Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-23

William w. Richardson, news editor of
The Star. died at his residence, at Drum
mond, Md, at $50 o'clock this morn
ing Of cirrhosis of the liver. He had
been confined to his home since last
July. He was operated upon about
two months ago. rally!ng after the
operation. and was considered by his ply
sicians and surgeons to have a chance
for recovery until about ten days ago,
when there was a change in his condition.
He had been previously operated upon. in
1905, In an effort to arrest the malady
which finally caused his death.
Present at the bedside when the end
came were his wife. Mrs. Lulu w. Rich
ardson. his son; w w. Richardson, jr. !;
Mrs. Lille Richardson. Miss Lillian Cla-
baugh and Simeon W. Richardson.
Funeral services will be held at the
residence in Drummond Thursday after
noon at o'clock. Interment with Ma
sonic rites will be in Oak Hill cemetery.
Native of Atlanta, Ga.
Mr.. Richardson was one of the most
widely known newspaper men of WASH
ington. He was born in Atlanta, Ga.
forty-six years ago. the son of Francis
Marion Richardson and Sarah E. Rogers.
and began life as bank clerk, but entered
the newspaper profession as a reporter on
the Atlanta Constitution under the late
Henry w. Grady. He came to Washing
ton in 1895 and served for a time as a
reporter on the Post. later going to the
Times, where he was city editor from 1899
to 1906. He also served as its managing
editor. He then entered the employ OF
The Star. and was actively its news editor
until he was obliged to relinauish his
duties in July.
In 1889 Mr.. Richardson married Miss
Lulu Clabaugh of Washington. who, with
one son. Wightman, aged eleven and one
sister. living in Georgia, and a nephew,
Simeon w. Richardson. survives him. Mr..
Richardson's mother and father are both
dead. as are his two brothers, Henry and
Edward, the former having been a promi-
nent newspaper writer of the south.
Member of Masonic Order.
He was a member Of Bethesda. Lodge
(Maryland) A. F. and A. NJ. and was
president of the Dickens Fellowship in
this city. as we'll as a member Of the
English Dickens Fellowship. He was
close student of literature. deep reader
and splendidly posted in literary matters.
He was noted for his genial and pleas
ing personality. and this trait had made
for him countless friends in and out of
the newspaper fraternity. His fund OF
humor was inexhaustible. and his keen
and apt wit was constant source o!
pleasure to his associates. he denshtea
in entertaining his co-laborers with
stories and incidents Of southern life that
were rich in humor and always apropos.
Rare News Judgment.
Mr.. Richardson's natural aptitude and
wears of experience made his judgment
unusually keen in the handling of news,
and the discriminative ability he showed
in this respect was marked charac-
teristc of his work.
Taking an active interest in civic al
fairs, Mr.. Richardson devoted much time
to the welfare of the community in
which he resided. He was a member of
the Drummond Citizens Association and
also a delegate from that body to the
Federation Of Citizens Associations rep
resentative of the several towns in Mont
gomery county adjacent to the capital.
Although his view was always turned
toward the cheerful side of life. and few,
IL any, ever heard him speak OF his own
sorrows, his sympathy was keen for the
SORROWS of others. The human and the
pathetic phases in the lives OF others,
even Of men in high public stations, al
ways commanded his interest and fur
nlshed inspiration to his pen. Free OF
afYectation, he was sincere In his views
-. OF