Clarence Richeson

Affidavits taken in 1912[1] revealed a family history of mental health problems. An uncle on his mother's side was committed, in 1883, to Western State Hospital, Staunton, VA, and died there in the violent-patient ward a year later. A first cousin was confined to an asylum in Missouri. Seven other first or second cousins were described as deranged or insane. Throughout his life physicians and alienists thought heredity played some role in his mental disorders.

A great deal is known about Clarence Richeson's life. Dr. Lloyd Vernon Briggs, Director of the MA Mental Health Society, was asked by Governor Eugene N. Foss on April 29, 1912, to examine Richeson and determine his mental condition. Dr. Briggs clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the Governor's request. Most of what is known about Richeson is from a large variety of affidavits from people that had close contact with Richeson. Importantly he also recorded discussions with Richeson which are abstracted below.

At age three Richeson fell down the front steps, leaving a lifetime "knubble" on the back of his head. This was the first of at least five significant traumas to the head he received during his lifetime also affecting his physical and mental health. When he was six, his brother struck him in the head and he "slept" until the doctor arrived. That left a 2½ inch scar. At age seven, he fell off a horse and his head struck a rock. That left a 3-inch bald spot. He had a headache and ringing in his head for the next five years. Also in childhood he was hit in the head by a child holding a rock and was unconscious for 24 hours.

One day in April 1911, Richeson suffered another very severe trauma to his head. As he was stepping from an elevator the operator mistakenly started it. It was necessary to call a physician and he was in bed for three days. When he got up he dragged one of his legs when he walked. This difficulty worsened until he seemed to have lost the use of both legs and could not bear his own weight. The trouble with his legs then passed. However, on 1 May Richeson appeared at the Edmands house and had one of his attacks. Mrs. Edmands went every day to Richeson's lodging house and stayed until evening from 1 May to 28 June. The evening of 18 June a Dr. David C. Dow (affidavit) was called to Richeson's. The next morning he told Mrs. Edmands that Richeson "should be committed to an institution, not necessarily an insane hospital, and I strongly advised her to put him under the care of men well versed in mental diseases."

Richeson was granted a two-month leave from his Church for a "mental breakdown."

Nine years later in 1921, L. Vernon Briggs, M.D., Director of the Massachusetts Society for Mental Hygiene reviewed what was known of Clarence Richeson. Dr. Briggs had previously prepared a report for Governor Eugene Foss on Richeson's condition for the Governor's consideration of clemency. Governor Foss also consulted with other alienists. In "The Manner of Man That Kills"[2] he concludes that Clarence Richeson "was, I think the only man ever executed in Massachusetts without a trial. He was a victim of hysteria with delusions, hallucinations, amnesic periods, and delirium. He had exhibited signs and had had attacks of this disease for years, had been recognized as mentally unsound by several physicians who advised specialists in mental diseases to attend him. Still, he was allowed to 'carry on' until his acts resulted in the death of a young girl in this state." Based upon the Spencer, Czolgosz, Richeson cases and others Dr. Briggs proposed several broad ranging reforms for early recognition and management of the mentally ill before situations of this sort could arise.

A contrary view was put forth by Theodore Dreiser. In 1892, he "began to observe a certain type of crime in the United States that proved very common. It seemed to spring form the fact that almost every young person was possessed of an ingrown ambition to be somebody financially and socially." "Fortune hunting became a disease" with the frequent result of a peculiarly American kind of crime." An example is the murder of Avis Linnell. By 1919 this murder was the basis of one of two separate novels begun by Dreiser. The 1906 murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette eventually became the basis for An American Tragedy."[3] At some point, while a student, Richeson made an appointment with Dr. Phillip C. Palmer, M.D. Richeson said "I know you will think I am crazy but . . . I want you to castrate me." Dr. Palmer replied "I am sure you must be crazy" and refused. Richeson went on to explain he was to become a minister. He did not think he could associate with women without losing control of himself.[4]

