New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-02
HOUSE BLAlIES GARDINER.
JONES'S LAWYER CONDEMNS WORKING
THIRD DEGREE-DISTRICT AT
TORNEY TALKS


Of Charles f. Jones the valet of the late Will
tam Marsh Rice. in cutting his throat in the
Tombs prison Frederick b House, tho lawyer
for Patrick and Jones, lays the whole RESPONSE
hility to the District Attorney. When he was
seen at his office in the Pulitzer Building. and
told that Jones had confessed and then attempt
ed suicide Mir. House broke into fury.
This Is an outrage" he shouted. Il don't
believe the people of this city will permit 1t.
It's nothing hut barbarism.
Here the District Attorney goes with the de-
tectives and Colonel Baker to my client in the
dead of night. midnight They rouse the young
up and drag him before their iuquisitorial
body. God knows what they did there. Then
they say he confessed. Galileo. racked by every
torture. said the earth was stationary. But
when he came out he reiterated in his famous
words that the EARTH did move
They have forced my client TO attempt sui
eide. II he dies Colonel Gardiner is guilty Of
murder. Every prosecuting attorney and judge
in this country denounced such methods when
applied 10 Dreyfus. What's the difference be
tween the action Of the French authorities and
here? In English Jurisprudence every man Is
presumed to be innocent until proved guilty. In
French courts every man accused is presumed to
he guilty until he proves his innocence. Colonel
Gardiner is ignoring our fundamental law. 1t
is revolutionary. My clients are innocent
can prove that Yet they have driven OF
them to desperation Here's this young man
never before arrested. He bore an excellent
reputation. But between certain newspapers
and some officials they drive him 10 take his
life. It's murder, just plain ordinary first de.
gree murder. and If he dies they have murdered
him"
The lawyer called on Coroner Hart al 10 30
a. III. and repeated his former statements about
the District Attorneys conduct A moment
later Assistant District Attorney Osborne met
Mr., House, and they had a brief conversation
IT was agreed with Coroner Hart that the Rice
inquest, which to have been held yester-
day. would be pos poned for A week. Mr. House
then hurried away. lie said he going to
Bellevue Hospital.
Mr. House reached the hospital about II 30
a. m. and admitted to the bedside Of his
client. After a ten minute interview Mr.. House
fastened from the hospital to his office where
he seen by half dozen newspaper mon.
DIDN'T KNOW OF THE CONFESSION.
Mr. House was asked II he knew that the al
legged confession by Jones had been made Tues
day night and he replied, NO. that is news TO
me. When l saw Jones yesterday morning
about Q clock he told me that about $50
the previous evening message had been
brought 10 him that his counsel wished to see
him. and Jones said I thought it was strange
that you would want Ia see me at that hour,
could see me. lux / went down past the
counsel room into a large room. which | thought
was the Ward"nsN office. There ] found Mr.
Osborne. Captain NcCuslly, Captain Baker Mr.
Ryrne. Mr. Miller and two unknown men
asked Jones what they wanted Of him, and he
said, Mr.. House, they were trying get me TO
make confession asked, A confession about
what Wei. they wanted mo 10 confess CON
corning the checks. the signatures the Will
and the circumstances connected with the old
mans death Jones said to me. MT. House.
| told them just what I have always said TO you;
! ! had only one statement to make, and that
was the one I made TO Captain McClusky. I
| said there nothing else I could tell. II you
| want TO know more. you had better get the
! statement taken down by Captain McClusky'
| He then said a statement was produced, which
was said be the made to McCusky. Jones
! read 1t, and afterward he asked 20 sign it,
! and he said. 1t correct In the main but
some Of the details were wrong lie asked
| 70 correct It and sign 1t. To this Jones said I
! will not. ] am in such condition from long
| confinement in the T0mhs that will say no
| more I was asked whether this was all |
! could say and said yes
He then said that some said to him.
! Int he didn't know whether It was Mr. Baker
! or Captain McCIusky but thought it one
| Of them, You had better tell all you know
| and help yourself Patrick has already made
| statement and has told the truth" Jones
| said he could not help what Patrick had done
| and that Patrick could only tell the truth and
| that It was the same thing told to Captain Nc
! Clusky.
Jones then said that three different state
! merits were prepared by Mr. Osborne, each one
! Of which he was asked to sign and declined
! Finally Jones said Il have said all that will
! I don't tank that you have any right to take
me and question NE without the presence OF
| my counsel and / VIII say no more"
BAKER TOOK JONES ASIDE
Jones said that they were about to take
him back TO his cell at 3 o'clock in the morn
ing and the rest were getting ready 10 on
Captain Baker took him 10 one side and said
he felt friendly disposed toward him, and that
he ought 10 embrace the opportunity TO helm
himself. but that II he did not he was sure IN
he convicted Of forgery, and he might be aIso
eIectrocuted; that his reply to Captain Bakar
that he had confidence in his counsel who
assured him he had perfectly good case and
that he could not help what might happen N
him; that he had told the truth in his frat
statement to Captain Mcclusky, and could add
nothing to it"
Mr. House continued: Il then had no sus
picion that Jones had made any confession and
I do not now believe that he made any CON-
fsssion that night or has made one since The
poor fellow was ia SUCH condieioa when I saw
him in Bellevue Hospital to-day tbot ba oou,,