Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-08
MYSTERY CLEARING
MILLIONAIRE RICE OF NEW YORK
WAS MURDERED.
A MOST REMARKABLE CASE
Valet of Dead Man, Who Makes An
Unsuccessful Attempt at Suicide,
Says Attorney Now in Prison Com
mitted the Murder-Crine Being
UnraVeled.

New York, Nov. 2.-The death of
the wealthy William Marsh Rice at the
Madison avenue apartments Septem-
Der %; the attempt of his New York
attorney, Albert T. Patrick, to cash
checks for large amounts which pur-
ported to be signed by the million
aire; the refusal of one bank to cash
checks drawn on it and the discovery
by bank officials that Rice was lying
dead at the time the checks were pre-
sented; the subsequent claim by Pat
rick that Rice made him by will trus-
tee of his estate, which amounts any
where from 100000 to $8,O00,000;
the charge of forgery, both as regards
checks and the will, placed against
Patrick and Rice's valet, and the ar
rest of Patrick and Jones, have kept
New York interested for over month
in what, by developments of yesterday,
promises to become the most ceIe-
brated Of many celebrated crimes
which the courts of this city have
been called on to investigate.
The first incident which led up to
yesterdays climax was the fact dis
ken to the district attorneys Office sub
sequent to the rumor that he made a
confession to the authorities. Before
the public had time to learn if the re-
port of the confession was true came
the more startling news that during
hn iohf hOI ~ ~,
Tombs attempted suicide by cutting
his throat with a penknifc given him,
he says, by Attorney Patrick, also con-
fined in the TombS and iNr the pur-
pose of getting rid of one witness to
Patrick's alleged crime. His crime,
according to the confession Of Jones,
parts Of which the district attorneys
office gave out yesterday, is nothing
less than the murder Of the million
aire by Attorney Patrick and the pur-
Joining of valuable papers relating 10
the estate. The taking off of Rice,
says Jones, was done by internal ad-
ministration of some poison, supposed
ly mercury, and the final application OF
towel saturated with some anaesthe-
tic, presumably chloroform.
That portion of the confession which
has to do with the last moments of the
old man is the following given out by
authorities as coming from Jones, the
scene taking place in the apartments
Of the millionaire, he lying sick in bed:
Rice said: I am very nervous, Pat
rick, I wish you would not trouble me
Please go away Patrick replied: I
have some salts here, Rice. that will
cure your nervousness He produced
a bottle and uncorked it. The contents
smelled to me like some very strong
liniment. Then Patrick said to me-
Get me towel or sponge I got him
both. Patrick said: Jones, you will
have to leave left. AS was Ieav,
ing Patrick said: I will remain here
until Rice gets to sleep He closed
the door behind me. l stood in the
hall few minutes and soon heard
Rice laugh. I thought this queer, so !
pushed open the door. I saw Rice Iy-
ing on his back in bed. The towel l
had given Patrick was wrapped around
the sponge. This was lying directly
over Rice's eyes and nose and Patrick
was pressing it down with his right
hand. Patrick did not see me. After
seeing what had seen l went and lay
on my bed" Patrick denies having
furnished Jones the penknife and also
denies statements in the confession.