New Britain herald., 1928-10-01
BURNED TO DEATH
 AS HE PREDICTED
PliinIile Hln Rofecast Ne
 Would "Go Up in Smokt'
HOME HIS FUNERAL PYRE
Death of c. F. Richter, Veteran of
 spaaish.Ameficaa War, Quickly
 Followed by Demise Of His Wife
 at Niddlctown Hospital.
{special to the Herald)


 Plainville, Oct. Fulfilling his own expressed prophecy that when he died he would 'go up in smoke" Gunther Frank Richter. 51 year old Spanish war veteran. was burned to death at his home on the Farm ington road about 2 o'clock yester- day morning under circumstances which for 8 while led the authori- ties to believe that he might have been murdered. This possibility was thought to have been eliminated to- day after an investigation by the state police. Dr. c. w. Moody, medi- cal examiner. formally pronounced death accidental and caused by burns. Following close upon the tragedy came word today from Mid dletown that Richter's wife. Mrs. Emily Richter. died last night in that city.
 Dead on Smouldertng Bed
 When death came to Richter he was lying on the bed in the small cottage which he has occupied by himself since state authorities dis persed his family. The fire was discovered by Earl Osden. boy living in 8 nearby house. He noti- fled George Lampson. a neighbor and close friend of Richter, and Lampson and another neighbor, Ray Clayton. rushed to the Richter cottage. Lampson entered and found the place full of thick smoke. Fumbling about in the murk, he fell through hole which had been burned in the floor but was not badly injured. He continued his ef- forts and attempted to pull Richter from the smouldering bed but soon realized that his friend was dead and then devoted his efforts. to ex- tinguishing the flames. A group of neighbors accomplished this quickly, and the fire department. which was summoned unnecessarily. arrived after the blaze had been put out. The property damage was only about $50. but 1t is thought that Richter had $140 in bills upon his person and that this was burned.
 May Have Set Own Funeral PyFo
 Richter had had a large amount of family trouble. His first wife had died and his second wife had been committed to the state hospital in Middletown. while several of his children were taken over by state a l1t h orifies and co,,,r,;ktoa <o ,,,.f ous institutions. He was said to be a heavy drinker, and to be given to smoking in bed. traits which ap- pear to have caused his death. A large jug of hard liquor was found in the room by the bed, and 1t IF thought that this may have spilled on the bed and led to the rapid spread of the flames. MT. Lampson said today that Richter was care. less about tossing matches around, and a thrown match which failed to go out may have caused the blaze. No other creditable explana- tion has been advanced.
 Cash Found in Head
 The discovery that there was q severe gash in Richter's head forc- cd the authorities to take notice of the possibility of death by violence, Lut an investigation this morning by State Policeman Michael Smith led to discountenancing this theory. The heat fused Richter's scalp onto the bed, this investigation disclosed, and the wound resulted when MT. Lampson attempted to pull him off the bed. The quick spread of the fire and the speed with which 1t practically cremated Richters' body caused some to think an inflam- mable liquid might have been spread over body and bed, but the belief now is that this spreading agent. was spilled alcohol.
 A short while ago Richter receiv- ed word from Middletown that his wife's condition was serious, and he had been breeding over this. He ,ld Mr. Lampson last week that the lat ter's visit to the Richter home would probably be his last. and again his strange foresight of his own death proved true. On Saturday night Richter entertained several out-of-