Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-17
RICHESON TOLD
Of FATE TODAY
Grows Extremely Nervous in
His Cell as He Realiz-
es His Doom.
SMOKED THIRTY CIGARS
Governor Foss Issues State
ment Declaring Prif aner
Has Been Found Sane.
Special by United Press Wire.

epectul 0g Uhtted fTeSs WIRE.
Boston, May 17!-Clarence V. T.
Richeson, the former minister, was
told today by his spiritual adviser
Rev. II. s. Johnson, that he would
die In the electric chair for the
murder of Avis Linnell. Richeson
heard that Governor Foss had re-
fused to intervene to save his life,
and the condemned man kept up
wonderful nerve. His father is ex-
pected to arrive here today for the
removal Of the body to Lynchburg,
Va, where it will be buried beside
his mother and sister In the family
plot.
Richeson was unaware Of his fate
when he arose this morning after a
restless night, the third spent in
the death cell at Charleston. He did
not retire until after midnight, up
to which time he smoked cigars In
cessantly. He smoked at least
thirty cigars yesterday and asked to
have his supply of tobacco replen-
ished today. His increasing ner-
vousness and constant moving about
in his cell made 1t apparent that he
was realizing his doom.
Richeson will be executed some
lll4e early ueAt WesR-Iudt IL, dtIeT
midnight on Sunday. Governor
Foss, after receiving the opinions of
the alienists who examined the pris-
oner, read them carefully. and he
caused the announcement to be
made that executive clemency would
not be extended.
The exact time when be viii be put
to death by electricity ls matter
OF discretion with General Bridges
warden of the state prison. He is al
lowed the entire week to follow the In.
stTuctions Of the court, but has not been
In the habit Of delaying his unpleasant
tasks later than Tuesday morning OF
the seven day period
so 1t is likely that the slayer OF
Avis Linnell, the central figure in New
Ingland's most startling murder case
OF recent years, will pay the penalty
on either Monday or Tuesday morning
about l o'clock.
Governor Foss' Statement.
Governor Foss issued statement
Id regard to the case. 1t shows that
the opinions of all the allenists, those
employed by the state, by the governor
personally and by the defense, agree
that Richeson was not insane when he
committed the crime and is not at the
present time. The doctors Informed
the governor that while the prisoner
antecedents were mentally not Of the
best and he himself had exhibited alb
normalitfes at times, It could not be
said that he was irresponsible when
he committed the crime or that he Is
now legally insane.
The governors statement in part is
as follows:
THE evidence shows that Richeson's
family is heavily afflicted with insan-
tty; that he himself Is neurotic a SOM
nambulist and neurasthenIc; that he
is subject to extreme emotional dis
turbances, marked by the loss of mem
ory, which two alienists have dag
nosed ns hysterical insanity, one ply
sician adding the alternative term OF
hytt erical delirium and the majority
opinion indicating that these attacks
are hysterical attacks marked by ex-
treme emotional disturbances of brief
Duration, with loss Of memory during
the attack and FOR varying period fol
lowing 1t.
THE evidence, however, while clear
ly revealing these attacks, Indicates
that his crime was not committed by
him during such an attack. Therefore
while there is some divergence of opin-
ion among the alienists as to whether
these attacks indicate actual insanity,
there is sufficient ground for the con
clusion that he Is accountable for bis
crime and that the exercise of execu-
tive clemency In this instance would be
contrary to the public good"