The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-17
RICHESON'S
DOOM SEALED
MUST PAY PENALTY
IN ELECTRIC CHAIR.
Governor Foss Decides Not 70
intervene When Experts Say
Prisoner Was Sane.
Last Hope of Slayer Of Avis Lin
nell Is Swept Away by Ac-
ton of Executive.

DOoi ON, May lo.-Clarence " T.
Rieheson's last hope OF escaping the
death chair next week for the murder
OF Avis Linnell. of Hyannis. expired
tonight when Governor Foss an.
nounced that he would not refer
Richeson's petition for commutation
OF sentence to the executive council.
The statement from the Governor
followed closely the filing of the re-
ports Of the special insanity commits
sion. which declared the condemned
man sane. although subject to fits of
nysterical insanity. The commission
found that Richeson was 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 on Tuesday.
Aiienists' Report.
The statement issued by Governor
Foss shows that the alientsts found
that Ricehson's family was afflicted
/ very generally with insanity and that
the condemned man himself Is a neu-
rotic. a somnambulist and a neuras-
thenic and subject to hysterical i'll
sanity. The statement follows:
Executive clemency will not be
extended in the case OF Clarence V. I.
Richeson. The prisoner was sentenc-
ed upon his own confession and with
out trial for a crime which Il appears
impossible that any normal man could
commit
After his confession and sentence
a plea of insanity was set I'D by his
counsel and strongly supported By az
fdavits extending over his life. The
character OF these afiidavits left no
other course for the governor than 70
submit these and the prisoner himself
TO an examination by our LEADING
alienists in order to protect TIE com
monwealth fro mthe 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 IL heavily indicted with
insanity. that he himself is a neurotfc
somnambulist and a neurasthenic:
/ that he Is subpjeet to extreme emo
tional disturbances. marked by loss
Of memory. which two alienists have
diagnosed as hysterical insanity. one
physician adding the alternative term
/ OF hysterical delirium and the major
/ ity opinion indicating that these 1t.
tscks are hysterical attacks marked
/ by emotional disturbances ri brief
duration. with loss Of memory during
the attack and for a varying period
! following II. The evidence. however.
while clearly realizing these attacks
Indicates that his crime was not com
mited by him during such an attack
! Therefore. while there is some diver
gence OF opinion among the alienists
as TO whether these attacks Indicate
insanity there is sufficient ground ior
the conclusion that he Is accountable
/ for his crime and that he exercise Of
/ executive clemency In this instance
would be contrary TO the public good 3"
The affidavit and medical evidence
as to Richeson's unfavorable heredity
his lipses OF consciousness and his
attacks OF delirium. are too yolum-
inous to include in this statement and
are not suited 20 publication"
The alienists referred TO are. Dr
Edward p, Land and Dr. Isidor n
Coriat. acting for the defense. DR.. l..
Vernon Briggs. acting at the personal
request OF the governor: acting as
a commission for the commonwealth
Richeson was not informed OF the
Governors decision tonight.
] Deputy Warden n. ID. Allen said to
night that he expected the news
would be conveyed 70 him some time
tomorrow. either through his counsel
Mr. Morse. or one OF the clergymen.