New-York tribune., 1912-01-15
FEAR R|CHESON SUICIDE
Jail Guards Take Eyeglasses as
Minister RageS.
CLERGYMEN FAVOR DEATH
Jury of Twelve Votes, 8 to 8, 1or
Extreme Penalty-No Detailed
Confession of Crime.
tn,, r.,.nronh - The tribune.

Boston, Jan. 14.-Fearing that the he'
Clarence V. T. Richeson may mahe an,
other attempt to injure hlTnseh orei ~
Quinn has ordered the prisoners eyegldsseS
removed from his cell. II was with piece
of tin can that the poisoner of AVIS lAhhell
seriously injured himself, and the sheriil
announced he was taking no chances that
his prisoner would commit suicide. hlche-
son will be permitted TO use MS glasses ~,
reading, but even then he Will be oDserNeu
closely by officers In his cell on murderers
row at the suffolk County jail The guar u
has been doubled by the Sheriff Day ana
night Richeson is watched by two Oh the
most stalwart officers OF the institution
When one OF the officers took Richeson
glasses from his bunk the pastor Hiaue
violent protest. He stormed ABOUT MS cell
demanding TO know by what right ne "a9
being deprived of his property. The guaius
in haste summoned the Sheriff, VINO caltheu
the prisoner.
The question OF committing Rlchesoh ,
sentence has been laid before a jury Oh
twelve Massachusetts, clery,men, and' II
majority rule were in force, the clergyman
would suffer death The jury stood nine 10
three for the death sentence. Inc 'hiee
who voted against 1t did so because theS
are opposed TO capital punishment ana not
because there is any saving grace attached
to Richeson or his act. Nearly all Oh INC
clergymen declare that Richeson. because oi
his profession, his education ana MS po-
sition in society, is deserving or all the
punishment that the law allows. Not one
Of the twelve men cited n redeeming feat-
ure in Richeson or in his crime.
The opinions Of the twelve men follow
The Rev De Witt s. Clark. pastor OF tne
Tabernacle Church. Salem-I think Una,
Richeson should be executed ana ! am III ~,
in favor OF commutation OF sentence al ali'
The needs OF society demand that no eA-
ceptIon should be made In this case
The Rev. Dr. George w. hing, pastor W
the Peoples Temple-Provided capltaI pun-
ishment IL to remain. there is no reason
why the sentence OF Richeson should DC
commuted. The mere fact OF being MIN
ister does not weigh In any relation 10 t'iIs
case We should certainly expect more oi
a minister. ,, .t
The Rev. Or. Lcmuel II. Murlin. .presi-
dent OF Boston University ana minister
OF the Methodist Church-As Mr.. Rlcheson
has proved himself a criminal ! think a tna'
no distinction should be made In MS case
no matter II he is a clergyman and that ne
should suffer the penalty or the law pro-
nounced upon him.
=
the Warren Avenue Baptist Church. do
not believe In any commutation OF the SEN
tence OF Richeson. The mtre fact OF ms
being clergyman should not be consid,
cred I'm this matter. hope nothing VIII
interfere with the full sentence being car
rIed out, and | feel that the crime and It's
details Justify this decision.
The Rev. Charles +. Dole, OF Jamaica
Plain. president OF the Twentieth Century
Club-I do not believe in capital punish.
ment. but II this II the law OF the state |
believe that IL should be carried out In the
case OF Richeson.
Of the Episcopal Church In Massachusetts-
The Richeson case brings TO light hideous
crime. The person who planned and per.
petrated IL should be punished 10 the full
extent Of the law | cannot accept this
false sentiment concerning capital punish.
ment. The sooner such lives are out OF
existence the better.
The Rev James sheerIn, rector of 81.
Matthews Church, South BOston-The
Church cannot hless the act Of killing. The
Christian Church has no right TO condemn
any man TO death. IL II shame that IL
has done so In past history. It's pecular
duty is TO forgive a man who Is truly peni-
tent, and Richeson 10 apparently ashamed
and sorry for what he had done.
The Rev. Dr. Edward r. Merriam. editor
Of THE Waterman" the Baptist weekly
do not believe In capital punishment and
society has no right TO take the lie OF any
Individual But as the law stands to-day II
should be administered impartially.
The Rev. Frederick W. Ruis. pastor OF
the First Baptist Church. Salem, a friend
OF Richeson-I am favorable TO the commu-
tation OF the death sentence. ] do not be-
lieve that we have the right 10 take human
life II was given by God and It is for Him
to take IL away.
The. Rev o. =. clifford. pastor OF the
Brookline Baptist Church, do not see
why the state has any right TO take life.
| do not believe In capital punishment.
The Rev Charles 4. Fulton. pastor or the
Dudley Street Baptist Church-l am OPP
posed TO the death penalty. The mere fact
that Richeson Is a minister should not
shield him, but Il rather Increases than
dimlnishes his responsibility To the public.