Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-18
INSANITY AND MURDER.
a Father LabOriug Under Mental De
rRnSement, Cuts she ThrOats OF Two
of His children.
From the Boston Post. Oct !

From the Boston Post. Oct 10.
A most appalling tragedy occurred at
Longwood early yesterday morning. Mr..
George L. Richardson, Of the firm of
Page, Richardson IL Co, shipping mer-
chants of this city, while laboring under
temporary insanity, cut the threat Of his
son Henry, which resulted in immediate
death, and also in like manner attempted
the death of his second son, named George.
The boy who was killed was sixteen years
old and the second is thirteen 1t is
thought the latter will recover. The sad
affair has cast a gloom over the cOmmu-
nifty in which Mr.. Richardson resides,
no less than in many business circles in
the city The tragedy was the dominant
topic of conversation throughout the city
yesterday 1t seems that Mr. Richard,
son retired early Thursday evening, and
about one o'clock Friday morning his
wife awoke and found him very wakeful.
In few moments he arose, and taking
a razor, went into an adjacent room,
where his two boys were sleeping and
committed the deed. Mrs. Richardson,
hearing the cry Of the youngest, ran TO
the room and pulled her husband back
A moment of reason came, and he ex-
claimed Great God, what have / done p
and Immediately left the house, clad only
in his night-shirt
After cOmnikting the act, Mr. Richards
son left his home, which is on Pleasant
street, and made toward the millzdam.
lie stopped at the house of an lrishman,
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. Richard
son went oil, and calling at the house of
Mr. Henry A. Green, near the Cottage
Farm Station, on the Worcester railroad,
knocked at the rear door The domesS
ties hearing him, inquired what he want
ed, when he impltred admission, stating
that he was cold, and urged them to come
down and make 4 fire. Before they had
time to consider, he threw up his arms
and rushed away. Tie was subsequently
found in his own barn where no had COW
cred himself up with hay He was I'M
willing to enter the house, and seemed
to be conscious Of having committed some
terrible tragedy, and asked what he had
done. Mr. Richardson was properly
clothed and sent to the insane asylum at
Somerville 1t appears that he had been
Ill for some time, and for few days past
had not been able to sleep at all 1t is
now thought that he has sen meditating
the deed for several days past, and that
he intended to kill his whole family and
then commit suicide.
Mr. Richardson has a wife and four
children. He Is a man of religious char
acter, and a deacon in the Orthodox
Church at BrOoklinc Continued i'll
health, acting upon 4 nature naturally
sensitive created mental arrangement
which is the sad explanation to be given
to this truly distressing affair. As soon
as the tragedy had occurred, DIR. Sails
bury, of BroOkline, was called, and a
special messenger sent to Boston Tor DR.
Bigelow, who tied up the arteries of the
Youngest son, and it is thought that hc
will recover sympathy for the wife and
family thus suddenly and tearlul!y be-
reayed, will be general IL AZ one OF the
saddest occurrences that has been re-
corded in this vicinity for many years.
In addition tothe above, we learn that at
the time Richardson was taken in charge,
he remarked that he had it in his mind
to destroy the whole lanily-himself ino
cludcd-and in response to the question,
"Whv he desired IL DO such dreadful
act?' said, ooh, pride, nothing but
pride. At this time he appeared per.
lectly rational, though it was quite evils
dent he was not So, as he did not seem to
know that her had done any thing wong.