The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-17
Report of Alienists Find That
He Is Sane.
III STOPS AT THE GOVERNOR
His Plea Will Not Reach the
Executive Council.
His Insanity Was Found to Be
of Hysterical Type.


must be electrocuted next week for the
murder of Avis Linnel1 was received
calmly by Clarence V. T. Richeson to-
day. He was Informed that Governor
Foss had declined to lay the petition
for a communication of sentence before
the executive council by his attorney,
William M. Morse, and his spiritual
adviser, Rev. Herbert S. Johnson, pas
tor of the Warren Avenue Baptist
church. Although the former clergy
man expressed disappointment, he
showed no indication of collapsing ply
visited the cell his services were not
required.
Richeson read the governors state
ment in the morning papers and after
a talk with Mr.. Morse and Mr.. john
son, sent for some books from the Ii
brary.
Attorney Morse in an interview said
that he could do nothing further to-
wards saving his clients life Warden
Briggs is not permitted by law to an
nounce the time of an execution but it
is generally believed in legal circles
that Richeson will not be electrocuted
before midnight of Monday.
Governor Foss'S Statement.
Boston, May 17.-Clarence V. T. Rich
eson's last hope of escaping the
death chair next week for the murder
of Avis Linnell. of Hyannis, expired
when Governor Foss announced he
would not refer RichesonS petition for
communication of sentence to the execu-
tive council.
The statement from the governor
closely the filing of the re-
ports of the special insanity committee
which declared the man sane, although
subject to fits of hysterical insanity
0s-1,
was sane at the time of the murder
and that he is sane at present.
In the death chamber at Charleston
the prisoner has borne himself calmly
since he was transferred from the
Charles street Jail Tuesday. 1t was
that he still hoped clemency
would be extended to him and it was
believed this alone was keeping up his
spirits.
The statement issued by Governor
Foss follows:
Executive clemency will not be ex-
tended in the case of Clarence v. 7.
Rfcheson. The prisoner was sentenced
on his own confession and without
trial for crime which it appears i'm
possible that any normal man could
commit.
After his confession and sentence,
a plea of insanity was set up by his
counsel and strongly supported by af-
character of these affidavits left nc
other course for the governor than to
submit them and the prisoner himself
to an examination by our leading
alienists in order to protect the COM
from the charges that the
man was actually insane when the deed
was committed. as well as at the pres
snt time.
."Tne evidence shows that Richeson's
family is heavily afflicted with in
sanity, that he himself is a neurotic,
and neurasthenic;
hat he is subject to extreme
emotional disturbances, marked by loss
IF memory. which two alienists have
diagnosed as hysterical insanity, one
physician adding the alternative term
If hysterical delirium and the major
ty opinion indicating that these at
.acks are hysterical attacks, marked
BY emotional disturbances of brief
duration, with loss of memory during
he attack and for a varying period /
following it.
1.-The evidence, however, while clear |
v revealing these attacks, indicates |
hat his crime was not committed by |
lim during such an attack. Therefore, !
while there is some divergence of opin-
on among the alieniSts as to whether |
he facts indicate actual insanity |
here is sufficient ground for the con-
.Iusion that he is accountable for his |
rhine and that the exercise Of execu- |
i've clemency in this instance would |
,e contrary to the public good.
1.-THE affidavits and medical evidence |
IS to Richeson's unfavorable heredity |
lis lapses of consciousness and his at !
acks of delirium are too voluminous |
@ include in this statement and are |
lot suited for publication"