The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-17
RICHESON MUST
PAY PENALTY Of
HIS CRIME
no Hope For Murderer of Avis
LinneII
F0SS WILL NOT INTERCEDE
Governor Has Refused to Refer APP
pllcatlon for Communication to
Executive Council
FOSS WILL NOT INTERCEDE

Boston, May 17.--Clarence v 7.
3icheson, the self-confessed murder
er of Avis Linnell, the Hyannis mu-
sic student, now knows that he must
suffer the 10 penalty of deN,h for his
crime. He was informed Oy his spir
itual advisor this morning OF the
decision of Gov. Foss not to send the
condemned mans application for
communication to the executive coun-
Gil. Richeson, who is in a highly
nervous condition, received the an,
nouncement calmly.
Boston, May 17.-Clarence Y. T.
Richeson's last hope Of escaping the
death chair next week for the muir
der of Avis Linnell of Hyannis expir-
ed last night when Gov Foss an
nounced that he would not refer
Richeson's petition for Communication
of sentence to the executive council.
The statement from the governor fol
lowed closely the filing Of the re-
ports of the special insanity commits
sion, which declared the condemned
man sane although subject to fits OF
historical insanity. The commission
found that Richeson was sane at the
time of the murder and that he is
sane at the present time.
In The death chamber at Charles
town the prisoner has borne himself
calmly since he was transferred
from the Charles-street Jail Tuesday.
II was apparent that he still had
hopes that clemency would be ex-
tended TO him, and it was believed
yesterday that this alone was keep
ing up his spirits. The statement is
sued by Gov Foss shows that the
alienists found that Richesons fami-
ly was afflicted very generally with in
sanity and that the condemned is
himself a neurotic, somnambulist
and a neurasthenic. and subject to
hysterical insanity. The statement
follows:
Executive clemency will not be ex-
tended in the case of Clarence V. 7.
Richeson. The prisoner was sentenc
ed upon his own confession and with
out trial for a crime which il appears
impossible that any normal man
could commit
After his confession and sentence,
plea of insanity was set up by his
counsel and strongly supported by af-
fidavits extending over his life. The
character of these atiidavits left no
other course for the governor than
to submit these and the prisoner him
self to an examination by our leading
alienists, in order to protect the com
monwealth from the charges that the
man was actually insane when the
deed was committed, as we'll as at
the present time.
The evidence shows that Richie
sons family is heavily afflicted with
insanity, that he himself is neuro-
tic, somnambulist and neurasthe-
mic; that he is subject to extreme
emotional disturbances, marked by
loss OF memory, which two aliensts
have diagnosed as hysterical insanity
one physician adding the alternative
term OF hysterica delirium, and the
majority opinion indicating that
these attacks are hysterical attacks
marked by emotional disturbances OF
brief duration, with loss of memory
during the attack and for a varying
period following IT,
The evidence, however, while clear
ly revealing these attacks, indicates
that his crime was not committed by
him during such an attack There
fore. while there is some divergence
OF opinion among the alienists as to
whether these attacks indicate actu.
al insanity, there is sufficient ground
for the conclusion that he Is account.
able for his crime and that the exer.
else of executive clemency in this
instance would be contrary to the
public good
The atiidavits and medical evi.
dence as to Richeson'5s unfavorable
heredity, his lapses of consciousness
and his attacks of delirlum are too
voluminous to include in this state
ment and are not suited to pubica.
ton.
The alienists. referred to are: DR.
Edward b. Lane and DR.. Isidor H.
Coriat, acting for the defense; DR. L.
Vernon Briggs, acting at the person
al request Of the governor and Drs
Henry r. Stedman, George T. futile
and Henry p. Frost, acting as a com.
mission for the commonwealth.
Richeson was not informed Of the
governors decision last night His
spiritual adviser, Rev. Herbert s.
Johnson, and the prison chaplain,
Rev. Herbert w. Stebblns, visited the
prisoner at o'clock and remained
with him for an hour. At the time
they entered the death chamber they
were not aware, however, OF the gov
ernors finding. Upon leaving the
death house Rev. Mr. johnson was
Informed for the FIRST time OF the de.
cision. Il am very sorry, had held
hopes that II might be different" he
said. However, think the COVER