New-York tribune., 1900-11-03
HOUSE CON7RADICTS MILLER
SAYS THE OTHER LAWYER DID NOT SEE
HIS CLIENT-MR. BATTLE GOES
TO BELLEVUE

Charles F. Jones the valet of William Marsh Rice
who his throat after confessing that Patrick
responsible for his masters death. is rap
idly recovering and will be taken back to the
Tombs from Bellevue Hospital to-day or tomorrow.
The utter despair and terrible remorse of Jones
We're graphically described yesterday by William w.
Miller of the firm of Hornbower. Byrne. Miller
& Potter, who visited Jones at the hospital in the
company Of Captain Baker. the Texas lawyer.
Mr.. Miller said yesterday
Every word which Jones said as given out by
District Attorney Osborne was absolutely correct
Jones made this confession voluntarily. without
SnoWn tha n part or ali of might be used
himself at the trial Then and not not III @ then: dld
ahead
through friend of his who brought a letter to
Captain James A. Baker. l feel confident that his
deed done who had been friend
SAYS MILLER DID NOT SEE JONES.
Frederick B. House counse: for Patrick and
Jones stoutIy denied Mr. Miller had Jones
at the hospital. He said that the keepers who
had Jones in charge at the hospital had admit
ted to the bed of Jones except himself,
Mr.. House.
When Mr.. House called to his client at the
hospital yesterday re accompanied by ex-As
sstant District Attorney George Gordon Battle.
They went behind the screen and talked with
Jones in low tone for more than half an hour
Cannon. the keeper, who in charge of Jones,
stood out of hearing distance, and the men talked
earnestly for some time.
When going out. Mr.. House said that he called
simply to visit Jones, seeing that he was in such
trouble. He called him "a poor young man, in
hard luck" When asked why Mr.. Battle
with him he evaded the question and positively
refused to say whether Mr.. Battle would be
counsel in the case. Mr.. Battle would not talk
at all.
When Mr.. House reached his office in the Pulitzer
Building hurried consultation called of the
entire firm After the conference Mr. House was
asked:
'Is there to be any change in your plans of de-
fence for Jones and Patrick"
Not that / know of. No
What is the cause of the conference?"
Nothing"
Did you ask Jones to-day If he had made
confession?'
Yet you say that Jones has not made con-
IT That's t right" Mr. House said Il do not believe
ask him about 1t. You see the policeman there
and could hear everything, and wanted a private
conversation.
JONES SOON TO GO TO ToMBs.
Jones will be back in the Tombs tomorrow or
Monday and then 1 counsel with him in pri-
vate."
Mr.. House said that he still of the opinion
that Jones had been bulldozed into giving the
alleged confession, and ne said that Patrick abso
utely and decidedly denied giving any knife to
Jones. He was asked about the alleged statement
Patrick had pleaded with him to cut his throat
He secuted the statement and said that he con-
sidered 1t impossible for Patrick to have given him
the knife
Mr.. House was asked concerning the reported
statement from Mr.. Gardiner that the District
Attorneys office had the right 10 take confess
sion without consent OF the defendants counsel.
Mr. House was sarcastic in his answer, as he
said:
Colonel Gardiner decided that question like the
constitutional questions he tried In 1872
of Jones and said that he was still OF the opinion
that II was not voluntary confession. but that it
| had been forced from him. He said that he
| consulting with lawyers versed In such mat
| ters than he, and going 10 If there
any method whereby he could get inVestiga-
ton Of the matter He sale that If he found there
| was any such method he would sift the matter
| 10 the bottom.
| He finished by saying that he would fight the
| to the last ditch.
Patrick repeated yesterday that the confession
of Jones "a tissue of lies"