New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
Said to Have Enlarged on Con-
fession in Talk to Counsel and
in Writing-ProSeCutor
Has Information.
FOSS FOR COMMUTATI0N?
Minister, After Telling Girl He
Had Given Her Medicine, Went
TO Home Of Fiancee-To
Appear in Court
day.

uill probably be meted out 20 the Rev
clarence V. T. Richeson. who has con-
fessed the murder of his former sweet
heart Miss Avis LinnelL was the COM
nelling question to-day in the thoughts
of all who have followed the various
features of the sensational case.
From n source close TO Governor Foss
The statement was made to-day that his
attitude would probably be In favor OF
communication of sentence.
Pulpit and press dealt with the confess
sion from various points of view to-day
the former seeking to point moral
while the latter filed in some links or
evidence hitherto missing, or at least
hidden from public knowledge.
Richesons confession, as made public
Yesterday, was bare of details. 1t is un-
derstood, however, that he enlarged on
II in conversation, and possibly in writ
ing, to his counsel, and that the Distrlct
Attorney is now in possession of most
of the information which has come 10
the defence. While no person can be
ouoted as responsible for it. the state
ment is made on high authority that
Richeson's amplifled confession to his
counsel was on the following lines:
After purchasing a quantity of cyan
ide of potassium from William Hahn, a
Newton Centre druggist, on october 10.
the minister took the poison to his rooms
in Cambridge. a fw days later he
borrowed from Mrs Frank H. Carter, in
whose home he was a lodger, an earthen-
ware mixing bowl, in which ito make
some book paste"
Richeson Warns Landlady.
Returning the bowl to Mrs. Carter an
hour or two later, he warned her TO be
sure and wash it out thoroughly, say
ing, Il have been mixing poison in It,"
II was in this bowl and at this time, It
is said, that the minister by mixing the
cyanide of potassium with flour and
water made the capsule which ultI-
mately caused Miss Linnelrs death.
This was on Thursday October u.
On Saturday. October IA. Richeson met
his one-time fiancee, who stili believed
herself his intended wife. in front of the
Hotel Touraine by appointment Fol-
10 ling their custom, the couple walked
for a short time and then went into a
Boylston street cafe. There they had
luncheon. after which they took another
walk. this time to the Fenway, park
in the Back Bay 1t was while seated
on a secluded bench in this park, after
the girl had again told him of her worry
over her physical condition, saying she
feared IL was becoming apparent TO her
friends. and had once more entreated
him to procure some remedy for her,
that the minister is said to have handed
the girl the capsule, declaring it was a
medicine which would certainly act in
the manner desired. He directed her as
to the manner OF taking II, and then 'he
pair walked to the car. line. Miss Lin
nell went to her room in the Young
Women's Christian Association house,
while Richeson boarded trolley car Cor
BrookIine, going to the home Of Miss
Violet Edmands, the heiress, whom he
was to have married few weeks later.
Meeting her chum, Miss Lucille Zieg-
Ter, Miss Linnell said she had been
walking with her friend (by which
Miss Ziegler understood she meant
Richeson), and complained Of head
ache as her excuse for hurrying to her
room. A few hours later she was found
unconscious in the bathroom and died
without regaining consciousness.
May Appear in Court To-day.
Richeson is expected to appear in court
tomorrow afternoon and. with the CON
fession in his hands, ask to he allowed
TO change his former plea and to be
adjudged guilty Of murder.
Whether Judge George A. Sanderson
and District Attorney Joseph Pelletier
will accept this change or will put aside
the confession for future consideration
in order that the regular procedure may
be followed and jury called in to pro-
nounce the verdict was not announced
tonight. Members of the Governors
Council, however, are known to have
B''l app bdAlitu dS 10 llitll hiN'AhNb 80
case the death penalty should be i'm
posed and petition for Communication
sent TO the State House for executive
action.
No leniency on the part Of the Dis
trict Attorney is expected, and no lesser
plea than that of murder in the first de-
gree will meet his approval, he reiter-
ated in a statement to-day, so that tbs
only hand that seems able to stay Richie
sons march to the electric chair is thai
Of Governor Foss, with the advice of thc
Council.
In the procedure tomorrow 1t is ex'
pected that Richeson's counsel will ash
that their client be brought into cour
and that the District Attorney will ordel
the Sheriff TO produce him at p. m.
the regular hour for sentencing. Aftel
the regular docket has been disposed OF
a matter Of few minutes, Richesoni
case will be called. and either he or hi
counsel will ask to be allowed to chang
his plea.
No Prediction from Judge.
Judge sanderson was asked to-da!
what action would probably follow pu
he refused 10 make any prediction O
comment on the case In any way
Neither would District Attorney Pelle
tier add 10 his statements OF yesterday
while the three lawyers for the defence
William a. Morse ard Philip X. Dun
bar. Of Boston, and John l.. Lee
lnnii...oh - anoond maya