The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-13
Spends Aim O st Entire
Day With Insanity
Experts.
APPARENTLY IN
GOOD CONDITION
Subjected to Most Exhaustive
Tests Known, He Walks Hope
fully Back to Cell-Report
Ready Before Meeting of
Executive Council
Wednesday.

Boston. May l2.-The board Of in
sanity experts selected by Governor
f'oss 10 examine into the mental CON
dition ~ Clarence V T R!cheson. tho
former Baptist Clergyman. who is un.
der sentence OF death for the murder
of AVIS Linnsll. subjected R!cheson
today to the most exhaustive tests
known. Their exam iaat!on occupied
almost the entire day.
1t DOUBTLESS was the most critical
period 70! the prisoner since ne re-
c=!Ted MS death sentence early IN jan
nary. From the time R.cneson con-
isssed 10 the murder Of the little Con-
serFatory o. Music pupil former
sweetheart. who STOOD in the way Of
MS marrying the wealthy Miss Violet
Edmands, OF Brooklina, his counsel
ave been working to secure andin.,
that the prisoner was mentally ire
spons!bie 10. his act. They were graf
med wncn. on FRIDAY last. Governor
oSs. VINO is avowedly aversa to the
death penalty. named three prominent
alienists to make rspor; for his
suidance in the matter or submitting
Rlcheson's petition to the executive
council for clemency. The commission
as made up includes DR.. Henry Rust
Stedman. OF Brookiine, chairman o..
me board OF trustees OF the Taunton
Insane Hospital; DR.. George T. Tuttle
( super!ntendent of the McL:an Insane
Hospital. and Henry p. Frost. supe--
!ntendent Of the state Insane uospI-
tai. Tney spent two hours with Richie
son at the Charles Street fail on sat
u!day morning. : which time a pre-
urinary examination was made.
Prisoner No, Nervous.
me examination to-day was in the
big music room OF the sherih's house
IN the jail yard Richason showed no
trace OF nervousness as n Wake
from his cell to the Sherf's house. and
at the completion OF the long days
ordeal apparently was IN excellent
condition. The physicians left the fail
in carriages. and avoided discussing
with any one the results of their ex-
aminat!on. The work ~ examination
continued unlnts r-uptedly from $50
y. NJ. until 12:3o p. N, when Richie
son s!gnlfed desire for his dinner
and was taken back to his cell, whare
ne par,ook heartily Of the special food
which Is daily sent in TO him from a
restaurant outside. R:cheson appa-
rently was barring himself we'll and
showed no fatigue About o'clock
he was taken again to IN. sherifts
house. and tho aileaists again took up
their work The second session lasted
until $50 o'clock. AT It's conclusion
R!chsson hade the visitors good after.
noon and was returned 10 his cell mis-
carriage, as he marched across the
Jail yard. being apparently ona Of
hopefulncss. II not confidence He ata
hearty supper. and tonight was
reading in mis- cell. being allowed the
sunday papers from which had haeu
clipped all reference to his own case
Report Ready N'on.
II is believed that the alienists COM
p!eted ths!r examination to-day. al
though they would not state conclu-
sively to the sheriff that they might
no: want 20 return. 1t is expected
their report Will DE ready .or the Gov
ernor some time before the meeting
of the executive council Wednesday,
At that time the Governor can ask
his council 20 commute the sentence
of Richeson to life imprisonment if
the alcnizts report that the prisoner
was insane at the time ne committed
the crima. II they renort that he was
sane then. but that ne IL insane 1T
present. the Governor can only ask
The council to grant a reprieve until
such time as the prisoner is sane, at
which time h must be executed In
any event. the Governor has no voice
In whatever action the council takss.
If the council declines 10 take any
CONTINUED on Third Page1