The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-14

A BosToN BANKER ATTEMPTS TO MUIR
DER Hts FAMILY, AND Ours THE THROAT!
OF TwdpF HIS SoNs.-B Boston, October o.
An appalling tragedy took place in the vii
lage Of SLongwood, in the town of Brook
line, abbut four miles from Boston, at al
early hour this morning. The act was
produced by insanity on the part of The
perpetrator, and the victims are his two
little sons, f0r whom he entertained the
greatest affection in his sane moments.
The circumstances, as they appear upon
investigation, are that Mr.. George L. Rich
ardson, during the intense heat of lag.
summer, Bas exposed to the sun in such q
manner as to become victim to sunstroke,
ever sipce which time he has suffered men
tai depression, and for the past week or
ten days he has been too i'll to engage in
business, but was not during this time con-
fined to his house. His friends were anx-
ious about him on account Of these pre-
monitory symptoms of mental derange-
ment, but there was not tho slightest fear
entertained for its assuming any violent or
dangerous form. Last evening he re-
tired early, and about o'clock this morn
ing his wife awoke and found him very
nervous. In few moments he got up from
his bed, took a razor from his dressing
case, and going into an adjoining room,
where his two sons, Henry and George,
we're sleeping, he instantly cut the throat
of Henry from ear to ear, producing al
most instant death, and then attempted in
the same manner to kill his second son.
The wounds inflicted upon the neck and
throat Of the latter are very deep and ugly,
and it is possible he may not survive. Mrs.
Richardson, hearing the cry of the young
est, ran to the room and pulled her husband
back. A moment Of reason came, and he
exclaimed, "Great God, what have done! !"
and Immediately left the house, clad only
in his night shirt, and shortly after jumped
into milldam near by. He extricated
himself from the water Immediately, and
proceeded in his almost nude state in the
direction of Boston. He stopped at the
house of an Irishman, and rapping upon
the door demanded admission, stating that
he was cold and wished to warm himself.
While the man was preparing to descend
Mr.. Richardson went off, and calling at the
house of Mr.. Henry A. Green, near the Cot
tage Farm station, on the Worcester railroad,
knocked at the rear door. The domestics,
hearing him, inquired what he wanted,
when he implored admission, stating that
he was cold, and urged them to come down
and make fire. Before they had time to
consider, he threw up his arms and rushed
away. He was found this forenoon in his
own barn under the hay, and taken to the
insane asylum in Somerville. When he
was found he was laboring under great
mental depression, and though unaware of
the deed he had perpetrated, was impressed
with the sense of having committed some
great crime.
Mr.. Richardson has wife and four chill
dren. The lad who is dead was youth of
fourteen years of age, and beloved by all.
His sudden death has thrown the deepest
grief upon his circle of acquaintance, by
whom he was esteemed for his many noble
traits of character. Mr.. Richardson's love
and care for his children was something
more than fatherly. He was their friend
and conidant, participating in all their
plans, and enjoying with them the plea
sures of very happy home. He was him
self man Of decided religious character,
being at the time of the above sad occur
renee deacon in the Orthodox Church at
Brookline. Continued ill-health, acting
upon nature naturally sensitive, created
mental arrangement, which is the only
explanation to be given of this truly sad
affair. In the immediate neighborhood of
this sad event, among those who knew him
best, there has been q tender and genial
expression of sympathy for the wife and
family thus suddenly and fearfully be-
reaved.
In business circles Mr.. Richardson is
we'll known, having been for about forty
years prominently onsosod a shipping
merchant, banker, &C., in the city Of
Boston.