New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-28
POISON IN RlCE'S vITALS.
PROFESSOR WITTHAUs DISCOVERS
MERCURY AND ARSENIC.
PATRICK DECLARES HE DOES NOT BE-
LIEvE IT-JoNEs is sILENT-EACH
HELD IN $4,000 BAIL.

Renewed interest was given yesterday to the
peculiar circumstances surrounding the recent
death of william Marsh Rice by the report of
Professor Witthaus that he had found mercury
and arsenic in the vitals of the old man. When
the news was carried TO Albert T. Patrick and
Charles F. Jones' in the Tombs the men charged
with forging the signature of Mr.. Rice Jones,
the valet, would say nothing, but Patrick. the
lawyer. declared that he did not believe such a
find possible.
Magistrate Brann yesterday held both Patrick
and Jones for the Grand Jury on the forgery
charge, and fixed bail at $4,000 for each man.
The District Attorney is said to be dissatisfied
with the report of the expert because it does
not say whether he found poison in sufficient
quantity TO death
When Captain McClusky was asked II there
would be any steps taken toward rearrestinS
Patrick and Jones on a charge of murder he
said: They're IN jail now. and neither one Of
them can give bail" He was also asked If the
police had not all along been working on a
theory Of murder. and replied: II won't say any
thing about that"
PROFESSOR wITTHAUSS REPORT.
The report of Professor witthaus was ad-
dressed 10 Coroner Hart, and reads as follows:
have the honor to report that on September
-, 1900. / attended an autopsy made at the
Morgue by DR.. z. J. Donlin. in the presence Of
DR. Hamilton Williams. upon the body said to
be that OF William Marsh Rice. / took away
certain organs from the said body and submit
ted them TO analysis. with the results de-
tailed below. On September p, 1900, 1 called
al KlowT;ght's undertaking establishment, in
Fourth ave, near Twenty -siXth-st.. and there
received from Mr.. Potter sample of embalm-
ing fluid. which I also analysed. This embalm-
ing fluid contained, besides formaldehyde, the fol-
lowing mineral ingredients: Potassium, sodium,
zinc and aluminium, sulphuric acid, arsenious acid
ana chlorin- These are probably combined In
making the liquid in the form Of sodium arse
mite. zinc chloride and alum. The embalmng
liquid contains no mercury. The analysis OF the
stomach and OF the intestnes for vegetable
poisons have given negative results.
The analysis Of the stomach, Of the intestines
and of the kidneys for volatile poisons failed to
show the presence Of any foreign substance
other than formaldehyde, a constituent Of the
embalming liquid mentioned before. The analy-
sis for mineral poisons, referred to below, has
not yet been carried to the point where zinc
would appear. That metal may or may not
be present. The stomach was found 10 contain
arsenic in notable quantities. and an unweigh-
able minute quantity OF mercury. The presence
Of the arsenic in this and the parts mentioned
below would be accounted for if the embalming
liquid, sample of which 1 analysed, had been
used in preserving this body The intestnes
were found to contain both arsenic and mercury.
The quantity Of arsenic present has not been de-
termined. The quantity of mercury present in
the sample examined found to be 0.00S6
gram in $50 grams of tissue. equivalent to sew
enteen One-thousandths grains per ounce (of $50
grains)
The kidney contained arsenic and mercury
also. The quantity Of arsenic has not been de-
termined. The quantity Of mercury present in
the sample examined was found to be 000S1
grams in 161 grams OF tissue. equivalent to OBJ
grains per ounce.
I would infer from the very small quantity Of
mercury found in the stomach, and the rea-
lively large amount found in the intestines, and
particularly in the kidneys, that that metal IN
some form Of soluble combination had been in
PRODUCED into the body during the life OF the
deceased, probably several hours, possibly days,
previous to his death.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOT SATISFIED.
Coroner Hart said that ne had no criticism to
make on the report. He said that he would
report Immediately to the District Attorney 8
office. and that time would be set for con-
ference. District Attorney Gardiner and Coro-
ner Hart accordingly had a long conference
in regard to the in the afternoon. the con-
sultation not appearing to be satisfactory to the
District Attorney. Coroner Hart said the Dis
trict Attorney had told him he was not satisfied
with the report made by Professor witthaus
he contended that il was not explicit enough,
inasmuch as the report did not say whether
The amount of mercury found was sufficient to
cause death. As result Of this state of affairs
another conference was arranged for tomorrow
afternoon between Professor Witthaus Coroner
Hart and District Attorney Gardiner
I am soundly convinced that Rice did not
die from poison" said Frederick B. House
counsel for Albert T. Patrick and Charles F.
Jones. at his Office, at Park Row and Frankfort
ST. late yesterday afternoon. Il have not had
time TO read Professor Witthaus's report
can say nothing about that"
A copy of the report was then shown Mr.
House, and, after reading it carefully, he ex-
claimed:
No cannot change my opinion think tina
the poison which the post-mortem examination
reveals is simply the poison which made m
the embalming fluid. I believe Patrick was
right to-day in advancing at the Tonbs this
same idea. Arsenic formed an important mart
of the fluid used for the preparation of the BODY
and il is very probable that this Is the arsenic
that Professor Witthaus has discovered I have
not seen Patrick to-day. / have not visited
the Tombs.'
Asked If there would be any difficulty in GO
curing bail for the prisoners. Mr. House said
he did not believe there would be Speakipo
about the possibility Of the present Grand Jury
taking the case. he said
Il shall apply to District Attorney Gardiner
TO bring the case to trial as soon as possible
hut so important is the case that I am afraid
II VIII be postponed until the November Grand
Jury meets"
DR. CURRY THINKS DEATH NATURAL.
DR.. Walker Curry. who attended Mr.. Rice
was seen at his residence No. % East Sixtv
first-st-, last night. When questioned concern
ing the report Of Professor Witthaus, DR. Curry
said:
When attended Mr.. Rice several months aeo
1 FOUND him suffering from oVereating improner
exercise and weak heart. I regulated his diet
and exercise, and gave him a tonic There wa
no arsenic or mercury in the medicine | pre-
scrlbed. 1t may have been in his system for
several months previous One day Jones came
to me and brought a bottle which Contained
some pills. On the outside was a label which
read, Cure deafness and restlessness" ZONES
told me that Mr.. Rice taking those 7 cent
hack word by Jones 10 Mr. Rice that he should
stop using them, I did not want him 70 use
any medicine had not prescribed.
since began treating Mr. Rice his condition