The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-29

tation In the lntestines. but IT was i'm
possible to form any definite conclusions
as 10 the cause OF death from the
physiological examination.
Dr. Donlin. who performed the autopsy.
SAID last night. when seen ut his resi-
aence, No. l2s West Houston street. that
ne did not know the cause OF death or
the reason the autopsy had been per-
formed. He said he was acting under
orders from Coroner Hart, and that he
aid not know the name OF the dead man
Wnen he started at his work. He was
later informed that his name was Rice,
Gould YOU tell whether death had re-
suited from natural causes7'' the doctor
was asked.
mo. could not" he answered. There
was SO much embalming fluid in the body
that 1t was impossible for me to tell 4
remarked to Prof. Witthaus that hal
seldom seen a body containing so much
embalming fluid"
DO bodies generally contain as large
quantity Of the embalming fluid as
used in this case7''
No 1t happens rarely"
Did you ask Coroner Hart any cues
lions about the autopsy before you bo-
gam"
yes; | asked him what we were goi~s
90 find. and he said he did not know. Pr7t
Witthaus took several organs OF the body
away with him, and that's all | know
about it,"
DETECTIVES ON THE CASE.
Dr. Witthaus said that he could not talk
about the case, He remarked that no
knew nothing about the hist ~ OF tne man
ana said he had not even inquired nis
name. The professor SAID that he had
taken with him several of the organs,
which he would submit to chemical analy-
sis.
Detectives from the Central office we're
last evening busy in their investigation,
District Attorney Gardiner received some
reports last evening at the Wald rI-As,
toria. He declined to say anything abou.
the matter for publication. Coroner Hart
who began the investigation, declared that
he would say nothing at this stage OF the
affair.
James w. Gerard Of the Arm OF Bowers
SANDS, attorneys for S. NJ. Swenson a.
Sens, when seen at his home, No, IT
Giammercy Park, last evening said:
With matter in litigation and con-
fusion as this is, it would be unwise 10
make statement. l have nothing at this
time TO say In regard to the case"
When l called at the residence of Eric
P. Swenson, Nc. 10 East Seventy first
street, last night, was told that he was
out of town. 1t was also said that his
brother and the only other member of tho
firm, S. A. Swenson. had been absent from
the city fer one week.
Mrs. Van Alstyne OF No. q Fifth ave-
nue., knew Mr.. Rice very well. She is very
old and rather feeble. but was able to
visit him occasionally.
MRS. VAN ALSTYNE'S STORY.
"Mr Rice had few acquaintances and
fewer friends" she said last night. IL
think may say was one of his most in
innate friends. l was distantly related to
his first wife. His second wife was Eliz-
abeth Baldwin of Baldw.nsville. n Y.
They had been married about thirty years
when she died. five years ago.
I'm her will she disposed of about 81, 900, :
600 worth of property TO relatives. Mr.
Rice contested the will and the case is
eche1,teG ~ come uD II Galveston next
month.
MIR. Patrick was formerly associated
with Mr.. Holt DIS counsel for the wlfe 5
relatives. l was, therefore, very much
surprised last Monday when i visited Nj.
Rices apartments after his death and was
informed by Mr.. Patrick, who was there,
that recently he had been acting as attor
ney for Mr.. Rice"
Mrs. Van Alstyne said she was not we'll
enough acquainted with the lbgat n Iol-
lowing the contesting of the will to dis
cuss 1t Understandings
II believe" she said that Mr.. Pat
ricks fee was to be $4,000. A Mr. Baker
of Houston was counsel for Mr. Rice, He
has been telegraphed for and will be here
on Thursday
Mrs Van Alstyne was asked If Mr.. Rice
had ever expressed to her his desire that
his body be cremated.
"He never did" she said "He often
told me, however. that he did not want
his body embalmed.'
ONCE OSS-EXAMINED HER.
Before l saw Mrs. Van Alstyne her
name came up in a conversation with Mr..
Patrick and he said
II once found IL necessary to cross -ex-
anime Mrs. Van Aletyne severely, and We
did not get along very we'll"
Mrs. Van Alstyne said that Mr.. Patrick.
in working on the will case, once had a
long interview with her. She was 10 have
appeared as witness in the interest of
MI Rice.
Mrs Van Alstyne says she last .av mr..
Rice alive on Thursday. He was then very
much depressed because of his heavy
financial loss through the Galveston hur-
ricanc.
She learned, however, she says, that he
was feeling very we'll on Sunday, only a
short time before hm death and that he
had been planning with Jones' his secre-
tary, to visit the storm-swept district.