Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-14
STANDS ORDEAL.
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l x. q
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peeted to come from Virginia unless the
Governor refers the case to the Execu-
tive Council. and .Iohn l.. Lee, the Lynch
| burg. Va. attorney, who was retained
for Richeson., will not, it is said. come to
Massachusetts ~ all hope of reprieye
| is denied
DR.. Briggs. was closeted with Cow
ernor Foss for more than an hour and
when the conference ended, Governor
Ifoss said that he would have to with
| hold the contents of the report until
later. Dr. Briggs was equally reticent
regarding the report.
| Later a formal statement regarding
| the report was issued by Private Sec
rotary d. NJ. Holman. as follows;
DIR. L. Vernon Briggs has filed his
report on the Rieheson case with the
Governor, who will take no action.
however. until he has received the re
ports from other alienists who are
now engaged in making an exarnina
ton of Richeson's mental condition.
Drs. Stedman, futile and Frost re-
Isumed their examination of iRicheson
at . P. NJ They came to the jail in
| a closed carriage and were whirled
| into the yard without going through
| the line of newspapermen assembled
at the gate.
"There is nothing they can print about
| me now that is any worse than what /
have already heard and read calmly
argued Clarence v. T. Rieheson with
sheriff Quinn in his cell at the Charles
| street Jail. today. while he besought the
sheriff to allow him to read what the
| papers were saying of his case
Since the former Baptist minister of
Cambridge received his sentence of death
early In January. for the wilful murder
| of his sweetheart, Avis Linnel, all daily
| papers given him have been carefully
| censored and news pertaining to the case
cut out.
i The prisoners plea had its force with
the sheriff. today. however. Axious to
| grant as much as possible every within
| Of the prisoner ia his highly nervous
| state during the final hours before the
week set for his execution, Sheriff Quinn
| will for the remainder of Richeson's
| stay In the jail allow him the papers
uncut unless they contain sensational or
unusually trying news.
| That the alienists named by Gov. Floss
| to examine Richeson and determine the
question of his mental condition Intend
to make their investigation as complete
and exhaustive as is possible to expert
scientists was made apparent, today. AL
though Richeson was subject to an ALI
day examination. yesterday, the three
sta oil StpIp5an
| DR.. George T. futile and DR.. Henry r.
Fost, again, today, visited the cell. and
| for five and one-half hours conducted a
searching probe into the prisoners men,
tai and physical condition.
| The physicians entered the jail yard
| in a closed cab, at 1.30 O'Clock, and
| Richeson was Immediately brought from
| his cell in the north wing to meet the
| doctors in the music room of the sher-
| ifs house. 1t was Just o'clock tonight
| when the alienist. stepped out Of the
house and into their cab.
They would vouchsafe no word of what
| had transpired during the afternoon.
| When asked il they had completed their
| examination Of the prisoner Or. Stead
man admitted that they might return
again, tomorrow.
| That Richeson had not reached the lim-
| IL of his endurance was apparent from
the fact that he walked briskly back to
| his cell after the examination.
"Rlcheson went into the examination
calmly and without any sort of bravo
| do. bluffing or shamming," said Sherifi
| quinn. tonight "and when he came out
| he did not appear any different. l do
not think that he has eaten quite as
| much during the past two days, how
ever which may or may not be due
to the unusual strain which lie has
becn under.
| The examination. today, makes to-
| tai of mere than 60 full, hours of tests
and questioninss to which the pris-
| oner has been subject by alienists for
l-both the defence and state during the
| past two weeks In view of the fact
| that the strain is telling upon the
| alienists there is no little anxiety upon
| the part of the jail officials as to how
| long Rieheson himself can hold up
under the pressure. Surprise is eN-
| pressed freely that Richeson has not
before this broken down Tonight.
| there was~ surprise felt that Richeson
was able to walk firmly back to his
cell after the days probe. That he is
beng held up only rs supreme effort,
! strengthened by realization that 1t Is
| his last fight for life, and that he will
1 collapse in mental and physical
wreck when the tests are over how
4 ever, they may decide bis fate. is con-
| fdentiy believed by those closest To
i him. THAT Richeson may not do him
| self any harm in the event of his
| breaking down or upon receiving any
| discearaging word he is being guarded
| more Nigilantly than ever these last
| few days before the hour set for his
4 execution. The guard which sits inside
/ his cell through the night is changed
! every 40 minutes and not for a second
4 are the officers eyes taken from the
/ prisoner In addition Harry r. Butts
| the Negro companion of Richeson, sits
in his smaller cell. which is enclosed
I within that of Richeson's, likewise aleri
| through greater part Of the day and
| night.
The door of Richeson's cell is un
locked that help may be speedily sum,
moned at any time by the guard With
in The aftiear sits with his baek to- tl(