The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-03
PROBING THE RICE CASE.
Attorney Osborne Hints at the Inn
plicat:On of n Third Pnrty.

|
NEW YORK, Nov. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Osborne said today that
he had become convinced that there was a
third person who had a guilty knowledge
| OF the conspiracy to get hold of the money
| Of the aged millionaire William Rice.
Il shall not mention any names at
present." he said, land no additional an
swers will be made for a while. but one
of the witnesses to certain assignments
alleged to have been executed by Rice.
has told story about his connection with
the case which do not believe / do not
say this person had a knowledge that Rice
was to be made away with. but think he
did know all about the attempt to get
illegal possession Of Rice's property. IL
it turns out that this man needs watch
ing, he will be watched. He will Lot es-
cape, at all events, If he shows any IN
clination to get away"
The witnesses to the assignments OF
which Mr. Osborne speaks were Morey
Meyers. a notary in Patrick's law office.
and David L. Short, a commissioner OF
deeds for Texas, whose appointment Pat
rick secured and whose office is at l50 Mas
sau Street. From what is known thus far.
these two men went to Rice's apartment
frequently to take Acknowledgements OF pa
perS, and, in TACT, did about all oil tnat klnd
of work Rice had to do.
1t was these two men who witnessed the
signature to the will of Rice in which
Patrick was made the residuary legatee.
Meyers was asked yesterday afternoon
what he had to say to Mr.. Osborne's
statement, and he said he had no COM
ment to make whatever. Short said:
III Mr.. Osborne insinuates that have
knowledge that anybody was trying to get
an Illegal possession OF Rice's property,
he is lair / had no such knowledge.
Maybe it is necessary for me to say that l
did not know that somebody was going to
kill Rice II it is, I'll say it. 1 did not
know that anybody had any designs on
either Rice's life or property, and don't
believe they had.
Il went frequently to Rice's apart
ments 20 take Acknowledgements of pa
pers. and I think I was always accom-
panied by Morey S. Meyers. 1t was as 1
have already told Captain McClusky and
others on one of these occasions that I
acknowledged the signature to Mr.. Hi e's
will. II anybody says that the signature
to that will is forged or that Mr.. Rice
did not sign it. that person Is liar. l
saw him sign the will, and l do not care
who says he did not, be it handwriting ex-
peTts, the District Attorney, or the Dis
trlct Attorney assistant Mt. OSDCrne.
Mr. Osborne discussed the case several
different times today, and while he was
talking about it just before he left his
office he said: Here is point in this
case that has not yet been brought out
have learned that about six mon his ago
DR.. William T. Bull performed an opera
ton upon Mr.. Rice's face for. as l under
stand it, the removal of a tumor. After
the operation was performed Dr.. Bull lett
some tablets of bichloride Of mercury. to
be dissolved in water and used as wash
for the wound. Jones knew that these
tablets were left there by DR.. Bull. and
SO did Patrick. Prof Witthaus discov
cred bichlorde of mercury in Rice's in |
testines and kidneys. But, mind you,
Prof. Witthaus knew nothing about BIZ !
chloride of mercury having been pre- |
scribed by Dr. Bull. intend to inyesti- |
gate this point thoroughly"