Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-11
Young vrginian Displays Re.
markable Stoicism--Answers
J Questions without Emotion.
EXECUTION WEEK OF MAY 10
displays Trace of Former Jaunti
ness as He Leaves Court
Appeal for Executive
Clemency to Be Made.

Boston, Jan 9.-With the appearance oil
man who had abandoned all hope OF
life, the Rev. Clarence Y. 7. Richeson
stood to-day at the bar OF Justice Dc
clarcd his guilt of the ptenedtat"1
murder of his former sweetheart. AVIS
I.innel. and without a treinor heard
Judge Sandcrson sentence MIN to death
in the electric chair during the week
beginning May 10.
While displaying "A remarkable stocsm.
the young V'rginian appeared to those
who crowded the little court room as II
he were conducting his own funeral.
Yet, when he walked out OF the court
room. there was a trace OF the old
time jauntress that seemed to many TO
indicate that his fight was not yet
finished
TO the half dozen questions which
Judge Sanderson put to Richeson to-day.
as TO whether he realized the full nature
ana effect Of his acknow ledgment OF guilt.
he answered without the slightest
emotion. always in the affirmative.
Richesons counsel declared after the
proceedings that an appeal for executive
'onencv would follow soon and that
every effort would be made to obtain
fife Imprisonment instead OF death as
the punishment. Whether the petition
,cill he based upon Richeson's services
TO the county in making his confession.
n upon a claim of irresponsibilty. has
not yet been decided
ATTORNEYS DOUBT LEGALITY.
come wel-known attorneys remarked
to-night that Judge Sanderson's action
n accepting the plea and ordering it
hc
might have an echo in the supreme
court, on the ground that n jury alone
"ould accept such a plea.
When Richeson was arraiGned. Clerk
Manning said:
clarence V. r. Richeson. this ndici-
nent charges you with murder in the
IRIS. degree. On November IL. you plead
I'd not guilty to it. Do you desire to re-
:ract that pleaT'
Yes sir" replied Richeson.
what say you 70 the Indictment"
asked the clerk.
Guilty" was the reply without a
,hange in tone.
The Judge then summarized the indict-
ment and defined deliberate premeditated
malice aforethought in committing muir
der by poison.
''rhe only penalty provided by law"
said the Judge. "for murder In the first
degree is death. Have you pleaded guilty
20 murder in the first degree after due
consideration and with the full knowledge
and understanding of the nature and
effect OF such plea?''
Yes sir was the calm reply.
rs the plea made by you free and
voluntarvo" continued the judge.
YES sir
Did YOU consult counsel with reference
to the nature Of the offense and the
plea?" asked the judge.
Again came the simple Yes sir
CONFESSION READ TO COURT,
After Judge Sanderson hau ordered the
plea entered upon the records. he asked
District Attorney Pelleter IL 1t was
desired that sentence be imposed,
The district attorney replied that before
moving for such sentence he wished &c
read the confession Rcheson's acknowl-
cdgment of guilty in writing which he
sen. to the district attorney ana to the
court through his counsel last Friday
was then read and made a part Of the
record.
The district attorney said:
1T Is my opinion that the evidence
which the Commonwealth has accumulat
al would be sufficient for an ordinary Jur,
10 find this defendant guilty Of murde
IN the first degree"
Judge Sanderson then looked toward tn
tail form of the young Virgirian and said
clarence V. T. Richeson have you any
thing to say why sentence Of death SHOULD
not be passed upon yOu?'
The Young man apparently swallowed
hard lump In his throat, hut without evel
shadow across his face, he replied:
NO sir, nothing further than hav
stated"
Rising Judge Sanderson pronounced tn
death penalty ending with the impressiv
words And may God in His infnt
goodness have mercy upon your soul"
APPEARANCE OF RESPONDENT.
Richesons appearance in the court 10
day differed but little from that at tn
time of his arraienment, His compexio
was paler than before, quite blanche
in fact, and there were noticeable line
in his face His paleness was particular
marked in contrast with his raven blac
hair.
His words We're evenly modulatcd. a
though at times go low that Judge Sander
had to request him to repeat then
Except when he spoke Richesons mout
was tightly closed. the usually expressly
lips being pressed iirmly over teeth this
seemed to be locked together Throughol
the proceedings his hands gripped II
wooden rail before him.
The mans clerical appearance W.
enhanced by long semi lifting overcoa
which covered a suit Of black materia
This he had procured from counsel t,
day In order that he might appear at h
best.