New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-11
R!CHESON BECS TO Be
KEPT FROM DEATH CELL
Murderer. on His Knees. ImpIores
Sheriff Not to Take Him to
CharIestoWn State Prison.
HIS REQUEST IS GRANTED
Governor Consults Alienists, Who
Will Pass on Sanity of Slayer
Should Die, Says
Mayor Fitzgerald.

BOSTON. MAY when informed by
sheriff John Quinn. at tho Charles street
Jail to-day that hc would be removed
tomorrow morning 10 IA" death cell a.
tho state prison At Ghnrlcstown Clar-
crcc Y. r. Eichoson. the former Baptist
minister who is under sentence 20 be-
executed the week beginning May 10
for poisoning his ouctimc sweetheart
Miss Avis Linu"ll. went down upon his
knees and begged to Ice allowed 10 stay
nj the tail fow days more.
1T would hay' been hard 10 rcfuse
him. and told him that he would not
hc moved tomorrow or sunday" sheriff
Quinn said Tonight The sheriff added
II WAS probable that Eich"sun would NOT
ic removed Monday. He would not.
however, Say on what day Rich"son was
likely To- b" transferred
sheriff Quinn said nc had made all
preparations to remove RiChcson to tn"
prison tomorrow morning. in accord
ancc with the usual procedure 10y which
ucrson condemned 10 die is taken I"
the death chamber within ten days OF
the date set for execution.
when the Sheriff visited Richcson in
his cell after supper this evening I" tell
him Of the intended change the prisoner
knolt on the stone floor Of his cell and,
I'm the Shcriffs words "hc implorcd me
TO allow him to remain here tthc Charles
street jaiD as long as | could. lie said
he would like 10 spend these last few
days m the place where he already has
passed so much time. He has been
kindly treated here, he said. and wanted
to stay as long as possible. 1t would
have been hard TO refuse him. and | told
him that he would not be removed to-
morrow or Sunday"
May Stay Until Foss Decides.
The next regular meeting of the Gov
ernor's Council is on Wednesday, and
although this is only four days before
the date set for execution Richeson may
be kept at the Charles street Jail until
the Council has had an opportunity to
act should Governor Foss refer Richie
sons plea for Communication Of sentence
TO ii.
Governor Foss has asked the opinion
Of several eminent alienists as to Richie.
sons sanity. The Governor was sup
posed to be relying largely on the re-
port to he furnished by Or. l.. Vernon
Briggs to guide him I'm his decision on
the matter Of submitting the clergy
mans plea for clcmcncy to the EXccu-
tive Council, but Dudley NJ Holman, sec
| retary To Governor Foss, said tonight
that tho Governor had consulted several
eminent alicnists regarding Richcson's
condition.
The Governor, Secretary Holman said.
| felt that the case demanded the opinion
| of more than one man. These alicnists
I the secretary said. would examine Richie
son I'm Charles Street Jail. n they have
not done so already. and would make
their report 10 the Chief Executive.
DR. Briggs who has completed an in
vcstigation, has not yet reported to the
Governor. He went out of town this
| evening, leaving the understanding that
he Is to work on his report for several
days and that II probably will not be I'm
the Governors hands before Monday
morning.
The Governor had before him to- day a
report of DR.. Isidor II. Corlat an alenist
retained by the defence, in which Richie
son was declared To be mentally ire
sponsble.
The Governor Still Uncertain.
The statement given out late tonight
by the Governors secretary says:
The Governor realizes. Of course, that on
| his decision may rest the life or death of
| this man. He has asked DR.. l.. Vernon
| Briggs to make an exhaustive study OF the
! case, and is now awaiting the report from
Dr. Briggs. But the Governor has also
| called into conference DIR. Henry ". Sted-
| man Or Morton Prinnee and Dr. Fernald,
| and their opinions Will also bG most impor-
| tant factors in arriving at any conclusion
| which the Governor may reach
| While It IL we'll known that the Governor
| Is opposed to capital punishment, he VIII
| not for "A moment allow his personal views
| to influence his decision The whole thing
! hinges on this one point: Was Rlcheson in
| sane at the time the crime was committed?
| II the opinion of these expert alienists
| called into the case by the Governor is To
| the effect that Richeson Is and has been
! insane then the Governor must call to-
| gether his council, have presented to II the
| - .>rocd maze .sroud coIurou