December, 1901 until March, 1902 he saw Dr. G. M. Phillips of Saint Louis. In 1912 Dr. Phillips gave an affidavit which is one of the most detailed insight into Richeson's health along with Dr. Briggs records from 1912. "He complained of pains in his head, back, testes, and limbs; that he was dizzy, his memory was poor and he was unable to concentrate mentally. . . He was a perfect picture and complete picture of 'Neurasthenia sexualis." Richeson had discovered a mild varicocele[5] which he obsessed over and "ascribed his wretched physical and mental state to it." He despaired of ever being made well again and rather courted death. Dr. Phillips recommended not removing the varicocele. However, he consented to Richeson's request and surgically removed it in January 1902. Afterwards Richeson showed pronounced improvement and became hopeful and cheerful. Still Dr. Phillips concluded that Richeson "at this time he was not responsible for his any act that was associated with his sexual organs; that such conditions as these, in my judgment are competent to set in motion sexual manifestations to the end that all reason is overbalanced, and one's acts are beyond control."

An early electric chair. Richeson was executed in an electric chair on May 21, 1912.

Avis Linnell's death on October 14, 1911 at the YWCA in Boston was initially thought to be of natural causes due to what Dr. George Burgess Mcgrath, the Medical Examiner of Boston, described as Dr. Timothy D. Lehane, the coroner's physician's, incompetence. Mcgrath said,

In this instance notice of the death was given to the Medical Examiner by a physician called into a students’ boarding house because the girl had died suddenly.

There was no primary suspicion of foul play and it was only when the post mortem examination disclosed a condition in the stomach suggesting poisoning by potassium cyanide that death from causes other than natural was suggested.

The further discovery of a physical condition compatible with suicide strongly suggested this motive of death and only the care and diligence of the Medical Examiner Leary, who had charge of the case, led to a further investigation by the police resulting in the conviction of Richeson.[6]

The cyanide was purchased October 10, but Avis' death was not until Saturday, October 14, four days later. The pharmacist told the police of the purchase of cyanide and Richeson was taken into custody on October 20.

A grand jury brought an indictment on November 2 containing five counts: "that he gave", "that he sent and conveyed", "that he caused the poison to be taken and swallowed," "that he gave it pretending it was a medical preparation, and "that he did assault and poison with intent to murder by this giving and causing to be taken."[7] He was arraigned and pleaded "Not Guilty" on November 13. The trial was set for January 15, 1912.

At four in the morning, December 20, Richeson partially emasculated himself in his cell with a sharp piece of metal. At the jail hospital, Dr. Lothrop found it necessary to complete the emasculation and closed the wound. A few days later, Richeson pulled the stitches from the wound and Dr. Lothrop was called in again.

No jury was ever selected because on January 5, he retracted his plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree. The guilty plea was made before Judge Sanderson on January 9 and the judge had no sentencing options other than death. The date for electrocution was set for May 19. Only after sentencing did his lawyers raise the question of insanity. They employed two alienists who individually made reports on April 24 and May 8.

Governor Foss denied Richeson's petition for clemency, May 16, stating that

[His] family is heavily afflicted with insanity, that he himself is neurotic, a somnabulist, and a neurasthenic; that he is subject to extreme emotional disturbances, marked by loss of memory, . . . diagnosed as hysterical insanity . . . (or) hysterical delirium hysterical insanity . . . (or) hysterical delirium . . . these attacks are of brief duration . . .his crime was not committed by him during such an attack.

Reverend Richeson was executed in an electric chair May 21, 1912 at 12:17 a.m. It was the fourteenth such execution since Massachusetts adopted the electric chair. It was the most successful to that time since the current only had to be applied once and the death affidavit was signed 15 minutes later. The prior Sunday, May 19, the crowds outside the prison became so large that the outer gates were closed to prevent the crowd encroaching on the prison premises and a special police patrol was assigned. The next day more than two thousand people stood outside the prison walls for hours in pouring rain. After the execution, the crowd lingered through the night and did not fully disperse until the following morning.

The New York Times and Boston Globe ran extensive coverage on this murder and citations are used to complement and supplement Briggs's accounts. The New York Times also provided extensive coverage extending beyond the date of execution.[8] The New York Daily Post reviewed the episode March 24, 2007 under the headline "Murdered by the Minister."

Following the murder, Violet moved from Massachusetts to a settlement house in New York City. She devoted the rest of her life to the settlement movement.