The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-20
Accused Of Murder, He Used a
Piece Of Tin Today
CONDITION NOT DANGEROUS
Jail Attendants Were Attracted to His
Cell and Found Him Welterng
in BloOd--An Operation
Performed.

Boston, Dec. 20-Rev Clarence V. 4.
Rioheson, who is confined in the Charles
street jail while awaiting his trial on
the charge of numbering Avis Linnell,
cut himself with piece Of tin early
To- day. Although he seriously injured
! himself in his act, his condition is Tin
derstood to be not serious. The jail
officials declined TO confirm the early
rumors that Rieheson had attempted to
injure himself, but one of his counsel,
William A. Morse, confirmed the re
port.
The minister's act was not regarded
as an attempt TO commit suicide, al
though there appeared to be some doubt
on the point.
The Jail attendants heard disturb
ance in Richeson's CELL and when they
Investigated they found the prisoner in
great agony. lie had gashed himself
with sharp, jagged piece of tin, which
he had converted into sort of knife.
When the guards approached the prison
er, Richeson said excitedly;
1--WE cut myself; / am bleeding to
death"
The prison doctor, who was called,
found that Richeson had eut himself
severely in the vicinity of the groin, and
other surgeons were sent for. -Four
surgeons then worked over Richeson for
some time, as it was found necessary
to perform drastic operation. Richie
son was put under the influence OF an
anaesthetic, and the operation was per-
formed shortly before daylight. The
operation was said 10 have been sue
cessful The prisoner was not removed
from the jail during the morning hours,
the surgeons working in the hospital
section of the prison.
Counsel for the accused man stated
that Rieheson had attempted to emas-
culate himself, inflicting injuries which
made it necessary for the physicians
to complete the act by an operation.
Sheriff Seavery called Attorney Morse,
the leading local lawyer for the de-
fense, at 4 a. m, and Mr.. Morse went
to the jail Immediately.
Upon reaching the cell, he found
Hicheson on cot, weak but conscious
The cell floor was covered with blood
Mr. Morse spoke cheeringly to his client.
but the wounded man could only gasp
few words in reply, which were un-
Ineligible. There was a brief consul
tation. and then Richeson was carried
to the Jail hospital. There an operation
was performed in which Richeson's ef-
forts to unsex himself were completed
The surgeons expressed the opinion that
the patient would recover provided there
were no complications.
Attorney Morse refused to comment
upon the new turn Of affairs in the
ease. As to the future proceedings, he
said it would be impossible for him
even to conjecture. The attorney left
the Jail hospital at Q o'clock for break
fast. and he said that Richeson was
still under the influence Of ether. Two
hours later Mr.. Morse returned to the
jail after sending messages to Richie
sons family and to his lawyer, John H.
Lee of Lynchburg, Va, another of the
counsel for the defense,
District Attorneys Statement.
District Attorney Pelletier, who is to
conduct the prosecution of Richeson, is
sued the following statement;
"About o'clock this morning, while
in his cell, Richeson inflicted a severe
lacerated wound upon himself with what
is apparently piece OF tin can Medi-
cal and surgical assistance was at once
summoned, and an operation was i'm
mediately performed i am informed by
the doctors that his condition is not
dangerous, and it has not been neces-
sary to remove him from Jail The
tiial will be held on the date originally
assigned, Jan. TO-"
In legal circles, it Is stated that
some action may be taken before the
trial to ascertain the sanity of the ac-
cused clergyman.