The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-11-08
VALET TRIES TO DIE.
Confession in Rice Case Followed BY
Attempt at Suicide

rick, to cash checks for large /
amounts, which purported to be
signed by the millionaire: the refusal
of one bank to cash the checks
drawn on it, and the discovery by
the bank officials that Mr.. Rice was
lying dead at the time the checks
were presented: the subsequent claim
by Patrick that Mr. Rice had made
him by will the trustee of his estate.
which amounts to anywhere from
81, 900 900 to %S. 900. 900; the
charge Of forgery both as regards
the checks and the will placed against
Patrick and Mr.. Rice's valet. Charles
+. Jones; thg arrest of Patrick and
Jones and their Judgment in jail.
have kept New York Interested for
over Il month in what, by the de
velOpments OF today, promises TO be
come the most celebra ted of the
many celebrated crimes which the
courts OF this city have been called
on to investigate.
| The first incident which led up to
tO-day's climax was the fact dis
closed yesterday that Valet Jones
had been taken to the district at
| tOrney $ office and the subsequent
rumor that he had made a confession
| to the authorities Before the pub
! lie had time to learn if the report of
a confession was true came the more
startling news that during the night
Jones had in his cell in the TOmbs
attempted suicide by cutting his
throat with penknile given him, he
says, by Attorney Patrick, also con
fined in the Tombs, and for the pur-
pose of getting rid of one witness to
Patrick's alleged crime.
His crime, according to the con
fession of Jones, parts OF which the
district attorneys office gave out to-
day, was nothing less than the muir
der of the millionaire by Attorney
Patrick and the purloining of valu-
able papers relating to the estate.
The taking off OF Mr.. Rice, says
Jones, was done by the internal adj
ministration Of some poison sup
pOsedly mercury, and the final APP.
plication OF a towel saturated with
some anaesthetic, presumably chic
reform. That portion OF the con
fession which has to do with the last
movements of the old man is the
following, given by the authorities
as coming from Jones, the scene tax
ing place in the apartments of the
millionaire and he lying sick in bed
CRIME is DONE DELIBERATELY.
Mr.. Rice said: lam very nervous
Mr.. Patrick. l wish you would not
trouble me. Please go away.
Patrick replied; Il have some
salts here, Mr.. Rice, that will cure
your nervousness.
He produced a bottle and un.
corked it. The contents smelled tC
me like some very strong liniment.
Then Patrick said tome: Get me
a towel and a sponge.
| got him both. Then Patricl
: said: Jones. you have to leave.
l left. As l was leaving, Patrick
said: III remain here until Mr.
! Rice gets to sleep" He closed th'
? door behind me.
l stood in the hall for a few
minutes and soon | heard Mr.. Ric'
laugh. thought this was queer. Sc
pushed open the door. | saw Mr.
/, Rice lying on his back in bed.
: The towel that | had given Patricl
: was wrapped around the sponge in {
cone shape This cone was lying
: directly over Mr.. Rice's eyes anC
; nose
Patrick was pressing ii down Will
his right hand Patrick did not Sc
: me. and OF course, Mr.. Rice coul'
not. After seeing what had seen
= went and lay on my bed.
Il Mr.. Rice grew very sick. Patricl
;. said TO me: Go get a doctor.
7 went for one He pronounced Mr.
Rice dead.
Attorney Patrick denies havin;
furnished Jones the penknife and b
lalsO denies the statements III tn
= confession.
Jones after his suicidal attemp
l. was taken 10 Bellvue hospital
hastily summoned physicians havin:
inst been in time to save him from
- 7,-1 +l,,.,,,crb loss OF blood At