The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-05-21

ulNStIsIPu WIFI WtEtt nEu IeeU uDHe IOf
him by his attorneys. ard is Il direct
answer to the demands purportng to come
from sympathi2ers Of Richeson for the
reopening Of tine case on the ground OF
dissat isfaction with the lawyers Mr..
Morse said:
"Richeson is fully prepared to die and
doubt very much il . stay in the pxecu-
tion Of the sentence would appeal to him
al this time. No later than yesterday
he told me in the presence Of DR.. johnson
how much We had done for him, the fight
We had made to save his life and his
gratitude for all we had done.
You never saw such change as has
been wrought in this man in the last
few days for when he was told that the
end was near he stiffsneU, up and is noN
ready to meet death with Christian forti-
'Gds. He appears bigger in every way
and does not refer to earthly things eX
ccpt when discussing personal matters
1T was o My last night that he was
going over the details ot the funeral ser
vice which he thinks will he held IA his
nome in Virginia. and after speaking OF
several psalms and hymns he asked me
II | had heard them, told him that I
had heard all but one. and without "a mo-
m"nt : hcsitancy or showing tn" least
feeling hc hummed tn. tune of the hymn
! tell YOU Ii was IA touching scene and
one that went direct to the heart for the
surroundings were IN themselves SUI
ICleHtlN CTutSOffl'. WIN Inc cehIn tnalF
loss than ten feet away.
A stay of sentence would not improv.
his case. and now that he is prepared to
die he would no, welcome having the
execution deferred ! expect that bv this
time tomorrow he will lie dead hut YOU
will SEQ that he will meet death with dig
nitv and tha, calm which stout heart
guarantees
Mr. Nors. remained in the death hoUsc
for 81 hours during which he assureI the
condemned man that his body would not
Il. mutilated, Richeson has feared all
q long. since h" learned that he was To die.
hat a. soon a. breath had passed from
his body the physicians We're gong To
disSect il. Upon leaving the prison Mr.
MorS.. said
-Riche-on is going TO die without hold
Ing grudge against any one. Hc has
scarcely uttered harsh word. and to m"
personally and to those who con' IN con-
lac. with Kim he has again and aga'n as
pressed his gratitude.
He talked to me- calmly .about his
funeral He said he wished to be buried
IN Virginia and i, appears that this " Ill VI"
done. He told me when and how hs wished
10 he buried He gave u list nf the hymns
that he wished sung at hi. funeral. n.
told me- abou, the disposition Of his little
trinset- | made "A note of it and his
directions will be fully carried ont "
Mr. Morse was willing 10 be present in
the death chamber AT the execution. but
as the law does not permit il he came To
the prison lat" tonight to remain 10y
Richeson's cell until he Is led forth 10 The
chair
That the body will be taken to Virginia
| became certainty to-day. In a state
ment made 10y Medical Examiner Mct;rath
after consultation with Attorney Morse.
he said;
Il called to see what arrangements Mr.
Morse as counsel for Richeson had mad.
for the disposal Of the body. Richeson :
body will he taken South Immediately
after an autopsy has been performed
As soon as life leaves the body am
made temporary custodian of it and am
responsible for II by law until it is claimed
or disposed Of There will be no DELAY
whatever The moment the autopsy l.
performed the tody will be taken South
for burial"
Dr. johnson left the death house shortly
after o clock to answer a telephone call
IN the wardens office. He then said
lett Richeson in good shai- We
had luncheon together. He at, a lutte
We talked long and earnestly all dav aS
he recllned upon his cot. he talked most
frankly on,many aspects of his case. more
50. p@rhaps, than any other r;gn Would
under similar circumstances which shows
his remarkable resignation to his fate
tie has not made a VIII, t. my nnowl-
edge. but is making an informal di.,riau-
tiCn of his library TO close friends
He has received many letters. - me- of
which ! have read Ia him, and IN. has
written several farewell replies
"Richeson will undoub,. div leave
statement to be made public after his
execution and ! myself with a better
understanding Of the case than any enc
save MIR Stcublns and Mr.. Morse. will
make a state IN ani that will clsar up mIt h
concerning the cas-" that has been so
clolided over"
During the lat" afternoon and this eve
ming. both clsrgvmen were with RCheson
constantly; Early this evening Deputy
Warden Allen went To the cell and passed
in a pair Of black trousers and a black
and white strip ID cotton shirt Richeson
acknowledged the receipt Of them with Il
nod of the head
Last night the prisoner asked that his
naliS he manicuTed He has been en-
dcavorinG to clean them with a piece of
folded paper, not being permitted TO have
any pointed metal Instrument. Tn" guard
performed the task which seemed to
please Richeson Immensely.
Three hours before midnight Henry
.T, Merrill who does the harbering in the
prison. went TO the cell and cut of con
dcrable quantity Of Richeson's coal
black hair and shaved spot on his head
about twice the size of a silver dollar
On this spot will rest the elcctrode which
is in the metal cap to be placed upon the
condemned man 's head the second he takes
his seat in the chair.
Shortly afterward Richeson was told
he must put on the clothing which had
been sent to him. This seemed to annoy
Richeson somewhat He looked the
trousers over and commented upon their
cut and as for the shirt he could not bear
to pull it over his shoulders
The left leg of the trousers was slit near
" To the kne" and this interest ed the pris-
also hlIY hV skt td
knowing full we'll that il was ther. to
permit the quick application of an cleo
trode TO his leg. The clcrgymen prayed
with him constantly as inc final hour
drew near. and Richcson repeated many
chapters from the Scriptures.
Outside the prison there was only
small gathering Of people. The iron
gates OF tn" yard wer" closed and no one
was permitted to enter who did no, have
business there, Early in the evening
there were many children playing about,