The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-17
ALIENISTS FIND
PRISONER SANE
Commission Declares Him Sub
Ject to Fits of Hysterical In
sanity. but Not So Affected
When He Poisoned Avis
Linnell, for Whose Death
He, Too, Must Die.


"eath chnfr next week for the rpurdc,
OF AFi" Linnell, of IIynnnis, expired TO-
hiRht, when Governor FosS nnnounrcd
thnt he would not refer RIcheson
Pe'ition for communication Of sentence
10 inc Executive Council. The stntc-
mcnt from the Governor followed close
l! the hllnE of the reports of the spc
ci"i insanity commission, which de-
cinred the condemned man Sane. al
though subject to fits of hystericaI In
nnnity.
The commission found that Richcson
vas sane at the time of the murder
and that he is sane at present.
In the death chamber At Charles
town the prisoner has borne himself
calmly since he was transferred from
the Charles Street jail Tuesday. I,
was apparent that he still hoped that
clemency would be extended to him
and II was believed to-day this alone
was keeping up his spirits.
Governors Statement.
The statement Issued by Governor
Foss shows that the alienists found
that Richeson's family was Athlete
very generally with insanity, and that
the condemned man himself is a neu-
rotic. somnambulist and a neuras-
thenic and subject to hysterical in
sanity. The statement follows:
Executive clemency will not be eX-
tended in the case Of Clarence V. T.
Richeson. The prisoner was sentenced
upon his own confession and without
trial for crime, which il appears
impossible that any normal man could
-ommit.
After mis- confession and sentence a
plea of insanity was set up by his
fidavits extending over his life. The
character of t"ese afIidavits left nc
other course for the Governor than
to submit these and the prisoner him
self TO an examination by our leading
alienists, in order to protect the Com
monwealth from the charges that the
man was actually insane when the
deed was committed as we'll as at the
present Time.
The evidence shows that Richie
sons family is heavily afflicted with
insa nifty that he himself is neurotic,
sonnambulist and a neurasthenic;
that he is subject to extreme emotional
disturbances marked by loss of mem
DRY. which two alienists have dag
nosed as hysterical insanity. one ply
stefan adding the alternative term o!
hysterical delirium. and the majority
opinion Indicating that these attacks
are hysterical attacks marked by emo
tional disturbances of brief duration
with loss OF memory during the at
tack and for varying period follow
ing 1t.
Accountable for His Crime.
The evidence. however. while clear
ly revealing these attacks. indicates
that his crime was not committed by
him during such an attack. Therefore
while there Is some difference of opin-
ion among the alienists as to whether
these attacks indicate actual insanity
there is sufficient ground for the con-
clusion that he is accountable for his
crime, and that the exercise of eXecu-
tive clemency in this instance would
be contrary to the public good
THE afidavits and medical evidence
as to Richeson's unfavorable heredity
his lapses of consciousness and his at
tacks of delirium are too volumlnous
to include IN this statement and are
not suited to publication"
The alicnists referred TO are DR.. Ed
ward b. Lane and DIR. lsidor II. CO.
riat. acting for the defense; DIR. l.
Vernon Briggs. acting at the personal
request Of the Governor, and Drs
Henry r. Stedman. George T. Tuttlo
and Henry p Frost. acting as com
mission for the Commonwealth
Not Told of His Fntc.
Richcson was not informed of tine
Governors decision Tonight His
SniTitlu! ADVISER, lut NV. nc! Pt'
Johnson, and the prison chaplain. the
Rev. Herbert w. Stebbins. visited the
prisoner at o'clock and remaine''
with him for an hour. At tho tire
they entered the death chamber they
were not aware, however. of the Gov
ernor's finding Upon leaving tbs
death house Mr.. Johnson was Informed
of the decision.
II am very sorry; had hoped that
il might be different" he said. How
ever, I think the Governor mas acted
very humanely and with great justic,
and wisdom in submitting the matter
to alienists as he has"
When asked II he would notify The
prisoner of his fate In the morning
Mr.. Johnson said he could not tell.
Deputy Warden y. d. Allen said to-
night that the prison officials woud no
give the prisoner the news. He expect
cd IL would bs conveyed to him sont
time tomorrow, either through hi
counsel Mr. Morse, or one of he cler.
gymen.
Richeson's day passed very quietly
He wrote no letters. but received thre,
from members of his family. William
A. Morse. counsel for the prisoner. fell
very keenly the Governors decision
He said:
Although / feel that the evidenc.
submitted warranted q different conclu
sion. as enc of Richeson's counsel
wish to thank Governor Foss Cor hi
thoughtful consideration or the petitio:
for communication of Rlcheson's sen
tence He was just and courageou.
enough, in the midst of bitter cry fol
vengeance. to pause and look aroun,
him.
"I who have been so ncar I,tcbaeo,
during all these months. feel very sa,
that 1t must finally end in his helm:
killed by the method at. present an
laraI.ad laa. tho LOU: