Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-05-18
CONDEMNED PARSON
DRIVEN FRANTIC
BY FEAR Of
DEATH
Powerful Opiates Required to
Stop Hysterical rawlings of
Murderer Richeson in Death
House at Charlestown Prison
WOMAN SLAYER PROVES
CRAVEN AS END NEARS



cay EyeasnE Heraid a. p. Lessed wirel 4
Boston. May iS--A deep sleep un- I
der the influence OF Opiates shut out
world OF anguish from the troubled 4
mind OF Clarence V. r. Richeson dur /
Ing the earlier bours os today
The fortltude 81 the former Clergy
man. who awaits death by eleeirOcu- I
ton next week Tor the murder OF
Avis Linnell gave WAY last night
The collapse came while the con-
demned man was alternately beseeeh-
ing his counsel 20 have bis body In
tered beside that Of his mother IN
Virginia and hystercaliy reving over
The fancled persecution OF the swo
guards forming his death watch.
Richeson learned definitely for the
first time yesterday that he must
inject death by eleotrocutiOn, Through
the day he bore himself with outward
calmneHs. Little by little tho import
OF the decision be had heard began 10
impress Itself upon him
Some OF those who entered the
death chamber immediately impaired
Ito the pTlsOney the fact that his
lfathcr aid not care To have his body
4
at once gave way 60 his emotions
and implored OF his counsel. William
A. Morse. that arrangements be made
so that ne might lie beside his mother
In the family lot As the day wore ON
Eother incidents occurred to disturb the
lcOndemnea man. The discussion be
tween Rlcheson, hrs counsel ana
lspiritual advisers turned upon the ex-
Hecution and the prisoner begged both
I,Mr Stehblns. the prison chaplain, and
1.-THE Rev Herbert S. Johnson, his
chosen adviser, to walk TO the chair
with him.
Richsson also expressed q wish
that Mr Morse should be present dur
ling the last few minutes and further
Iexacted promise that either ono or
1.-THE other Of the ministers would re-
main constantly with him until he
ldled.
In the meantime. Richeson did not
eat his dinncg or supper
II was nearly twelve hours after he
learned that he must die next week
THAT Richeson burst out in q paroXysm
LOT griel and hysteria. Tie threw him-
self on mis- cot aud m0ancd and
1shrieked. His arms and shoulders
Itwltchcd, Iiis face WAS drawn Ia agony
and from time TO time as his glance
fell on the two guards set as death
watch over him, he would screen out
i'm horror: 'They are watching me!
lThey are watching me-
II Warden Bridges. who was notified,
hurried to the death house aud sent
For the physician OF the prison. :, That
HOfilclal was not at home anu Or.
I.yons was called
When Dr. Lyons arrived Richeson
was stlll hysterical but apparently un-
conscious DR. Lyons administered a
. sedatlve and the prisoner went 20
b sleep about . o'clock remaining IA
a deep slumbor until late.
: The attack follows out the con-
( Icluslons OF the alienists who recently
Q oxamined Rlcheson. that Richeson. al
Ithough sane. was subject to periodical
4 Iemotionai disturbances or bysteri- q
o delirlum Il was claimed such ~
tacks would be Of short duration, how
lever
There viii be no advance announces
menl OF the hour of Rlcheson's exec
4 ltiun. Beyond the statutory provision
!, THAT Il must take place between mid
might ana sunrise, the warden OF the
prison has discretion extending over
the week designated by the court ioi
infllclion OF the death penalty whicl
I, I'm this case. begins with Sunday next
Chaplin Slebblns remained near lhe
little Iron cot upon which the con-
ldemued mun rested, ready az
moments notice 10 offer him conHoia
j. ltiOn Rev. Dr. Johnson went into the
!. death house. bpt did not awaken
RichesOn. he remained by the cot at
Ter short conference with Mardel
Bridges and the chaplain.
Refreshed physically and apparent
" liy mentally by the sound sleep ol
more than eight hours duration
Rlcheson awoke hate this forenoor
and appeared 20 have recovered from
his attack OF hystcria of last night
He was weak when he awokc and D
=. WAS some time before he recalled th'
y occurrences OF the evening. II wa
, nearly an hour before Richeeol
n aroused himself sufficiently 90 tai
20 Rev. DR. Johnson
The condemned man had little ap
"A petite. He ate nothing from break
iuat time yesterday unill noon today
I. when nc partook of Hight refresh
ments
Dr. Johnson sat by Rlchesons GO
during the day aud said that the con
denlned man WAS perfectly rntioua
and very quiet
"RichcaOn uwoke very much ~
freshed physicaily and ! suppose men
tally" said DR. johnson,
a, The prison physician said
b. 'Richespn if not suffering frof
is eonefal collapse mentally or phyaig
y. ally. Hls attack iusi night was feaii
af "a natural reaction. he had bee
~ huoyed up by the impression. con
n scl0usly or subconsciouHly. that "a
n- death sentence would be- cnmmutcd
~ lge imprisonment and when he ren
rh lred thai there WAS M hope be- va
overwhelmed