The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-27
FOR BOTH SIDES.
Patrick Was Attorney for Rice and
Also for VIII Contestants.

NEW YORK, Sept. 26-In connection
with the case OF William M. Rice. the
Herald will say tomorrow: at has devel
oped that Albert T. Patrick, who was Mr..
Rice's attorney, was at the same time the
counsel for the litigants who were opposed
TO his millionaire client in the matter of
the will of the second Mrs. Rice. Mr.. Pat
rick said that he saw nothing improper In
his acting in this apparently dual capacity.
His presentation of the checks of Mr.. Rice
for certification after he knew that the
signer of the paper was dead. did not i'm
press Mr.. Patrick as being at all irregu-
lar.
'.Beneficiaries of the will of the second
Mrs Rice were much surprised to read in
the newspapers that Mr.. Patrick was also
the attorney of Mr.. Rice. They supposed
he would not accept any retainers from
Mr.. Rice while engaged TO look after their
interests which were opposed TO those OF
the eccentric millionaire. Mrs. Elizabeth
Waukesha, Wis Her body was taken TO
Milwaukee, where IL was inferred. Mrs.
Rice was Miss Baldwin, of Baldwinsville.
n. Y She first married Mr.. Brown and
Mar. Rice was her second husband.
Under the law of the State of Texas, a
wife has the control of a part of her nus
bands property. Mrs. Rice disposed Of
s., 500, 900 by her will, making her own rela-
lives and friends the beneficiaries. Mr..
Rice vigorously contested this will. He first
alleged that his wife was not mentally
capable of making will. and when the
case was decided against him. he took an
appeal. He dropped the appeal and brought
another action To break the Will, on the
ground that neither he nor his wife was a
resident of Texas. but of the State Of
New York. This matter has been in the
courts for the past four years. .. T. Holt,
a lawyer of Houston, Tex, represented
made executor of the will He engaged
Albert 7. Patrick TO assist him. Mr.. Pat
rick apparently pushed the case. He took
testimony here and forwarded IL to Texas.
THE beneficiaries under Mrs. Rice's Will
all expressed themselves as satisfied with
the manner in which he was looking after
their interests. They have within the last
few months. however. shown impotence.
They think that the settlement: of the es-
tate has been too long delayed.
Mr.. Patrick. when seen at his Office
readily gave an explanation of his rela-
tons with Mrs. Rice and with the benefi-
Charles under the will OF Mrs. Rice. IT was
well understood said he, that / should be
opposed TO Mr.. Rice in the matter Of the
will. Mr.. Rice understood IL thoroughly
and approved of IT, He said he was con-
tent 10 let ii be so. l was his attorney In
all other matters except those which had
any bearing upon the will of Mrs. Rice
He never tried 10 bride me or influence NE
in any way. He once asked me how much
the other side paid me Tor my services.
first" ne remarked, land I would have
given you SIS co.," He talked over the will
only few weeks ago. and he then said he
was satisfied 10 let things go they We're
and that / should be opposed TO him until
the matter was settled. | can only say
that the interests OF the beneiciaries under
the will have not suffered. i do not see
why those persons who make this COM
plant did not come here. instead of going
10 a newspaper
Mr.. Patrick also said that the impress
sion had gone out that he had gone TO
the Safe Deposit Company of New York
and demanded Mr.. Rices securities when
the facts were he had merely served notice
upon the company that II must not permit
anybody to open the box unless he was
present.