Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-17
CONDEMNED pAeroA WILL ~
ExEcurED EARLY NEXT WEEK.
pERHAPs MONDAY. u
GOVERNOR REFusEs 70
RECOMMEND comMurAnoM
Board Of Ailsaists Reports Thae Riches =
son Was Not Insane at Time % Mur4
der ef Avis lInasij-aaueh lnsanity
Found In Pasto-'s Famliy-Wardsn
to Select Time For Execution.

i. Richeson the slayer OF Avis Lin
nell. slept quietly in his cell In the
death house at Charlestown state
prison last night ignorant that tho
governor had refused communication of
his sentence
The announcement OF the decision oe
the alienists that he was sane ana that
the governor would not urge clemonry
was left TO be made 70 the prisoner to-
day. II was expected that the task
would fall on either the condemned
mans counsel. william A. Morse: the
prison chaplain Rev. Herbert w. Steb-
bins. or his spiritual advisor. Rev.
Herbert 8, Johnson.
The execution OF Rcheson probably
VIII take place early next week. There
Is sentiment against a Monday morn
ing execution az occurring 30 close
after Sunday which has been recoK-
nized by the warden OF the prison. An
exception may be made owing to the
highly nervous condition OF the con-
demned. and 1t In not improbable that.
Richeson may so TO the chair Monday
| morning.
The time within the week OF May -
is entirely at the warden's dlscretion
and only the legal witnesses will know
before hand at what time the sentence
OF the law Will be carried out.
Receives News Calmly.
The news that he must he electrO-
cuted for the murder OF Avis Linnells
| of Hyanns was received calmly by
Clarence " T. Rlcheson today. He was
informed that Governor F'oss had de-
clined to lay the petition for CONS
mutation of sentence before the execu-
tive council hy his attorney. William
a. Morse. and his spiritual advisor.
! Rev. Herbert S. Johnson, pastor Of the
| Warren Avenue Baptist church. AlthO
the former clergyman expressed disap-
pointment, he showed no Indication OF
collapsing physically, and when the
| prison physician visited the cell his
services were not required.
! Richeson read the governors state-
ment In the papers carefully and after
talk with Mr.. Morse and Rev. Mr..
Johnson sent for some books from the
library.
Attorney Morse In an interview TO.
day said that he could do nothing FUR
ther toward saving his clients life.
Warden Briggs Is not permitted by tho
law to announce the time OF an exe-
| cution, but 1t IL generally believed In
legal circles that Richeson will not be
| eiectrocuted before midnight OF Mon.
day.
AIienists Say He Was Sane.
| Boston. May IT, Clarence v. T.
Rlcheson's last hope OF escaping tha
death chair next week for the murder
OF Avis Linnell. the choir singer Of
Hyannis. expired last night when Cow
ernor Fo1s announced ne would not
refer Richeson's petition for commu-
tation OF sentence to the executiye
| council
| The statement from the governor fol-
lowed closely the filing of the reports
| of the special insanity committee which
declared the man sane. altho subject
to fits OF hysterical insanity. The cons
mission found that Richeson was sana
at tho time or the murder and that he
| Is sane Mt present
| The statement Issued by Governor
Foss shows the alienists found Riche-
sons family was afflicted generally
with insanity and that the condemned
man is n neurotic. n somnambulist, and
n neurasthenic, and subject to hyster-
| ical insanity.
cNccutlNe CleNlenCN VIII nOt pe exe
tended In the case Of Clarence V. r.
Richoson,' says the statement The
prisoner was sentenced upon his OWN
| confession and withou. trial for a crime
which 1t appears impossible that any
normal man could commit.
THE evidence shows Richeson's FAM
ily Is heavily afflicted with insanity.
that he himself Is n neurotic n SOM
namhulist. and n ncurasthepic: that ho
is subject to extreme emotional dis
turhances. marked by loss OF memory.
| THE evidence. however. while clearly
revealing these attacks. indicates that
his crime was not committed by him
during such an attack Therefore.
while there ts some divergence of opin-
ion among the alienists as to whether
the facts indicate actual insanity thera
| is sufficient ground for his crime and
that the exercise Of executive clemencv
in this instance would be contrary to
| tho public good"
! In the death chamber at Charlestown
the prisoner has borne himself calmly
since his transfer from the Charles
street jail Tuesday It was apparent
the former minister still hoped Glenn
ency would be extended to him. and Il
was believed today this alone was keep
! ing up his spirits.