Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-23
.R|CHESON MUST
PAY THE PENALTY
Special Commission of Alienists
Finds the Murderer Was
and Is Sane.
NOTHING FOR F0SS TO DO
Governor Will Not Refer Prison.
er's Petition for Communication
of Sentence to Execu.
tive Council.
NOTHING FOR FOSS TO DO

poStoii' way lo.--N L.
Richeson's last hope of escaping the
death chair next week for the murder
of Avis Linnell of Hyannis expired
tonight when Governor Foss an
n ounced that he would not refer Rich
eson's petition for Communication of
sentence to the executive council.
The statement from the Governor
followed closely the fling of the re-
ports OF the special insanity commits
sion which declared the cond emned
man sane, although subject to fits of
hysterical insanity The commission
found that Richeson was sane at the
time Of the murder and that he is sane
at the present time.
In the death chamber at Charles
town the prisoner has borne himself
the Charles street Jail Tuesday 1t
was apparent that he still had hopes
that clemency would be extended to
him, AID it was believed to-day that
this alone was keeping UP his spirits
The statement issue1 by Governor
Foss shows that tho alienists found
that Richesons family was afflicted
very generally with insanity and that
the condemned man himself is a aeu'
rotic and somnambulist, and sub
ject TO historical insanity. The state.
ment follows:
EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY DENIED
Executive ciemency will not be ex-
tended in the case of Clarence V. r
Richeson. The prisoner was sentenced
upon his own confession and withou,
trial. for crime which 1t appears i'm.
possible that any normal man could
commit.
After his confession and sentence, q
plea Of insanity was set up by his counse
and strongly supported by affidavits ex
tending over his life. The character OF
these affdavits left no other course 70,
the Governor than to submit these and tbs
prisoner himself to an examination by GU,
leading alienists, in order TO protect tn,
commonwealth from the charges that the
man was actually insane when the deco
was committed as well as at the presen
| time.
The evidence shows that Richeson'
family Is heavily afflicted with insanity
that he himself is neurotic. a somnam
bulist and neurasthenic; that he Is sub
ject to extreme emotional disturbances
marked by loss of memory. which two
allenists have diagnosed as hystericai in
| sanity, one physician adding the alterna
| tive term Of hysterical delirum, and tn,
majority opinion indicating that these at
lacks are hysterical attacks marked b,
emotional disturbances OF brief duration
with loss of memory during the attacl
ana for varying period following IL
| WAS SANE AT TINE OF CRIME
THE evidence, however. while clearl
| revealing these attacks, indicates that n;
crime was not committed by him durin
| such an attack. Therefore, while there i
some divergence Of opinion among tn
| alienists as to whether these attacks in
dictate actual insanity, there is sufticien
ground for the conclusion that he is ac
| countable for his crime and that the ey
ercise of executive clemency in this In
stance would he contrary to the publ
good.
The affidavits and medical evidence a
| to Richeson's unfavorable haredity, nj
| lapses of consciousness and his attacl,
OF delirium are too volumnous to includ
in this statement and are not suited
publication"
|
ward p. Lane. and DR.. Isidor II. Cora
acting for the defense; DR.. l.. Verno
Briggs, acting at the personal request
the Governor: and Drs Henry r. Stet
man, George T. Tuttle and Henry l
Frost. acting for the State.
Richeson was not informed Of the Go,
ornors decision tonight. His spirituf
adviser. the Rev. Herbert S. johnson
and the prison chaplain, the Rev. Hell
bert w, Stebbins. visited the prisone
early this evening and remained wit
him for an hour. They were not the
aware OF the Governors finding.
Leaving the death house. the Rev, NJ
johnson was informed OF the decision.
am very sorry. I had held hopes that
might be different" said he.
WHO WILL NOTIFY HIM?
When asked II he would notify II
prisoner of his fate In the morning. NJ
johnson said he could not tell
Deputy Warden n. y. Allen said Il
night that tho prison officials would NJ
give the prisoner the news. He expecte
1t would he conveyed TO him some tin
tomorrow, either through the COZ
demned mans counsel. Mr.. Morse. or or
OF the clergymen.
Richesons day passed very quietly 7
wrote no letters. but received three fro
members of his family.
The only unusual event about II
prison was the appearance this mornir
OF supposed crank near the door
the death house. The man carried a r
Nolver and when discovered ran out
the prison yard and escaped. In his fig
he dropped a number OF loose cartridge
VIM a. Morse. counsel for Richeso
felt very keenly the Governors decisio
lie said: Although I feel that the ev
. dence submitted warranted diffcre,
conclusion. as one OF Richeson's couns
I wish to thank Governor Foss for h
thoughtful consideration of the petite
for Communication of Richeson's sentenc
He was Just and courageous enough
the Inidst of n bitter cry for vengean
to pause and look around him.
Houston. Texas, May l9,-Fire In Hou
toms upper business district starting
four O'Clock this morning, at seven o'clo,
| ,opicht mad caused a losa apprOv In, n y /,