Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-04
UNHAPPY JONES
Completes Story Of Murder Of
Millionaire Rice.
Admit in Cross-cxamnation He Ex-
poets to Escape Electric Chair.
Told that Nothing Could Be Done for Nc
Unless | Told Truth"

New York. April 3.-Charles F. Jones,
| the valet of VIM. Marsh Rice, the aged
millionaire, who, according to Jones
confession, yesterday, was murdered
| by Jones himself in September last,
| finished his testimony on direct exam
| nation, today, in the proceedings be-
fore Justice Jerome. charging Albert T.
Patrick with murder. The story Of the
murder and conspiracy with Jones, out
lined Tuesday. he. today. filed in with
n wealth Of detail and with the same
remarka BILE exhibition of coolness and
nerve.
According to the story told by Jones
on the stand. he and Patrick lad
drawn up 4 bogus will and We're wait
ing for the old man Rice to die. when
, mill burned down in Texas. Ricc's
connections there desired to rebuild it
and he spoke of advancing the $780,
600 or $4,000 required to replace the
burned property.
Patrick told ne to use all my inhu-
ercc' said Jones. today, with Rice
not to rebuild the mill, as this would
take out all the ready cash from the
estates
But Rice insisted on advancing the
money and authorized a draft for s25.-
coo from one of his correspondents in
Tevas Word Of the draft arrived in
New York. Saturday. and then Pat
rick said Jones testified. that he
! would have to do something to get Eicc
out of the way before the draft was
presented
There WAS one point. today. at which
h.t
would give some sign of emotion. II
was even anticipated that he might
break down. This WAS when he was
! asked about the effort he had made at
suicide in the Tombs. but expectation
was again disappointed. He said Fat
rick suggested that he, Jones. take the
blame for the conspiracy and murder:
of his refusal to do 50 and then said
calmly that Patrick handed him a
knife and of the attempt at suicide.
showing no more feeling than on the
day before. when he told how he
chloroformed his helpless benefactor.
But it was in cross-eXaminatiOn that
the interest of the day was conferred.
Robert T.. Moore. Patrick'S lawyer. felt
along the outline of Jones' last story.
bringing out in strong relief the con-
Predictions as against the former
statements made by the valet and then
kept the electric chair in the mind of
the man on the witness stand. who
answered everything as calmly and
quietly as if the thing was merely q
perfunctory rehearsal.
Then the point of the questioning
came out when Jones admitted that he
had hoped by telling his present story
to escape the death penalty for muir
der. He said he had gathered from his
LAWYER. Mr.. Battle. who had talked
with District Attorney Osborne, that
if he did tell the whole truth some
measure of consideration would be
shown him. This and his conscience. he
said. had induced him to admit his
guilt of murder.
If Jones was disturbed by the situa-
ton, ne found himself he had no adj
vantage over Patrick, who showed no
evidence of being disturbed by the
statements made by the witness.
Charles r. Jones. the valet secretary
of VIM. NJ. Rice, the itch Texan. re-
sumed his testimony, Wednesday. in
the proceedings against Albert T. Pat
rick. who is charged with causing
Rice's death in order to obtain his
property by means of a viii. deeds and
checks which it is alleged We're forged.
Jones began by relating that on
Monday. the day following Rice's
death. four men who represented
themselves to be lawyers. called az the
fiat and asked questions concerng the
circumstances surrounding the death.
Jones told Patrick he thought these