New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-19
GUNBER BRINGS BACK
R|CHESON'S cOMPOSURE
Fourteen Hours of Refreshing
Sleep DSisipateS Murderer's
HySteriCaI Fear of Death.
BREAKS HIS LONG FAST
Prisoner Eats Heartily and Is
Cheered by News That Body
May Rest Beside His
Mothers Grave.

Boston May iS-Fourtecn hours OF sound,
refreshing sleep to-day served to tranform
Clsrenc. y. r. Richeson. former minister
and confessed poisoner. awaiting the call
% IN, death chair in the Massachusetts
state Prison at Charlestown, from a Nn-
6,tjor ~ delirious hysterla TO CalmnesS and
anparenf designation to his fate. Reports
from the death house tonight indicated
that the slayer Of Avis Linnell, the Hyan-
mis- uu-i. student. was regaining that re-
roarkab's Composure and self-control which
has been the wonder of all who have stud
led him At close range since he became a
rrisoner
All WHO have seen Richeson to-day, pris-
on of. -lais guards, physicians and clergy
men. unite i'm declaring that the attack oi
hvsteria which seized him last night was
the natural reaction which might have
been expected. Richeson. 1T was pointed
ont by D~ Joseph l. Mclaughlin, the pris-
on physician. had been buoyed up by the
faint hope that Governor Foss woul6 refer
10 the executive council his petition IL. a
communication Of the death sentence To life
Imprisonment
SOCN a0C Nerves NcITSS'cN'
When Informed Yesterday by his counsel.
william 4 Morse. that the Governor had
declined 10 refer the petition. Richeson was
dazed h, the news. Prison attendants be-
leve that what was considered throughout
all dey yesterday as a remarkable demon
stratior ~ courage on the part Of the CON
denned man was really the calm Of amaze
nent which was followed last night by a
terrible reaction. Tatguod in brain and
body. he succumbcd to a great wave OF
byste~fral emotion The protracted sleep
which followed the hysteria soothed the
hentr-.rd nerves and brought refreshment
10 a t--G body.
WIetHe~ the iron nerve Of the man will
last under the terrific strain that has been
placed upon him. of course, cannot be de-
,e-miued Richcscu was characterized by
Chief Joseph DuCan Of the Boston Bureau
OF Criminal Investigation as the coolest
criminal ] have ever seen" and up TO the
time Of his historical attack his demeanor
had seemed 10 warrant the prophecy that
he would 90 10 his death with unfaternS
courage While his custodians are fearful
that he NAV cause a distressing scene
when he receives the final summons. they
hope there viii be no recurrence OF the de-
urious hysteria that took possession OF nm
last night.
Hes actinS just as YOU or J would he
likely 10 act" said Warden Benjamin +.
Bridges. IF We were facing death as ne Is.
Don't you think that We might give way
undo, the strain: ! don't believe We would
relish our meals. either.
General Bridges paid two or three hrici
calls 10 the death house to-day. The hrst
time Eichcson was asleep. but the prisoner
was awake on the second visit. lie was
living on his cot. and. though he recognized
the warden. ne had nothing to say.
Richesou broke FAST Of thirty hours
.bJs afternoon when ne Joined his spiritual
adviser the Rev. Herbert s. Johnson,
-astor O. tn. Warren Avenue Baptist
Church and Chaplain II. W. Steobins' oil
The prison. In partakmg Of substantial
dinner. served IL the death house II was
The frs, food that had passed the lips OF
Ihe condemned man since he heard from
his attorney yesterday the announcement
mai all hope Of executive clemency mad
been swept away. Richeson appeared TO
enjoy the meal.
Richeson will not be wholly without fam
Jv friends On the last DAY or two Of his
life HIS attorney announced that a
brother Of ;he prisoner, Douglas l.. Richie
son. VS. on his way from Chicago and
would arrive in Boston tomorrow. lie VIII
he the only member Of the Rlcheson family
who VIII sec the murderer before his
dealt
Richeson continues 70 he both the sub
sect ard object Of countless letters re-
ceived ~ the prison. Most Of these are
ANONYMOUS all Of them bear evidences Of
the work Of crauks. and none Of them
reaches the prisoner. Every letter ad-
dressed To- the condemned man is carefully
examined by me warden or some other