New-York tribune., 1900-11-03
RICE WITNESSES NAMED.
OSBORNE MAKES BROAD HINTS THAT
THEY MAY BE IMPLICATED.
THEY DECLARE THEIR INNoCENCE-IN-
oUIRY MAY RESULT IN TWO ARRESTS
POISON THEORIES ADVANCED

having a towel placed upon his face by Albert T.
Patrick. the lawyer of Mr.. Rice, the announce
ment was made yesterday that Patrick and Jones
were not alone in their alleged attempt to get
hold Of the old mans fortune. From statements
made by Assistant District Attorney Osborne
evidence is being accumulated to show that one
II not two men were associated with the lawyer
and the valet Although thus far only shad-
owy finger Of suspicion points at them the Ds
trict Attorney feels so sure that he has traced
his clews unerringly that yesterday he men
toned the names OF the two men,
Mfr. Osborne had just been reviewing the con-
fesson which he says Jones made to him on
Tuesday He told how Jones In his confessio"
had said that Patrick had placed towel sat
urated in what the lawyer called smelling
salts" on the old mans face, and that snort
time afterward he (Jones) had found him oeao'
that Patrick had given his aged client gray COL
ored tablets to take each night, and that only
few hours prior to the old mans death Patrick
had mixed potion and instructed Mr. Rice 10
take it. which ne did: and finally. that PatrlcK
had asked Jones TO fill out checks signed by Mr.
Rice and made payable to Patrick TO the total
sum of S250O00
DOES HE BELIEVE JONES?
.eDo YOU believe Jones's confession?" was
asked.
Mr. Osborne only shook his head. If to
indicate
swered
That is the very subject of my most earnest
study Jones may have told the whole truth
and again he may have only told what would
not incriminate himself II is still most serious
question in my mind whether Jones's confess
sion viii or will be used against him. Evi-
dence has come TO hand to-day. however. to the
effect that the very kind OF poison which has
been found by Professor Witthaus in the organs
OF Mr.. Rice. and which did not come there from
the embalming fluids. used by Mr.. Rice for
medicinal purposes six months before he died.
Il have reason to believe that DR. Bull per-
formed surgical operation on the side of Rce's
face. and that he prescribed bichoride of mer
curry as a wash TO cleanse this wound. II has
turned out that Rice died from bichloride OF
mercury poisoning. DR.. Bull performed the
operation on growth tumor in the face.
He gave antiseptic wash of bichloride of
mercury.
This has some bearing the case. II may
be remembered that Jones said that Rice took
gray tablets, tablets which in the house.
and of a grayish color. Now mind you Pro-
fessor Witthaus didn't know this He never
knew this the fact and yet he found mer-
curry in the bowls of the dead man.
Il shall take no steps until 1 have fully cor
rohorated Jones's confession" he continued Il
Know that Patrick had been informed of Jones's
cohiesslon' or at least part of it, before it was
MADE public He has made statement
THE OTHER TWO MEN.
I expect 10 see Professor Witthaus soon and
learn II the lungs of the dead man were pre-
served. am informed that the lungs showed
indications that would suggest smothering, and
wish to ascertain fully about it.
Il shall be busy for five or six weeks in COM
pleting all the details OF The case and in verify
ing Jones's confession.
The doctor" continued Mr. Osborne, nm
doubtedly left in the house some of those tablets
TO be dissolved and to be used as an antiseptic
wash. These may have been the tablets that
Jones speaks about"
Are there TO be any more arrests in the
case?" Mr.. Osborne was asked
Not right away, but later-perhaps" he said
Here Mr.. Osborne wrinkled his forehead. and
having punched the wrinkles in a big lump
over his nose, he added:
There are more men at the bottom of this
business than Patrick and Jones' There is ono
man-and perhaps there are two-whosa con-
nection with the every hour appears more
oonvincingly clear to me- do not saw they ara
implicated in the old mans death but in tho
plot TO ge his fortune.
Whom do you suspect" was asked
a witness"
"A witness of what?"
witness of the will which Mr. Rice signed
on June 30 and iE which the old man willed the
bulk Of his fortune to Patrick
Were not the witnesses of this win >,o,
Meyers and David c. Short?"
They were These are the men ON ro.
sure they witnessed the assignments IN The
case but l do know they witnessed the ,,,u
which is now in the possession of Samuel Inter.
myer" -'e4
VIII the two men be arrested?' Mr.. Osborne
asked '-e
Not as yet But they will be thoroughly In
vestigated" Az
NIX RIcEo ALLEGED ASSIGNMENT
The discovery that Mr. Rice had made an nc
signment Of all his property to Patrick ard
mat this assignment had been attested ~,
sworn witnesses. first brought to public notice
Ine names OF Morris Meyers and David G.
snort. The assignment was as follows.
state. City and County of New-York
For value received l hereby assign m Alba. -
money on denosi, M stoGks bonds notes. bills sums of
Is Wal-st. NewYork City and the safd ID e9hs; No
for tbe ean epx authorized TO receive receipt
September. 1900. W n RIGr daE OF
witnesses; MORRIS MEYERS,
-aF. meyers mas been associated with Patrick
in the practice of law. and lives at No 16s
Henry-st When asked about the asstenn,en,
On September 2s. the day of its discovery, Nv
the police. MI. Meyers said: Il have not been
party TO any assignment of any kind and !
have" 10y cay lhes
When seen yesterday Mr. Meyers admitted
that he had been p witness TO the assIenment
but further than that he refused to speak
SHORT SAYS HE SAW RICE SIGN
When Mr- Short was seen yesterday at his
Office. No $50 Nassau-st., he frankly admitted
ShefH he Ha7