Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-21
R|CHESON' 'S
DESPERATE ACT.
Passes Quiet Night, But Will be
Able to Appear For Trial
January IS.
ALLEGED SINISTER PURPOSES
nr g. r.. Macdonald, AlienIst Says For-
uer Minister'S Act was N"t ih"t VI
an Insane Man.

an Insane Man.
noston. Dec. 2I.-Rev. Clarence V
r Richeson, vii go to trial .Danu
arv IS, his physical condition being
such that he can 90 to court on tina
date.
This was the announcement made
this afternoon by DIR. Howard LothroE
who treated Richeson when the forme
minister rnutilaled himself with jag
ged piece OF tin.
Boston. Dec. 21.--Rev. Clarence
Y. T. Richeson. who yesterday terri
bly muitlated himself with a piece
of Jagged tin. while waiting trial
for the murder Of Avis Linnell. his
former sweetheart, passed quiet
night in the Charles Street lnfirm-
ary. Medical Examiner Leary Wis
lied him al eight o'clock and said
there is little doubt that he will not
be able TO go to trial January 10.
Every indication early today point
ed to a plea Of insanity by RicheS9n.
William NJ. Morse and Philip R. Dun
bar, who with John l.. Lee, OF Flr-
ginia, are counsel for the defense, ad-
mitted that there might possibly be
change in the line OF defense.
Asked pointedly whether they would
urge Richeson to plead insanity they
answered: I'VE won't say yes or
no 10 that question until this after
noon
District Attorney Pelletier appar-
entity has no doubt that such Will DC
the case for before $50 he was al
his office in consultation with two
physicians, who are thought to be
.aliepists employed weeks ago by the
government to observe the former
minister's actions.
The district attorney admitted that
he has conferred frequently with in
sanity experts and it is known i'll the
office of Chief Police Inspector Du-
gan that the government is prepared
10 meet an insanity defense with
reams OF testimony tending to show
Richeson was sane when he is al
legged to have murdered Avis Llnnell
and that he was sane few days ago.
Riclesons lawyers and detectives
employed in his interest by Moses
Grant Edmands, father OF Miss violet
Edmands, whom he was TO have mar
ried October 81. were called together
today by Attorney Morse and three
,vhvsicians. Morse today repeated
that he has for several weeks thought
Richeson not sane. He has been
quoted as saying he thought an insau-
ity plea might be the best way tc
fight the governments accumulation
OF evidence.
New York. Dec 21.--That the act
of Rev. c. V. T. Richesou in mutllat-
ing himself was not that OF an in
sane man. but was done for sinister
purpose. is the belief of Dr.. Carlos
Frederick Macdonald, noted alienist.
DIR. Macdonald was called TO Buffalo
to examine CZolgolz, assassin OF
President Mckinley; was medical
examiner for the state in the
~ - a
International authority on mental
diseases.
DIR. Macdonald today prepared for
the United Press the following opin-
ion on the case:
By Dr. Carlos Frederick Macdonald.
copyrighted 1911 by the
United Press
1t is extremely difficult 10 formu-
late a theory as to Rev. c. V. T. Rich
eson's mental status or the impulse
by which he was actuated when he
used piece OF tin. as | am told.
which lie had carefully sharpencd,
To wound himself in a manner that
was both unnatural and extremely
painful.
Since have never seen Richeson
nor have. indeed. even good pnoto-
graph OF him. and since am in pos
session Of no facts concerning ms
history or career beyond what
have casually read in the daily press
! would say. before expressing an
opinion that my deductions are
formed solely from published reports
OF the man.
So far as l have been able to gath
er. there is nothing in the history
OF Richeson to indicate insanity il
any form. His face, if published
photographs are accurate. is not that
of a man who tends 10 insanity hut