The Lamar register., 1900-11-07
FOLLOWING CLUES
IN THE RICE CASE

New York. Nov. 3.-Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Osborne says it is his
opinion that more than one man had
been concerned in n general conspiracy
to get possession of Ricc's property.
He was asked If there would be any
further arrests in the case, and said not
Mt this time, stating it would be first
necessary to get evidence.
"I shall take no steps until | have
corroborated Jones' confession" he
continued. Il shall he busy for five or
six weeks in completing all the details
of the cnsc''
Mr.. Osborne bclieves he knows
where Patrick purchased the drugs
said by Jones TO have been admins
tered. After he consulted with Cap
tain McCluskcy. detectives were sent
to follow mp this seeming clue, which it
is believed was furnished by Jones In
the cross-cNamination of Wednesday.
which was supplemental to the confes-
sion. From the fact that DIR. Curry,
Ricc's physician. noticed no odor in the
death chamber upon his arrival there
the night of Ricc'S death. II Is surmiscd
that neither ether nor chloroform was
used by Patrick. rs the odor of both of
these drugs Is very pungent and re-
mains for n long time after admins
tration. There are other anncsthctics
which are by no means so distinct
There are many other clues con-
tanned in the cross-eNamination of
Jones. which the detectives are follow
ing up with II view to corroborating
his confession. The chief aim of Cap
tain McCluskcy is to find where the
things the valet nvcrs We're used were
purchased and what they were.
DIR. Bull. the surgeon. performed an
operation on Iticc's face about six
months before he died. As an antisep-
tic wash he prescribed bichloride of
mercury. Mr.. Osborne said this has a
bearing on the ease. as Jones has CON
fessed that Patrick gave Rice grayish
tablets. The tablets prescribed by Dr.
Bull were of grayish color. Mr.. Os-
borne further said that Professor Witt
haus knew nothing of this in making
his analysis.
Tile hearing OF the application by the
proponents of the Baker will of the
late Mr.. Rice that the later will, which
Is alleged to he In the possession of AL
bert r. Patrick. be placed on file In the
office OF the surrogate, was to-day ad-
journed until November 10th.
David l.. Short, who executed the
will of Mr.. Rice, the one in which the
millionaire bcqueathed the bulk of his
fortune to Alfred T. Patrick, to-day
said:
81 went to Mr.. Ricc's apartments at
the request of Mr.. Patrick. Patrick
sent n messenger boy TO my office. |
went over to pntrick's office. Patrick
said to me:
".iou are wanted up town to exc
cute some papers
Morris Myers went with me. He
went as n notary, | rs commissioner Of
deeds. When we reached the apart
ments Jones let us in and escorted us
to Mr.. Ricc's room. Mr. Rice was sit
ting at his desk and from n sort OF
cabinet compartment that was over IL
he drew out his papers. He said to us
both. This is my will, gentlemen.
have sent for you to witness my sigma
ture.'
'IIe asked Meyer to read one partic-
ular paragraph or phrase in the will.
do not remember what the subject mat
ter of the clause was. | did not pay
any attention TO it. Mr.. Rice seemed
to have much confidence in Myers. He
consulted him about his affairs fire.
quently. l did not know the contents
of the will. which was not read aloud.
frequently executed papers for Mr..
Rice. / executed the assignments to
Patrick"
Mr. Short further said that he never
talked to Myers or Patrick about the
will or assignments. He had known Mr..
Rice for about n year before his death.
Mr.. Rice had not said anything to him
about another Will.