The Sentinel=record., 1912-05-17
RICHESON'S
 HOPE LOST
GOVERNOR TOSS WILL NOT SET ASIDE DEATH PENALTY FOR
 MuRDERousN MINISTER.
Traces of Insanity in Family of Man, and Some Symptoms Displayed by Him, but These Are Not
 Sufficient.

boStOh, May lb.-Gtarence V. F Richeson's hope of escaping the death chair next week, for the murder of Avil Linnell, expired tonight when Governor Foss announced he would not refer Richeson's petition for com mutation of sentence to the executive council.
 The statement from the governor came soon after the filing of the re- ports of the special insanity commits sion. which declared the condemned man sane, although subject to fits of hysterical insanity. The commission found that Richeson was sane at the time of the murder, and that he is sane now
 In the death chamber the prisoner has borne himself calmly since he was transferred from the Charles street jail Tuesday. It was apparent that he still hoped clemency would be ex- tended to him, and it was believed to- day that this alone was keeping up his spirits.
 The statement issued by Governor Foss shows that the alienist found that Richesons family was afflicted generally with insanity and that the condemned man himself is a neurosic, Ia somnambulist, and neurasthenic, and subject to hysterlcal insanity
 The statement follows:
 Executive clemency will not be ex. tended in the case of c. " T. Riche. son. The prisoner was sentenced up on his own confession, and without trial, for crime which 1t appears i'm possible that any moral man could commit.
 After his confession and sen tence, a plea of insanity was set up by his counsel, and strongly. supported by affiiavits extending over his life. The character of these affidavits left no other course for the governor than to submit these and the prisoner him. self to an examination by leading alienists in order to protect the com monwealth from the charges that the man was actually insane when the deed was committed, as well as at the present time.
 The evidence shows that Riche- sons family is heavily afflicted with insanity, that he himself is a neurotic. a somnambulist, and that he is sub ject to emotional disturbances, mark ed by loss of memory, which two alienists have diagnosed as hysterical insanity. one physician adding the al ternative term of hysterical delirium, and the majority opinion indicating that these attacks are hysterical at tacks marked by emotional disturb. ances of brief duration with loss of memory during the attack and for varying period following it.
 The evidence, however, while clearly revealing these attacks, indi- cates that his crime was not commit ted by him during such an attack. Therefore, while there is some diver. gence of opinion among the alienists as to whether these attacks indicate actual insanity, there Is sufficient ground for the conclusion that he is accountable for his crime. and that the exercise of executive clemency in this instance would be contrary to the public good
 The affidavits and- medical evi- dence as to Richesons unfayorabie heredity. his lapses of consciousness, and his attack of delirium, are too vol. luminous to include in this statement, and are not suited to publication
 "The alienists referred to are: Dr. Edward B. Blanc and Dr. lsadore Craft. acting for the defense, pr L. Vernon, acting at the personal request of Governor Foss."
 Richeson was not informed of the governors decision tonight. His spir- i itual adviser the Rev. H s. Johnson. and the prison chaplain, the Rev. H. w Stebbins, visited the prisoner at 8 o'clock, and remained with him for an hour. when they entered the death chamber they were not aware, how. ever. of the governors finding.
 
 Upon leaving the death house MT Johnson was informed of the decision. q am very sorry. had held hopes that 1t might be different he said. However. think the governor has acted very humanely and with great