The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-11-06

New YORK, NOV. 2.-Ine death oil the
wealthy William Marsh Rice Septem-
ber %; the attempt of his attorney,
Albert 4. Patrick, to cash checks for
large amounts which purported to be
signed by the millionaire; the refusal of
the bank to cash the checks drawn on
1t, and the discovery that Rice was
dead at the time the checks were pre-
sented; the subsequent claim of Patrick
that Mr.. Rice had made him by will
the trustee of his estate, which amounts
to anywhere from three to eight mil
lions; the charge of forgery against
Patrick and Mr.. Rices valet Charles
Il. Jones, and their arrest, have kept
New York Interested for over a month
in what, by the developments of yes
terday, promises to become one of the
most 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 rumor that
Valet Jones had made confession to
the authorities. Before the public had
time TO learn if the report was true
came the more startling news that
Jones had attempted suicide by cutting
his throat with penknife given him,
he says, by Attorney Patrick, for the
purpose of getting rid of the only wit
ness to Patrick's alleged crime.
Attorney Patrick denies having fur
nished Jones with the penknife and he
also denies the statements in the con
fession.
Night Keeper Currnn said Jones got
the knife with which he cut his throat
from Albert II. Patrick. Jones, after
his suicidal attempt, was taken to
Bellevue hospital, physicians having
L., L.;
death through loss of blood. Last night
surgeons said he was slightly better,
and would recover.
The confession of Jones was made to
Assistant District Attorney Osborne.
Captain McClusky, James Byrne of
Hornblower, Byrne, Miller X Porter,
and Mr.. Miller of the same firm.
He said that for some days prior to
Mr.. Rice's death Patrick had given Mr..
Rice tablets of grayish color; that
Mr.. Rice took these tablets from Pat
rick, and that Patrick told him to take
them, as he had taken some himself;
that about this time Patrick and Mr..
Rice had become very intimate; that
Mr.. Rice on Saturday sent Jones to
Patrick's house to demand certain pa
pers from Patrick that he, Patrick. had
in his possession. Continuing, Jones
said:
"This was about the 10Th of Septem-
ber. 1900; Mr.. Rice had been bothered
with consumption. When Mr.. Patrick
brought him some tablets Patrick said
he had taken some himself. Two days
after this Mrs. Vanalstyne advised him
to eat bananas. Mr.. Rice said the BAN
anas clogged his stomach, and l told
the doctor. The doctor said that Rice
having diarrhoea he would pull
through. The tablets We're taken every
night until the Friday before Mr.. Rice
died.
"On the Sunday that Rice died Pat
rick asked me for bottle and a sponge
and got them for him. He then asked
me to leave the room. He said: L will
remain with Mr.. Rice until he goes to
sleep, and will go out the side door.
Two minutes later l heard Mr. Rice
after l left the room. l went
to the door and peeped in and saw Mr..
Rice lying on his back anu the towel was
folded in n cone shape over his whole
face, and Mr.. Patrick was holding it
over his face with his right hand. Mr..
Patrick did not see me. nor did Mr..
Rice. l opened the door just enough to
see what was going on. and just as
soon as | saw the position of things /
went and lay down on my bed and
went to sleep"
Mr.. Osborne says Jones described
Rice's death as follows: "Mr. Rice was
very sick. Patrick said to me: Go and