Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-05-18
R|CHESON MUST DIE;
IS INFORMED OF
GOVERNOR ACTION
Early Hour Tuesday Is Likely Time
for Electrocution Of The Slayer of
Avis Llnnef

=
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF .
RlCHESoN-LlNNELL CASE
Oct. LAWS Linnell found =
dead from cyanide poisoning in .
bathroom of Young Women's .
Christian Association.
Oct 1S-Druggist Hahan tells >
OF selling Rev. Richeson poison. y
Oct. 20--Home of Richeson's fl y
ancee, Violet Edmunds, surround =
ed by police to prevent his escape. .
Oct. 21-Richeson surrendered >
and submitted to arrest.
Oct. 25-Body of Avis Linnell =
exhumed for autopsy.
Nov. 1-Richeson indicted for "
murder in first degree.
Nov. 2-Richeson presents res =
ignation to his congregation,
Nov. 13-Richeson arraigned. y
pleads mot guilty" Trial date set =
at Jan Is.
Nov 24-Resignation of Richie =
son as pastor accepted by his =
former congregation.
Nov. 20-Richeson cuts himself .
with improvised tin knife in cell.
Dec. Especial venire of 275 >
called for Richeson trial.
Jan. 6-Confessed his guilt.
Jan. 9-Sentenced 70 death in y
electric chair.
=
Boston Mass, May 1.-THE Rev.
er of Avis Linnell, was told at noon
of Avis Linnell was told at noon today
that he must die. Up until that time
he did not know of the decision reach
ed by Gov. Foss last night, following
the report of the alienists.
When Richeson was told the decis-
ion of the Governor, he realized that
his last hope of escaping the death
chair next week when he will pay the
penalty of his crime had vanished.
The news was a fearfui shock to the
condemned man, and two physicians
who had been detailed to the Charles
town prison were on hand to admins
ter to him as it was feared that he
would collapse when told that he must
die.
Attorney Morse, counsel for Richie
son broke the news to The prisoner as
gently as possible Richeson has
thought there might be a possibility
that he would be sent TO an sylum.
He will be electrocuted in the State
Prison at Charlestown some time af-
ter midnight of Sunday next, probably
at an early hour Tuesday morning.
Gov. Foss' Statement
Gov. Foss decided that he would not
refer the petition for Communication to
the Executive Council.
The statement issued by Gov. Foss
shows that the alienists found that
Richeson's family was afflicted very
generally with insanity, and that the
condemned man himself IS a neurotic,
a 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. T,
Richeson. The prisoner was sentenc'
ed upon his own confession and with
out trial for a crime which it appears
impossible that any normal man could
commit.
Insanity Plea Set UP
after his confession and sentence q
plea of insanity was set up by his
counsel and strongly supported by aft
davits extending over his life. The
character of these afiidavits left nc
other course for the governor than tc
submit these and the prisoner himself
to an examination by our leading al
ienists, in order to protect the Com
monwealth from the cha gees that the
man was actually insaLe when the
deed was committed, as well as at the
present time.
"The evidence shows that Richie
sons family is heavily afflicted witt
insanity, but he himself is neurotit
q somnambulist, and a neurasthentic
that he is subject to extreme emotion
al disturbances marked by loss o
memory, which two alienists have
DIAGNOSED as hysterical insanity, ONT
physician adding the alternative tern
of hysterlcal delirium, and the major
ity opinion indicating that these at
tacks. marked by emotional disturb
ances of brief duration, with loss o
memory during the attack and for
varying period following it.
Killed Girl While Sane
"The evidence, however, while clear
ly revealing these attacks, Indicate
that his crime was not committed b,
him during such an attack. Therefore
while there is some divergence of Opt
ion, among the alienists as to whethe