Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-23
R|CHESON GIVES
WAY TO TERROR
Prison Attendants Describe Col.
lapse as a Condition of
"Hysterical Coma"
LIES MOANING IN HIS CELL
Received First News Of Inevitable
Execution with Wonderful
Composure-Wants Clergy
man Constantly.

Boston. May 17.-Clarence V. T. Richeson
was stricken with an attack of hysterical
Idelirium in the death chamber of the
ICharcstown State prison late tonight
while being visited by Prison Chaplain
Stebbins and his counsel VIM. A. Morse.
| Twitching and clawing, the condemned
man rolled and tossed from side to side
lof his bed, all the time raving about
two men who. he cried out. were "watch-
ing and following" him The attack was
marked by spells of grooming and moan
ins after which the prisoner would lapse
into intervals of Inconsistencies. Then
h, would revive and continue his rawlings
about the mon who were watching him.
The prison physician who wa sum-
lmoned to attend the man could not he
reached and Dr. f. l.. Lyons Of charles
town was called and responded He adj
mnistered sedatives which tended to quiet
he patient in a rioasuro
The rawlings Of the condemned man were
attributed to tho strain upon him of the
constant vigilance of the two guards of
the death watch. The guards SIT close in
from, of the prisoners cell and do not
allow their eyes to leave him for
moment through the night or day.
VIGILANCE NOT RELAXED.
There is no weakening Of the vigil
lance for the guards are changed fire.
quently and Richeson has been subject
to the strain now for over - hours
since he came to the prison.
Richesons breakdown to- might is be
lieved to have been further aggravat-
cd Nv. J, 10 "a.
: pressed the wish that his sons body
be not brought back to Virginia for
} burial but be inferred in some Gene
terry about Boston.
1t is claimed that R!cheson begged
of his counsel. Mr. Morse. during the
day that arrangements he made so that
his body could lie beside that Of his
mother in the Virginia cemetery where
the Richeson family has a lot.
| Richeson's weakened condition to-
night Is also believed to be due partly
to the fact that he has not eaten a
mouthful since early in the morning.
He left his dinner untouched and re-
fused food when 1t was offered him
Tonight
+ 1T was the hardest hour of my life. ="
declared Attorney Morse upon leaving
the prison late tonight. 1T is a very
serious condition and l am afraid may
deNolop badly Further than that l
would not want to predict"
STATE OF HISTORICAL COMA
, Clarence V. r Richeson. the for
y, mer clergyman who il awaiting cx-
< ecution for the murder of Avis Linnell,
, was in condition Tonight describe
. lby his attendants at the learn cham
, her OF the Chail.stown state prison
as "hvSterical coma"
Attorney William 4 Norso ,h, Gov,
delnned mans counsel arrived ,t tho
State prison inst after nina to.rirb,
4 and went to the death house fav
minutes lat,r a ca1I vae sort ,or Nv
= Jos.Dh r. NcInurhlin tho nrisnr
, phvsician. to att,nd IN, ruraoror
a.. who was moaning in bis COLI ,,l
!, parently in y state or col,,neo
+ As Richcso, bae r.o,os,od Tho, -
, cIcrrvrYar lo olu.,,.s ,.i,i. hi,,, "a,
;. tho hour 81 he do,t, ,h ,,a, H.,
lhnrt w Stobhirs tho ,,ri.o,, ,,,,...,
a vas with him .r,,.i,.r 49,, .,,. ,,,'',
of tho ove,io., ,,d ,,.o. r.,to,.,,
pov 1tortor, = roh,,, ..,
=, ,,o s1oc.i ~ i,.,
, ,Lo o,,.lo,,,,,,i - 49,,
y .r. .i,, tol, -. T.,
- 1,,th 49,. 49,, IN, -
g -. 49,. 49,, ''". wa ~
''N "a
, THOUGHTS NOW FOR FRIENDS
J., ".e fac. .xecrto ,,,, ,,,,
= ,horor, &c M, ,o,. ,,,..aic t, g.. 49,,
:, Isc,ro,, ~ nv. fa,ni,, ava x,, ,.,..,' ,
1,hus d,a ,vo,orno ~ D,a,.
- forr,., .,,t,st ,,irie,or "a 49,. -
: Miss Avis Linnen. comment upon tho
d news mat Governor Foss had decided
n not to interfere with the execution OF tbs
sentence OF the court which decreed tina
t the Nirsinlan must suffer death In th,
). electric chair. Richeson. while depressed
5 by the news or the Governors decision
3 which was communicated to him In hi!
r cell in the death house at the State
s prison at Charlestown to-day by William
q n. Morse, his attorney, maintained won
IS o"riul composure
1t had neen expected by some of thu
J. prison officials that the shock of tho an
y rounoement that all hope of life had beer
# taken from hlm' would produce in I'M
e pris"ntT state OF mental and physical
l. collapse iIchesoh' however, bore NJ
10 WIN sucn forutude us astonished ever
lie Inc PRISON suafGs' accustomed as the.
are 10 All phases or human emotion. II
their report 10 the Governor NpStprdal