The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-03
THOSE GRAY TABLETS
POINT IN THE RICE MYSTERY THAT
is NOT YET CLEAR.
Statements by the District Attorney,
Doctor and a Nurse-VaIet
Jones Improving.

NEW YORK. Nov. 2.-Charles F. Jones.
valet of the late William NJ Rice, is still
in the hospital but is improving. His at
tempt to commit suicide, following his con-
fession and charge that Albert T. Patrick
poisoned the millionaire. is still the chief
topic in Criminal Court circles.
Assistant District Attorney Osborne, in
a further statement given out this after
noon. says that DR.. Bull, the surgeon, per-
formed operation Rice's face about
six months before he died. As an anti
septic wash he prescribed bichloride of
mercury. Mr.. Osborne said this had a
bearing on the case as Jones had con-
fessed that Patrick gave Rice grayish tab
let's. The tablets prescribed by DR.. Bull
were of grayish color. Mr.. Osborne fur
ther stated that Prof. Witthaus knew
nothing of this in making his analysis.
DR.. w. L. Bull, who performed the opera
ton on Rice's face. said later Il was
called in By Rice's physician, DR.. ]. Milton
Mabbott. of 10 Fifth avenue, to perform a
slight operation on Rice's face. The opera
ton was not serious and did not even re-
quire ether"
Miss r. J. Evans. DR.. Bulls head office
nurse, who had charge of the operation,
said: II did use bichloride of mercury,
but took away every tablet not used /
diluted the tablets and bathed Mr. Rice's
face with the solution. These tablets were
blush in color, and not gray, although some
one not acquainted with them might say
they were of grayish tinge.''
Dr. Bull continued. by saying: There are
white tablets Of this sort, but | never use
them. l, myself, am not very well ac-
quainted with the effects the tablets would
have when taken internally. | know
they would cause extreme congestion of
the bowels and severe inflammation. 1 do
not know whether they would kill man
unless taken in large quantities. The tab
let's sold at drug stores like headache
drops and other articles, without any red
tape, and in that way they could be easily
secured. AS face wash they are per-
fectly harmless"
Fred B. House, counsel for Jones and
Patrick, accompanied by former Assistant
District Attorney George Gordon Battle
went TO Bellevue Hospital this afternoon
and were admitted to the prison ward to
see Jones. They talked with Jones for
over half hour. When leaving Mr.. House
said that he called simply to visit JONES'
seeing that he was in such trouble. He
called him "a poor young man in hard
luck" When asked why Mr.. Battle was
with him he evaded the question and posi-
lively refused to say whether Mr. Battle
would be a counsel in the case Mr.. Bat
tie would not talk at ALL
Efforts were made this afternoon to de-
termine the exact condition of the lungs
of William Marsh Rice the millionaire
after his death. Jones, in the confession
he made before he cut his throat in the
tcmbs, said he saw Albert +. Patrick hold
ing/a towel, in the shape OF cone over
the aged milionarjes face. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Osborne, who said he would
communicate with Professor Witthaus
concerning the matter, declared that the
autopsy had revealed a state of affairs
consistent with smothering. Whether the
lungs have been preserved was not known
at the district attorneys Office to-day but
ii is believed that they, with other organs.
were removed before the millionaire's body
was cremated.