New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-03
N.,,.v. an, ,,,Os ar. beth .Ieelsnt Il win be great com
for, 70 me in the long Winter EVENING"
Il,a READ thy previous deep interest and sympathy
Your truly,

Yosrs truly
JoHs O. WHITTIER
Mr. Richardson's home was at Fordham from 1857 TO
April 1869, when he purchased cottage al Woodside,
Newark where he has since resided he went over the
Pacific Railroad for TIE TRIBUNE last June, writing the
letters To and Rack from he Pacific In September he
took trp TO Chicago and partly Ia the service
of THE TRIBUNE, returning on the 18th OF November
His Thanksgiving was spent with his mother at Midway.
Mass.
The last article he wrote one on the Chnese Tor
The Boston Congregaonallst which was received Dy MS
brother two days before he was shot IL Will DO pub
lished next week.
On the nth of April 1885, Mr.. Richardson was married
Mary Louise Pease daughter Of sydney W. Pease OF
Cincinnati Five children were born 10 the tnree boys
and two girls Of whom daughter and TWO sons are
still living. During her husbands absence as war cor
respondent Mrs Richardson lived at FRANKLIN ana ded
there in March, 1884, ten months after her husbands cap
ture. The little girl, Maude Louisa also oieo ne"
months later and was never seen by her 1atner'
OF the cause Of MT Richardson's death. Its attendant
circumstances and his death-bed marriage the pupho
have been fully informed. His murderer must no"
stand before the bar OF justice to be tried for the onehse
by him committed. Whether that tribunal shall decide
that Mr. Richardson's conduct was, or was not blame
worthy his friends await without fear-secure IN the
certainty that 1t involved nothing criminal
MR. RICHARDSON'S LAST MOMENTS.
For &c hours before his deeease Mr.. Richardson's
strength began gradually to sink, and he felt him.
self that his end Bravey as he had struggled
for lfe he was afraid to face death To his wfe no
said don't fear DEATH but have feared PAM Ana
to the friend from THE TRIBUNE, who watched with
him. the night after he wounded, he remarked
am not afraid 10 die have not that fear now ana ala
not feel It during the hour two Immediately ater the
wounding; but while suffering such intense agony
in your room did wish there como way OF dying
without such e1cruciatiDg pain" Though Kept nearly
constantly under the influence Of morphine there were
times when his suferings wero acute lie pore tnem'
however with the utmost patience, and never once ut
tered single complaint against even the man who
shot him.
On Wednesday morning he had his friends called to his
bedside and took an aectionste leave OF each kissing
them by and saying few kinds WORDS 10 eacn VINO
in turn pressed his hand babe him formal farewell
From that time he gradually sank Wednesday night ne
was very restless would doze little and then suddenly
start and almost throw himself out OF bed HIS nind was
rambling and he talked incoherenty OF many OF the
events OF his past e seemed TO feel that his facu
ties we're giving way would often count distinctly
and consecutiyely from TO twenty smackng his
lips between each number II TO collect and steady MS
scattering thoughts He would also point with his rght
forehnger way peculiar to him when In health when
calling attention TO any special matter. For some
hours before the final change be was only
partially conscious. The last person he recog
nzed was his wife, Cor whom his affection was
unbounded His latest words TO her were srkngy beau
tiful my darling" he said am going to yoninto
infinite space aud glory" This was some hoursbef his
decease. Tho last word he articulated was "Coha1'
Mr. Richardson had a hearty regard for the Vice'Pres
dent and always spoke OF him in the warnest terms
The day before he died cordially remembered his
mother TO whom he was most afectionately attached
and sent his love her by his brother and the assur
ance that she had been him all that tender mother
could DO.
No very great change took place in his condition TIL
after O'Clock on Thursday morning. Then II became
evident he could not live much longer Dr. Carter
and Or. Swan with him. His wife, Mrs. Richard
son. and his brother Mr. Charles A. Richardson and his
son Leander and Mr. Junius Henri Browne were also in
the sick chamber. The patient gradually grew more and
more feeble his breathing became short and spasInode
and precisely tho bellof St. Paul ceased striking Ave.
without a struggle groan. the last spark OF llie
departed.
At four yesterday afternoon postmortem exsmi
nation was made The wound. 1t was found was mortal
from the outset The ball had passed through both walls
OF the and through the liver and had also almost
entirely destroyed OF the smaller intesnes Nothing
therefore could have saved him. and only his In
domltable will and great vitality coupled with the
he received. which preserved his life so long.
A few hours after Mr.. Richardson's death,
yice.President ColfaI called at tho Aston House
and had an interview Of fifteen minutes with
Mrs Richardson and Mr. Charles A. Richardson. the wife
and brother OF the deceased Mr. CofaK thoroughly be-
leved that Mr. Richardson's conduct had been perfectly
honorable, though he thought he had perhaps been n
prudent In having anything 70 10 Mrs Mcfarland in
the direction OF marriage until after her divorce At the
same time felt that Mr. Richardson had found her In
circumstances OF trouble. and that they drawn
together by mutual regard for each other. Mr. Collar
was much attached TO the deceased and glad. he
said have opportunity Of expressing personally his
warmest sympathy with Mrs Richardson under the ter
rible blow that mad fallen upon her.
The deceased Is 20 DO buried Saturday, the old
graveyard at the City Mills in Franklin In sight of the
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad where his ancestors
for three generations have been nterrod
HIS RELIGIOUS VIEWS.
Born Of Puritan parents, Mr. Richardson brought
up as & strict Orthodox Congregationast on getting
into the world his views expanded, and he enter
tanned moro liberal and catholic opinions than those
which he had imbbed in early youth. yet he always
treated with the greatest tenderness the religious faith
OF his relatives. Though not member Of any church.
his religious sentiments nearly conceded with adj
yanced Unitarianism. He frequantly attended. when
living in New.York the minstration of tho Rev o. b.
rockingham and always when in Chicago, took the OPP
portunity Of hearing the Rev. Robert Coyer. In
two important points he differed from their teaching
Thusn conversation with afrend only few months be-
fore his decease the subject turned religions topic
that the deceased rarely dscussod-and especially upon
the personal character Of Jesus Mr. Richardson spoke
with much feeling Of the purity the suerngs the broad
humanity OF the sayors character and distinctly asserted
the comfort he felt in the thought that Chris,
than O While on his dying bed, In answer to
question as 10 his religious faith he SAID 81 believe in
infinite and perfect benehcence" This was the key
note OF his characteri
In his habits he regular simple, and abstemous.
lie usually ut 6. breakfased at then stead
n.y. principally through amanuenss as his chest
50 weak that stopping at desk for any length OF time