The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-01
MYSTERY OF RICE'S DEATH.
MILLIONAIRE MAY HAVE BEEN
POISONED.
His Death Was Sudden and Unex.
pected and Police Suspect
Foul Play.

New York. September 25.-At the sug-
gestion OF District Attorney Gardiner and
Chief of Detectives McCluskey, Coroner
Hart is Investigating the death OF Will
liam NJ. Rice. who died Sunday night at
the Berkshire apartment house on Madi-
son avenue. Mr.. Rice was a millionaire.
who retired from active mercantile life
twelve years ago and Is said to have large
interests in Houston. Tex, and Milwau-
k-e. Wis.
The heart. lungs. intestines and stom-
ach of tho dead millionaire, by the direc-
ton of the detectives present at an au-
tOpsy, were turned over to Professor
Whtthaus for chemical analysis
The inquiry of the authorities into the
case begun early Monday. Four checks
bearing the dead mans name and calling
for the payment of nearly $50, 600 were pre-
scented for certification at the offices OF
the Fifth Avenue Trust Company ana
the banking house of s. NJ. Swenson &
Sons. Is Wall street. They were all made
payable to Albert T. Patrick, lawyer or
316 West Fifth street. whose offices are
at 215 Broadway.
The latter had for the past ten years
been Mr.. Rice's legal adviser. while his
immense business interests in Texas were
in charge of Captain J. a. Baker, VINO
with the dead mans brother. Frederlcs
Rice. of Houston, Tex, Is now on ms way
to New York at the Geographic request
of the brother The body will be Kept
until he arrives.
Two Checks Turned Down.
Two of the checks, one drawn for siSo.-
900 and the other for $4,000, We're certlied
without question by the Fifth Avenue
Trust Company. but the other two. Drawn
on S. NJ. Swenson 81 Sons. were hot
Id nrsc
the other for 1000. 1t was an error in
tho smelling OF the name of Lawyer Pat
rick. which had been written ALBERT
instead of albert" on the last check
which led the Wall street banking hrn
TO refuse to indorse. When this error
was discovered Swenson IL Sons called up
the Berkshire apartment house on me
'nhone and Charles Jones. Mr.. Rice valet.
VINO responded TO the call, answered that
the check was all right. This. he says
was i'm accordance with directions when
he had received from Lawyer Patrick
although both of them knew AT the tihie
that Mr.. Rice was dead.
eve won't certify to the genuineness
or the $4,000 check until we speak with
Mr.. Rice" answered the banker. ana then
Jones admits he answered the mililonalre
was then out.
Reing I'm a auandary. Jones called up
LAWYER Patrick ana uNti tAAO
fo~nned him of the question when had
heen asked by the paying teller employed
nv Swenson * Sons. - -, >,
when they ask for. Mr.. Rice again,
answered Patrick, tell them ne IS dead:
That will be all that is necessary.
In compliance with these Urectlons.
ZONES answered the second call over the
;nhone and then SwensOn & Sons declined
70 certify the check and consulted with
their lawyers In regard 10 the matter
Patrick Protests His Innocence.
Patrick declares that there was nothing
wrong concerning the checks when lie
sent for certification after Rice had died.
He SAYS that he has looked after interests
for Mr.. Rice for ten years and that the
money called for by the checks was not
for himself, but was a trust fund TO be
used in suits still pending. He declares
the milIionaire's death was due to old age
and worry over losses by the Galveston
flood and burning OF the Merchants aid
Planters mills al Houston. Tex. Mr. Rlce
having lost sl.50O.Coo by these two disas,
ters He also said Mr.. Rice was reunited
70 he worth 100000 and prior TO his
demise had given him an assignment
which gives Mr.. Patrick control OF the
estate.