The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-17
TAKES NEWS
VERY CALMLY
But Richeson Expressed Dis
appointment
WHEN TOLD HE MUST DIE
He Was Informed To-day of Gov. Foss'
Refusal to Lay Petition for Com
mutation Before the Exec
utive Council.

Boston, May 1.-THE news that he
must be electrocuted next week for mur-
dering Avis Linnell was received by Clar-
ence V. T. Richeson to-day. He was
informed that Governor Foss declined to
lay the petition for communication of SEN
tence before the executive council by
Attorney William A. Morse and his
spiritual adviser, Rev. Herbert S. john
son.
Although the former clergyman ex-
pressed disappointment that he was not
to be permitted to live, as he requested,
he displayed no other emotion, and he
showed no indications of collapsing ply
sically. When the prison physician visit
ed the cell at noon, his services were
not required. Attorney Morse said that
he could do nothing further towards
saving his clients life.
The statement from the governor fol-
lowed closely the filing of the reports
of the special insanity commission which
declared the condemned man sane, al
though subject to fits of hysterical in-
sanity. The commission found that
Richeson was sane at the time Of the
murder and that he is sane at the pres
ent time.
The statement issued by Governor
Foss shows that the alienists found that
Richesons family was afflicted very gen.
orally with insanity and that the con-
demned man himself is neurotic and
somnambulist, and subject to hyster-
ical insanity. The statement follows:
Executive clemency viii not be ex-
tended in the case Of Clarence Y. /.
Rieheson. The prisoner was sentenced
upon his own confession and without
trial for a crime which it appears i'm
possible that any normal man could
commit.
After his confession and sentence, a
plea of insanity was set up by his eoun-
sci and strongly supported by afidavits
extending over his life. The character
of these afiidavits left no other course
for the governor than to submit these
and the prisoner himself TO an examina-
tion by our leading alienists, in order
charges that the man was actually in
sane when the deed was committed as
well as at the present time.
"The evidence shows that Richeson's
family is heavily afflicted with insan-
ity. that he himself is neurotic. a SOM
nambulst and a eurasthenic; that he
is subject to extreme emotional disturb
ances, marked by loss of memory, which
two alienists have diagnosed, rs hysteri
cal insanity, one physician addition that
these attacks are hysterical delirium,
and the majority opinion indicating that
these attacks are hysterieal attacks
marked by emotional disturbances of
brief duration, with loss of memory dur
ing the attack and for a varying period
following it.
"The evidence, however, while clearly
revealing these attacks, indicates that
the crime was not committed by him
during such an attack. Therefore. while
there is some divergence of opinion
among the alienists as to whether these
attacks indicate actual insanity, there
Is sufficient ground for the conclusions
that he is accountable for his crime
and that the exercise of executive Glenn
ency in this instance would be contrary
to the public good.
"The affidavits and medical evidence
as to Richeson's unfavorable heredity,
his lapses of consciousness and his at
tacks of delirium are too voluminous
to include in this statement and are
not suited to publication"
The alienists referred to are: DIR. Ed
ward d. Lane, and DIR. Isidor II. Coriat,
acting for the defense; DR.. L. Vernon
Briggs, acting at the personal request
of the governor; and Drs. Henry r. Sted-
man, George T. Tuttle and Henry p.
Frost, acting for the state.
William A. Morse, counsel for Richie
son, felt very keenly the governors de-
cision. He said: Although l feel that
the Evidence submitted warranted diff |
ferent conclusion, as one of Richeson's |
wish to thank Governor Foss |
for his thoughtful consideration of the |
petition for communication of Richeson's |
sentence. He was just and courageous |
enough in the midst of bitter cry for
to pause and look around |
him."