The sun., 1900-09-27
rFE SIN
MYSTERY II, 4 DEATH.
Police Investigating Demise Of Mil
li0naire Rice.
STATEMENT BY EIS Law Z Err
Albert f. Patrick Explains CheciS
Transaction which Brought
the Case TO the t1nowi-
edge of the Police.

New York, Sept. 2G.The police and
coroner are busy investigating the cir
culnstances of the death Of William
Marsh Rice, the millionaire, which oc-
CURED on Sunday. Mt his residence, 800
Madison avenue. There seems to be no
doubt in the minds of the detectives on
the case and Of the deputy coroner who
performed the autopsy that Mr.. Rice
died natural death. He had been at
tended by physician in good standing, I
who was in the habit of calling on him
twice day. After the autopsy Fro /
fessor Witthaus took parts from the
body of which he will make an analysis
He said that his analysis would not be
made before ten days. The body was
taken back to the undertaker's after it
had been removed to the morgue and it
will be cremated on Thursday
/ The case was first called to the atten-
ion of the police by the banking house of
S. NJ. Swenson & Sons of 10 Wall street,
to whom Albert T. Patrick, a lawyer of
4 2Ta Broadway, presented. on Monday
morning, a check for $4,000, drawn by
| Mr. Rice to Mr.. patrick's order The
check was indorscd by Mr.. Patrick.
There was some difference i'll the way
Mr. Patricks name was spelled on the
face and on the back of the check. On
the face the name was written Albert"
and on the back ALBERT" a clerk took
the check back 10 Mr.. Patrick, who
made the names conform, and sent the
check back with renewed request for
J its certification.
bankers Make Inquiries.
The bankers thpn called up Mr.. Rice's
residence on the telephone and asked to
speak with him about the check. They had
not ihen learned that Mr.. Rice was dead,
! and they say that eqtivocal answers
were given in reply 70 their questions
} before theS were informed Of Mr. RicN's
death Charles Jones, who was Mr..
Itice's private secretary, then commune
) cated with Mr.. Patrick and told him q
the inquiries Of the bankers. Mr.. Pat
: rick fold Jones to inform the bankers
!, that Mr.. Rice was dead. As soon as
= they learned this S. NJ. Swenson y Sons
returned the check to Mr.. Patrick un-
:, certified.
The check was one Of four which Mr..
Rice had drawn to the order of Mr.. Pat
rick inst before he died. Mr.. Patrick
y was Mr.. Ricc's attorney, and he said
that an assignment had been made 10
= him that he might carry out certain
plans which Mr. Rice wanted perfected.
There was a second check in his favor
e for $4,000. drawn on Stevenson x Sons,
, and two others. for S135000 and $4,000
e drawn on the Fifth Avenue Trust com.
u pany. Tho checks on the trust company
were certified last Monday, after which
., the company was notified that Mr.. Rice
% had died the day before.
& Interview with Patrick.
L
., MIR Rice's death was not due to un-
le natural causes We were glad that tho
! autopsy was performed, for we knew
y tho result would point hnt one way. Wt
- await the result Of Professor Williams
!, examination with confidence.
,e II do not NJ present care to state thu
W bcncticiarirs Of the trust fund which Mr.
~ Rice decided 70 establish just before ht
7, died. for which he had signed checks t,
", the amount of S25O,000. Mr.. Jnnc
" brought the checks to me on Saturda.
~ night When Mr.. Baker, the Texas 1T
ne torncy. arrives, full and very satisfac
ei tory statement can be mnde Init now III
~ lips are sealed as regards that fund 10
ny good and sufficient reasons. One thing
o. will say, ana that is that the fund Wi
M. hc held in the interest Of everybody cor
ccrnetl- that il, | will not Weld il unit
|
~ ing to cash the S21.000 check III S. N
SwemSon 4 Sons. | did not notify tho,
m OF Mr.. Rice's death because | knew thu
the order fol The payment Of Il check
~ revoked by the death of the man VIII
~, signed IT, II was all right for me t
.;'t have the money, and ] knew it woul
!. save trouble to get out the money witt
~, out notifying the bank Of his dealt
~, When the firm asked Jones about VI
.as a,, Rice over the telephone, Of course | to
- him to announce his DEATH"
= When S. N. Swenson 4 Sons return,
the check for $4,000 to Mr.. Patrick /.
,. certified, they consulted with their In
yer, James ". Gerard, and he adyiS
But that the firm would be justified iii
porting the case to the police. Coron
s.d Hart was notified in turn, and he call
MI, at the Rice residence and found that i
~ body had already been embamed by
vi, dcrtaker Charles llowight of 35lli Fonl
Nj, avenue and that preparations had b.
Nv made for the funeral, after which I
M, body was to be cremated at Fresh POI
i. The funeral services were held as
JIM ranged. the Roy. Alexander w. Bost vi
,,.a.. officiating. Coroner Hart had the l9
,,,i- removed to tile morgue. and the autol
,.n was performed BY lr, Danlin.