The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19
HIS EXECUTION
is NEAR AT HAND
Because of His Pitiablc Condi-
ton, 1t Is Decided to Have Him
Go" as Soon as Possible,
and Electric Chair Will
Claim Him After IL
O'Clock Tonight.
Especial to The Times-DIspatch.

Boston, Mass.. May 1S.-CowcriuE
on his cot i'll the death coli at Charlc.-
! town prison. Clarence V. T. Richcson,
| former minister, spent what probably
win be his last fun night on earth. in
fearful contemplation of the grim pay
mcnt he must make to inc Common
/ wealth for numbering his former
/ aW ectheart. the girl lie baptized. pref
/ ~ Avis Linnell, of lIyannis
! I,icheson, in his every act. shows
! that he knows his case is unique
| that because of the notoriety his case
has gained for him. few preccdcnts
f. aid down in previous executions Will
he followed. He is said to know-to
sense with heightened pcrccptivc-
ness that rightly intcrprcts every
act OF his two guards. and his visi-
| tors-that his situation is not similar
| TO the situation of any Of the other
eleven doomed men VINO nave occupied
| the cell he now occupies, and who
| have preceded him TO the chair OF
dishonored death.
Beet to go" Eari..
In conversation between Or. john
son, Chaplain Stcpbins and Warden
Bridges tnis afternoon, it was agreed
that 1T will be best Tor Richeson 10
| ing the conversation wonder vas e%-
| pressed b. all three at Ricncsons al
most uncanny siAth sense, winch has
made him realize tho authorities VIII
not take the chance of his completely
breaking down By putting of ms exc
cution any longer than necessary.
! Tie condemned man was convinced
! tina, ,o-nisht was his last, unless pres
| .nt plans unexpectedly so a~ry, Tor
Jurins to-day ana the carly evening,
! in the few worda he spoke TO his call
! crs, he made ii plain although he did
! not say outright. that he believes to-
night vii! DC mis- last ON eaTtn
! \ peculiar feature that Warden
! Bridges mentioned was the fact that
not once mas Richeson asked the time
!; OF day. Ills watch has been taken
| away from him. The cell he occupies Is
! so constructed that NJ Sound OF strik-
| ing clocks or ringing chimes which
| announce the hour can dc heard by
| him. only when he listened could he
| the prison yard or in the SHOPS at Ger
tain hours during the day.
] Warden Bridges practically admit
| ted Tonight that EIcheson viii go to
/ the cnair shortly after - o'clock sun
day night II this plan is carried cut
/ Richeson Will be the hrst murderer 10
pay the penalty OF death in Massachu-
!
day set by the court. In sentencing
! 10 death. Massachusetts courts have
! always condemned murierers to die
some time during the week begin
] ming" on certain date. is tn IN
! entirely within the power of the war
den of Charlestown Prison TO order the
execution any time between l2.G1 y.
i NJ oil the date Sst, which would b.
Sunday morning, and midnight OF the
i following Saturday night.
II Every execution for the past twenty
4 wears has been between miungnt and
1915 a. NJ. OF the Tuesday morning
after the date set. excepting TWO, wnicu
were delayed by special request OF Tho
II Governor until later III the week in
order that the Governors council
might consider new evidence. Richie
sons case Will not be referred to the
council.
Mouns and TOnses.
/ Tonight Richeson WAS in a pitiable
condition. He tossed and moaned OH
his cot, as close. 10 the wall as he
could get, muttcring: Il cannot die. l
cannot stand it,
1t was because his condition seems
to prison physicians To grow worse
hourly, through terrible fear OF the
man for the death he will suffer. that
! Warden Bridges and the physicians
decided TO prolong the prisoners agony
of mind no longer. All believe II VIII
serve the best interests or the State
and public il Richeson is sent to the
chair as soon as possible.
Up TO o'clock this evening, Richie
son had eaten only two mouthfuls of
food since Friday. This was when he
barely tasted this mornings breakfast
This evening he aroused himself from
the stupor in which he had lain since
last nights hysterical attack. He ate
;. 4, ,,-tii of N no a
black coffee. Then he called for a
cigar. the first he had smoked to-day.
Throughout the evening the Rev.
i Herbert :. Johnson sat with Riches on,
reading pa ssaSes from the Scriptures.
/ At = a. NJ. sunday, DR.. Johnson will be
relieved By Prison Chaplain Stebbins,
who will remain on watch until .
o'clock tomorrow morning. They will
walk NriIh RlcheSOn to his death