The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-02
CONFESSION OF jones
Story Of William Rice's Death Told
by His Former Valet.
stntcment Followed by an Attempt
at Suiciie-CknrEcs Patrick With
Giving the Invalid Certain Grey
tsh" neutrality-suspicious. Scene Mt
the Denthbcd by the Prisoner.

NEW YORK. Nov. Assistant District
Attorney Osborne today announced that
the valet to the late William Marsh Rice
Charles F. Jones, who attempted suicide
early this morning in the Tombs. made a
confession to him last night duplicating
Patrick, Mr.. Rices lawyer. Mr.. Osborne
said:
"On Tuesday afternoon / received q
message that Charles F. Jones in the city
prison desired to see me- / went to see
Jones, and he was brought down to &
him If he wanted to see me. He said he
die. i told him that the law did not re-
Quire him to make a statement, and ex-
planned that anything he might state
might be used against him, and that
was not his lawyer. / told him that he
had lawyer. and that he had better con-
suit with him if he thought necessary.
He said he voluntarily desired to make
q statement. / thereupop sent for Cap
tain McClusky. James Byrne, of Horn
blower, Byrne Miller & Potter, and Mr..
Miller. of that firm and in their presence
Charles F. Jones made his statement to
me. Without going into full detail he
stated in substance that what Mr.. Weth-
erbee had testified to was true.
He said that for some days prior to
Rice's death, Patrick had given Mr.. Rice
tablets OF a greyish color; that Mr.. Rice
took those tablets from Patrick, and that
Patrick told him to take them, as he had
taken some himself; that about this time
Patrick and Rice had become very init
mate: that Mr. Rice OF Saturday sent
Jones to Patrick's house to demand GER
tain papers from Patrick that he, Pat
rick. had in his possession" Mr.. Osborne
then added, in the words of Jones:
This was about the 18th of September,
$780, Mr. Rice had been bothered with
constipation. When Mr.. Patrick brought
him some tablets, Patrick said he had
taken some himself Two days after this
Mrs. Van Alstene advised him to eat
bananas. Mr.. Rice said the bananas
clogged his stomach, and / told the doc
tor. The doctor said that Rice would pull
through The tablets were taken every
night until the Friday before Mr.. Rice
died. He may have taken more; if he
did j did not know Of it. The last time
| saw him take them was Wednesday or
Thursday before his death. Friday night
Rice fretted. worried, and grieved about
his business in general, speaking OF the
Galveston flood and other things. He
was afraid that Patrick had got him into
some clutch by which he would lose
the most of his property. He worried
and cried like a woman in Mysteries until
2 O'Clock that morning, and then he fell
off into a sleep and slept until O'CLOCK.
He slept very little that night. and ne
sent me to Patrick's house SATURDAY
morning and told me If i did not return
with the papers he would report TO the
authorities. Patrick was agitated, ana
said L want TO know Rice's condition,
and what steps he will take, and l want
YOU to telephone me. II Rice takes any
steps to notify the authorities. i want to
know II you will be sure and telephone
me-. / told him that / would. When- 1
went back Rice was sleeping. When left
Patrick's house / went fer the doctor, ana
when / returned Rice was asleep. ana
nothing mere was said about the papers
until Sunday morning. His mind was
wandering Sunday morning, and he taike;
incoherently. This was after he woke up.
About II or u o'clock he had improved
and he asked abou: the papers. re
asked me why l did not get them. told
him that Patrick had promised to call,
but had not done so.
He told me to go and see him again
and tell him that he had given him the last
warning. He told me to tell 1t TO him IN
the presence of some person. / went to
see Patrick and he said the papers were
in his Office, and that he would get them
and bring them to me. This was about !
or 2 o'clock He did not do SO and / went
TO his house about 8 o'clock He said he
would bring the papers. ! told him TO
bring everything he had in the house, and
he wanted to know why Rice wanted the
papers He finally did go to the house.
Rice said he was very nervous and told
him (Patrick) to please go away
Patrick said, 1 have some smelling
salts to quiet your nerves Patrick asked
for a towel and sponge and i got them for
him. He said that must leave the room.
] left and heard Patrick saying he would
remain with Rice. / heard Rice laughing
q few minutes later and saw Rice lying on
his back with the towel over his head in
q cone shape, Patrick holding it In his
right hand. Patrick did not see me and
condition of things lay down and went to
sleep. When Patrick entered the room he
showed Rice a package. He showed him
something In bottle, which looked like
salt, which he diluted in water and gave to
Rice, telling him ii would strengthen him |
very much. I will not take it unless you |
take some first said Rice. l tasted it and |
It tasted lid or metallic like. / would |
not take I unless ] knew what 1t was and |
put 1t Oh the shelf. i poured little out |
In glass from which he had taken some. \
This was about o'clock. He was looking \
out OF the window and ! persuaded him to |
go TO bed. He said he would CO. i car |