New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
R|CHES0N IS SANE,
HE TELLS AL|EN|STS
Fate OF Murderer Hangs on
Opinions of Men Chosen
by Governor.
PIN PRICK TEST GIVEN
Prisoner Said To Be Insensible to
Pain, Even When Blood Was
Drawn-Report Ex-
pected Soon.
PIN PRICK TEST GIVEN

Boston. May 1.-THE fate OF Clarence V.
T. Richeson. slayer OF tho young music
pupil OF Hyannis. Avis Jnnel hangs to-
night on the opinions of slienists. some Of
whom have yet to complete their examina-
ton OF the prisoner in the Charles street
Jail.
II the three who examined Richeson for
a short time to-day at the request Of Gov.
crnor Foss fail to find the former minister
insane, It will be the prisoners last Sat
urdsy night In jail before being removed
to his death cell in the state prison.
DR.. L. Vernon Briggs. one OF the first
alienists called in by the Governor. placed
Richeson under the pin prick test. With
the prisoner undressed and blndfolded, the
doctor. using a small gold pin, pricked the
mans skin In various parts of his body.
In some instances, II is said, DR.. Briggs
found him insensble to pain, even when
blood was drawn. 4 report on his nervous
condition and on the question Of his sanity
will b. made in a few days by the physl-
clan.
Three other alienists. who early to-day
made a two hours examination Of Richie
son, used other methods. devoting most OF
the time 10 tests Of the prisoners power
Of memory and senslbility TO emotions. To-
night they announced that they would con-
tinue the examination tomorrow or Mon
day. The three who examined him to-day
are DR.. Henry r. Stcdman. OF the Taunton
Insane Asylum; DR.. George T. Tuttle, Of
the Mclean Insane Hospital, and DIR.
Henry y. Frost. OF the Boston State Insane
Hospital.
With a physician for the defence report.
ing that Richeson Is insane and still an
other physician in attendance at the jail
declaring him sane, the Governor Is ea-
pected 10 lay principal stress on the report
of the alienists appointed by himself.
Richeson was prompt in answering that
he did not consider himself insane when
the question was put to him directly TO-
day His appetite continues good and he
retains his self-possession remarkably well
In the circumstances.
Only when u suggestion Is made looking
to his removal to the Charlestown state
prison and the death cell does the prisoner
allow his feelings to be shown. In the
opinion Of some officials who have watched
him closely ne will never walk unassisted
TO the chair He will have TO be carried
said a prominent county Official tonight
Unless the sentence is commuted. ono
week from tonight will find him In the
death cell at the Charlestown state prison.
with the possibility OF his being called TO
sit In the death chair at any time after
midnight OF that day. There is every rea-
son to believe that the prisoner Will not be
nut TO death on Sunday morning, however,
In view Of public sentiment, to which
Warden Bridges has always paid Difference
Sheriff Quinn said tonight that he would
not remove the prisoner to the care or the
state authorities until after the alienists
have completed their examinations. and
probably not until the Governors council
meets on Wednesday. at which time the
physicians are expected TO make their re-
ports.
William A. Morse, counsel for Rcheson,
expressed great pleasure when informed
that Governor Foss had appointed alienists
to examine tho FORMER clergyman as TO his
sanity,