Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-11-02
Amazing Crime Promises to
Grow from Rice Will Case.
Valet Jones Attempts Suicide in
His Prison Cell.
Jones Makes Grave Charges Against Atto.n ne)
Patrick.

son avenue apartments, on sept. -, the
attempt of his attorney. Albert r. Pat
rick. to cash checks for large amounts
which purported TO be signed by Rice
the discovery by the bank officials that
Mr.. Rice was lying dead at the time
the checks We're presented, the subse-
quent claim by Patrick that Mr. Rice
had made him. by will. the trustee Of
his estate which amounts 70 anywhere
from $1,000, 900 to $1,000 900. the charge
Of forgery both as regards the checks
and the will, placed against Patrick
and Mr.. Rice's valet, Charles f. Jones:
the arrest of Patrick and Jones and
their lodgment in jail, have kept New
York interested for over a month in
what. by the developments Of today.
promises 10 become the most celebra-
ted crimes which the courts of this city
have been called on to investigate.
The first incident leading M 10 the
sensation Of today was the fact dis
closed. Yesterday. that Jones had been
taken 10 the district attorneys office
and the subsequent rumnr that he had
made 4 confession u the authorities.
Before the public had time To- learn Of
the rrlnurs or i confession was true.
came the more startling statement that
during The night Jones had attempted
suicide by cutting his throat with a pen
knife given him, hr says, by Attorney
Patricke. who is also confined in the
Tombs
That portion of the confession which
has to do with the last moments Of the
old man is the following. given out by
the authorities as coming from Jones.
the scene taking place In the apartment
of the millionaire and he lying sick in
bed:
Rice said: I am very nervous. Mr..
Patrick. ! wish You would not trouble
me-. Please 20 away
Patrick said: I have some salts
here. Mr.. Rice, that viii cure your
nervousness.
He produced a bottle and uncorked
ii. The contents smelled TO me like
some very strong lipiment.
Then Patrick said 10 me: Get me
towel and sponge I got both.
Then Patrick said: jones, YOU have
to laave / left. AS l was leaving
Patrick said: Ill remain here until
Mr. Rice gets to sleep He closed the
door behind me.
II stood in the han for a few min
utes and soon heard Mr.. Rice laugh.
thought this was queer, 50 I pushed
open the door. I saw Mr.. Rice lying
on his back in bed.
The towel that ] had given Patrick
was wrapped aroOund the sponge in a
cone shape This cone was lying di-
rectly over Mr.. Rice's eyes and nose.
Patrick was pressing it down with
his right hand Patrick did not see me-
and of course Mr.. Rice could not. At
ter seeing what had seen went and
lay on my bed.
Mr.. Rice grew very sick Patrick
said to ne: Go get a doctor l went
fnr one. He pronounced Mr.. Rice
dead"
Attorney Patrick denies having fur
nished Jones the penknfe and he also
denies the statements made in the con-
fess.on.
Jones. after his attempt at suicide,
was taken 10 Bellevue hospital. The
physicians were just in time TO save
him from death through loss Of blood.
Ats o'clock tonight. the hospital sur
geons said he was slightly better and
the chances are that in few days he
will again be placed in the Tombs.
Frederick +. House attorney for
Patrick and Jones. has made later
statement concerning the alleged con-
fession Of Jones. He says he does not
believe Jones ever confessed and bases
his belief on what ne says Jones told
him on Wednesday,
After calling attention 10 the fact
that millions are at stake in the mat
ter Mr.. House. said: The confession
is said to have been made voluntarily.
Tuesday night. When | visited Jones
III the city prison. yesterday morning,
ne told me that he had been subjected
10 the third degree during the previous
night He said that he had been told
that | wanted to see him. Jones said
that he was asked to confess that the
checks We're forged. that the will was
forged and that the old man was muir
dered.
Jones said to me: Mr.. House, | told
them just what / have always said TO
YOU | had only one statement to make
and that was the one | made u capt. |
NcClusky. / said there was nothing /
else could tell a statement was pro |
duced. which was said 10 be the one | !
made To Capt. McCluskey. | read il. |
and afterwards was asked to sign il. | |
refused to do 50. because many things
had been added TO it since I made il. I
| was asked to correct it and sign il.
This | refused 10 do. I told them that
was in no condition to protect my
own interests.
Then someone. either McCiusky or
Baker. said that l had better tell all |,
and save myself. | was told that Pat |
rick had confessed. l replied that | |
could not help what Patrick had done. !
II he made a truthful confession. |
said. il can do no harm.
Then three different statements
were prepared by Mr.. Osborne Each
was read to me. and | was asked 10
sign one Of them. / declined | then
said that / would talk no more. told
Mr.. Osborne that he had no right to
treat me as he was. and that l would
say nothing more save in your pres
ence. Mr.. House
DR.. Walter Curry. who attended Mr..
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