New-York tribune., 1900-10-02
RICEs BOX TO BE OPENED.
CAPTAIN BAKER THINKS IT WILL RE-
VEAL VALUABLE SECURITIES
Mr.. PATRICK EvASTvE.

The strong box Of William Marsh Rice. the
.rA5 Texas capitalist. whose sudden death on
can-er7ber % is still shrouded with much mys-
rerv. will be opened to-day in the vault OF the
IaU-yorlx Security and Trust Company. This
will throw considerable light on the amount OF
The dead mans wealth, which ever since his
death has been the subject Of dispute Cap
tain James ". Baker, the executor q MI hlce'
ma, whose instigation the box viii be opened,
believes that il contains gilt edged securities
and bonds. since his arrival in this city
sbor-7v after AIr Rice's death. Captain Baker
hee thought il Impossible 70 open the vault
r-7on reaching the city he learned that the
order which ne formerly had from Nj. RICE
when the latter was in Texas, 70 enter the
vaults. had been revoked by the old man upon
The advice Of Albert T. Patrick, the lawyer, OF
No. 90 Broadway. Mr.. Patrick as was told
? ar the time attempted 10 cash checks TO the
amount Of S25OOO0 the day subsequent TO the
old mans death. These checks were signed
william Marsh Rice" and were payable TO
NJ. Patrick. who explained that he was the
legal representative OF the heirs OF the dead
mans wife. and had effected a compromise by
which they were 70 receive S23o,"po
BITTERNESS TOWARD PATRICK.
Captain Baker visited James ". Gerard, Of
Bowers & Sands, his legal representative in this
r has now beer SO arranged that the box Of
Nj Rice viii he opened tomorrow. This step
is OF course. necessary in order 10 complete
me inventory Of the estate. I have no definite
idea how large the estate viii prove 10 be, but
know II is Of considerable size beleVe tnat t
the box in the vault OF the New-York Security
and Trust Company contains stocks and BONDS
of great value
When asked concerning Mr. Rices property
which NJ Patrick had turned over to him, Cap
tain Baker said:
M Patrick still has in his possession SO
600 the cash which he received from the Fifth
Avenue Trust Company Nj Patrick insists
upon keeping this money, but will not explain
ms reason for keeping IT,
The Captain spoke Of this incident in the
negotiations which he has had with Mr.. Pat
rick with considerable bitterness When asked
when he intended 10 have the viii Of the dead
capitalist probated he said:
DO not believe It will be done soon It will
take some time complete the inventory c- the
estate
Captain Baker would not say II there would
be legal fight over thu viii, but tnttnaJed that
such litigation might ensue-
PATRICK EvADEs QUESTIONS.
Frederick Rice. the brother Of the dead man,
is still in Worcester, with his sisters, Mrs.
Mckee and Mrs. Old
Albert T. Patrick was particularly evasive in
his language yesterday with newspaper meE.
He even declined 10 say that he had in his pos
session the S25600 which Captain Baker says
has been held back by him out of the old mans
property. II spite OF his evasiveness of reply
Nr. Patrick intmated that a big legal fight was
on. and that he would play an important part
in IT,
IF had ny way" he said this Whole matter
would soon be settled. Not all lawyers are like
ne. however. Some prefer delay, postponements
and long consultations with this heir and that
heir"
Mr.. Patrick would not explain what plan Of
expedition he would advise, however. Neither
would he say why he kept the $4,000. He
would not even say in so many words that he
had the money When asked if he possessed a
more recent Will, than that known 10 Captain
Baker. Mr.. Patrick laughed TO some length, and
then replied:
4 am through talking about wills. until other
matters are attended To-"