Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-18
Slept soundly Eight Hours---Con-
demned Man Eats Hearty
Breakfast
MINISTERS ON THEIR VIGILS
Doomed Man Cries and Means, 81
Cannot Die. ] Cannot" t."-Swallows
Sleeping Powder and Falls Asleep.

Boston, May lS.-Clarence V. I.
Richeson today recovered his nerve,
{ after sleeping from shortly after
midnight until nearly eight o'clock.
Prison physician Lyons after an exam
ination of Richeson, which began by
observation OF the prisoner before he
awakened, declared the former Bap-
tist minister almost wholly recovered
from the violent attack Of hysteria
which gripped him last night about
IL o'clock For time prison officials
had feared that the electric chair
might be cheated of its scheduled part
in The death of the murderer of Avis
linnell.
A few minutes after eight o'clock
while Richeson was eating his break
fast of toast, eggs and tea--he has
given up coffee-Rev. Herbert S.
Johnson, the mans spiritual adviser,
visited him.
From now until the grim end,
which is almost certain to come on
Monday morning shortly after mid
night, either DR.. Johnson or Chaplain
Stebbins of the prison, will be con-
stantly at Richeson's side.
1t was at Richesons request that
the two ministers will take turns in
their vigil at the doomed mans side.
in order TO make the arrangement to
do so. the Rev Mr.. johnson was fore
ed to ask his deaconS at the Warren
Avenue Baptist Church, of which he
is pastor, TO relieve nlm OF his pulpit
duties tomorrow. Both ministers will
be with Richeson most Of tomorrow,
which probably will be the last day
lie spends on earth.
Picheson's attack came last night
as he was lying on his cot in the
death cell, fully clothed. Deputy War
den Allen said Richeson suddenly be-
gan moaning and crying The two
death guards paid no particular at
tcntion to this until he began thrash
ing around on the cot. Then they sent
for DR.. Mclaughlin and DR.. Lyons,
at Richeson's shrielting requests.
When the two physicians entered, the
prisoner was writhing on the floor
crying loudly:
My God. | cannot die! cannot.
Dr.. Johnson was hurriedly sent for
and after half hours talk Richeson
was given sleeping powder. He
sank off Immediately into sound
sleep.
While the physicians admit there
is possibility of a recurrence Of the
hystcrical attack, which is similar to
those Richeson suffered while ne was
was preaching at Hyannis and IN
Cambridge. they said today they ne
lieved the latest one will not be re-
pcated. 1t was their opinion that
the news given him yesterday morn
inc of the refusal Of Gov. Foss to
send his leniency petition to the coun-
ell, broke his heretofore astounding
composure only temporarily.
However, attendants who have OIL
ciated at all of Massachusetts eleven
electrocutions and at several hanglngs
before the chair was introduced here
said today that Warden Bridges has
made carefully detailed plans for the
cXecution, such as are made only when
:: man is expected to give way IN feal
as his short walk to death begins.
Boston, May lS.-After apparently
recovering his nerve today, following
a violent hysterical outbreak last
night, Rev. c. V. T. Richeson, about
nom collapsed again in his cell where
he awaits death summons.