Clarence Alvin Richards
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

Newspaper Article

NAVAL OFFICER KILLED BY SHOCK: Commander of Destroyer Takes Hold of Heavily Charged Wires In Power Station.

By The Associated Press. Sag Harbor, L. I., May 26. — Lieut. Clarence Alvin Richards, commander of the United States Destroyer Fanning, was instantly killed by an electric shock in the station of the Sag Harbor Light & Power Co., here early today. Harry D. Christian, night watchman at the station said it apeared to him that the lieutenant deliberately committed suicide by taking hold of two wires heavily charged with electricity. The Fanning was one of a fleet of war vessels which had been maneuvering in Gardiner's Bay and which were under orders to leave for Newport at 3 a. m. Why Lieutenant Richards was ashore after the orders to sail were issued is unknown. Christian said the lieutenant came to the power station two hours before the fleet was to sail and said he was a government inspector.

He pushed Christian aside and walking into the station picked up two wires, receiving the shock which killed him. Lieut, J. C. Jennings, commanding the shore station, who took charge of the body, declined to give any information other than that he would report to the Navy Department. The Fanning sailed for Newport with, the other vessels.

Burial

Lieutenant Clarence Alvin Richards is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD, in Section 08, Lot 1698.