The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-09
FACTS POINT 10 4 CRIME
SEARCHING INVESTIGATION WILL
BE MADE INTO THE DEATH OF
WILLIAM r.. RICE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO ACT
Believes There Was a Conspiracy
Headed by the Late Million
aires Attorney, Lawyer
Patrick.

NEW YORK, Oct. S-District Attorney
Gardner made a statement today con-
corning the work done by his office to
solve the mystery surrounding the death
of William R. Rice and the checks with
his name
This NATTER said the district at
tOrney, was first brought 10 my atten-
eion by the banking house of Swenson &
Sons, through their counsel, Mr.. Gerard,
who considered the conduct of Patrick
and Jones so very suspicious as to make
it desirable that the Information In their
possession should be communicated to
the authorities
From the information I received from
Mr.. Gerard it appeared that Patrick had
presented a check for $25, 000 knowing
Mr.. Rice to be dead, and concealed tho
fact from the banking house and when
they tried to communicate with Mr.. Rice,
owing to the suspicious aroused by the
checks, they were met with evasiVe
answers over the telephone by the valet,
who at first concealed the fact of the de-
cease of Mr.. Rice. Then they made
further inquiries and ascertained that
the body had been promptly clnbalnled
with a preserving auid, although Mr..
Rice In his life time had said he was
opposed to anything of that sort and the
funeral was being fastened with intent
to cremate the body.
DETECTIVES ON THE CASE.
''The situation was one which seemed
to require instant attention and the de-
tectlve force was at once communica ted
with by telephone and Mr. Gerard sent
for to tell what he knew. Coroner Hart
was Informed of the circumstances ard
prevented the funeral. Meanwhile the
brother Of the deceased was fastening
7 IL ia
upon me with his private counsel AS
sistant District Attorney Unger was also
present and the conference lasted nearly
an hour. In that time Patrick's atten-
ton was called to a number of very sus-
p1cious circumstances, particularly as to
the embalming of the body with a reson-
Gus fluid when it was about to be Gre
mated. He gave no explanation of this.
but admitted that all or nearly all of Mr.
Rice's property had been assigned to him.
The object of such assignment, he did
not disclose
The questions asked seemed to cause
him some agitation as his hands shook
perceptibly, which was noticed both by
Mr.. Unger and myself
Il have seen a number of the checks
of Mr.. Rice drawn to the order Of Pat
rick, the defendant, and two of them ap-
pear to me to be clumsy forgeries
lie whole SUBJECT Will be thoroughly
investigated. not only as to the cause of
death of Mr.. Rice, but also as to this
remarkable series of proceedings
TO me it seems there has been a con-
spiracy to obtain possession Of the bulk
Of Mr.. Rice's property
DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY.
The hearing in the charges of forgery
against Patrick and Jones which were to
have been held this afternoon, was ads
journed until Monday on the request of
Frederick B. House, counsel for the pris-
oners. Assistant District Attorney o.
borne made no objection to the post
pOnement.
The original BAH of $4,000 was cor
tinued. Mr.. House said he might offer
bail tomorrow.
Late this afternoon formal complaint
against Patrick and Jones was made by
Albert Carey, a detective, who accused
the defendants of having forged the sig
nature of William M. Rice TO a check
for $4,000 on Swenson & Sons