Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-18
R|CHESONMUST
DIE: CALM ASHE
IS T0LD D NEWS
Prisoner Told Today Gov.
Foss Had Refused to In
tervene; Will Go to Elec-
trio Chair Next Week.

Boston, Mass, May 1.-THE news
that he must be electrocuted for the
murder of Avis J4lnnell Of Hyannis,
was received calp;ly by Clarence v.
T. Rcheson today. He was informed
that Gov. Foss had declined to lay
the petition for Communication OF SEN
tence before the executive council, by
his attorney, William A. Morse, and
his spiritual adviser. Rev. Herbert 8.
johnson, pastor Of the Warren Avenue
Baptist church.
Although the former clergyman ex-
pressed disappointment, he showed
no indication of collapsing physically
and when the prison physician visited
the cell his services were not required.
Richeson read the governors state
ment in the papers carefully and, af-
ter talk with Mr. Morse and Mr..
johnson, sent for some books from
the library.
Attorney Morse in an interview to-
day said that he could do nothing
further towards saving his clients
life. Warden Briggs is not permitted
by the law to announce the time of an
execution but 1t Is generally believed
in legal circles that Richeson will not
be electrocuted before midnight OF
Monday.
The execution of Richeson probably
will take place early next week. There
ia sentiment against a Monday
morning execution as occurring so
close after Sunday, which has been
recognized by the warden OF the
prison. An exception may be made
owing to the highly nervous state Of
the condemned, and it Is not improb-
able that Richeson may go to the
chair Monday morning.
The time within the week OF May
10 Is entirely at the wardens direc-
tion and only the legal witnesses will
know beforehand at what time the
sentence OF the law wifi be carried
out.
Richeson' 8 last hope Of escaping the
death chair next week for the murder
of Avis Linnell of Hyannis expired
last night when Governor Foss an
nounced he would not refer Richie
sons petition for Communication Of SEN
tence to the executive council.
The statement from the governor
followed closely the fling OF the re-
ports of the special insanity commit
tee which declared the man sane, al
though subject to fits of hysterfcal in
sanity. The commission found that
Richeson was sane at the time Of the
murder, and that he is sane at pres
ent.
Statement by Governor.
The statement issued by Governor
Foss follows in part:
Executive clemency will not be ex-
tended in the case Of Clarence v. T.
Rlcheson. The prisoner was SEN
fenced upon his own confession and
without trial for crime which 1t ap-
pears impossible that any normal man
could commit. Examination by lead
ing alientists shows that Richeson's
family is afflicted with insanity, that
he himself is neurotic, SOM
nambulist and neurasthenic that
he is subject to extreme emotional
disturbances, which two alientists
have diagnosed as hysterial insanity.
"The evidence, however, while
clearly revealing these attacks indi-
Gates this his crime was not COM
mitted by him during such an attack.
Therefore he is accountable for his
crime and the exercise of executive
clemency in this instance would be
contrary to the public good"
Richeson Is in his death cell, watt
ing the summons to leave it for the
last time and walk the dozen PAGES
that lie between its door and the elec-
trio chair. The exact hour OF the ex-
ecution is indeterminate and rests
with the warden. =.