words, uttered four months and
| two weeks ago to him, as he chung to
the railing in the crowded courtroom
in Boston, by Judge Sanderson, as
the latter imposed the only penalty
possible for his admission of the most
| cruel murder in the history of the
state. Rev. C. V, T. Richeson, Bap-
| fist minister, who first betrayed and
! then murdered conidina. trusting Avis
| Linncl, belle of the little village of
Hyannis, down on Cape Cod, had hop
ed by his open confession to avoid
1
the ignomnous death in the cruel
chair. His lawyers had told him that
he could probably earn communica-
ton of the death sentence by clear
ing up murder mystery which, no
matter now conclusive the evidence,
would always have left suspicion in
the minds of those opposed to circum-
stantial evidence in capital cases. And
the man who had disgraced his holy
calling, grasping at the straw, had
pleaded guilty in the hope tnat after
all he might save his lie, even though
doomed to spend the remainder of it
in prison.
But the closing words Of how the
black robed, stern faced Judge
brought the realization of how slenuer