New-York tribune., 1901-04-04
JONES SAYS HE LIED.
DECLARES STATEMENTS IN FIRST CON
FESSION ARE FALSE.
LED TO DTvULGE HIS STORY. HE ASSERTS
BY HOPE OF PARTIAL IMMUNITY
HELD OUT TO HIM

BY HOPE OF PARTIAL IMMUNITY
HELD OUT TO HIM
The cross-examination of Charles r. Jones. who
began his confession of the murder Of w. NJ
Rice on Tuesday, yesterday brought out that
Jones had made this confession in the belief that
nv so doing he would receive partial immunity
from the consequences of his crime. 1t also de-
veloped that the first confession. made by Jones
before his attempt at suicide, was largely false.
and that it was in the second confession, made
while he was in the House of Detention, that he
asserts he told the truth.
Mr. Moore conducted the cross examination.
and in answer TO his questions Jones said that
his statements TO Captain AIcClusky at the time
Of his arrest were fictitious and that he could
NOT remember what they were. He had made
practically the same statements TO Captain
Baker. he said in District Attorney Gardeners
room. Captain Baker had not seemed suspicious
about Rice's death. but had been convinced that
the checks and Wills were forgeries-
DO you remember what day the oil wells in
Texas were destroyed by fire." was asked of
the witness.
I think il was about one week before the
death Of Mr.. Rice Jones said. Mr.. Rice in
tended to rebuild them then, and had bound
himself 10 provide funds 10 the amount of nearly
this the oil well people had drawn on him for
s25Oea This draft fell due the Monday fol-
lowing the death Of Rice On the Saturday, the
dav rreyto,ls TO the death Of Mr.. Rice. talked
this over with Patrick"
Z said" the witness continued. that the
old man would probably drop off. Patrick said
We could not rely on that but had 10 get him
out Of the way the next day"
7 mas some tine between October 26 and 80.
said ZONES that he made his first confession TO
Assistant District Attorney Osborne On tnat
occasion he was closeted with Mr.. Osborne until
. o'clock in the morning. Mr.. Moore then pro-
duced typewriter copy Of this confession, and
went over il point by point, cross-examining the
witness as he went In this confession Jones
aroused Patrick of being the actual criminal, and
said that il was Patrick who clloroformed Mr..
Rice. Yesterday he said that those statements
we're not true His second confession. Jones
testified. had been made al the House Of Deten-
ton last January TO Assistant District Attorney
Osborne and Mr.. Battle, his own lawyer. He
knew that the crime TO which he had confessed
was punishable by death, but Mr. Battle had
led him 10 believe If he confessed he would re-
ceive partial immunity. Mr. Battle had not told
him that Mr.. Osborne had made any promises
What he was told Mr.. Osborne said was that
Zones told many stories. none Of which could be
tell the truth so that his story could be con-
hrrned Jones said that he supposed his story
would have IN be corroborated in order TO be be-
leved.
In describing his attempt commit suicide
Jones said that on the day before the attempt
was made he had a talk with Patrick in the
reception room Of the Tombs. Patrick said that
his means were exhausted, and asked Jones to
take the whole responsibility. To this Jones
had replied that he would rather kill himself
than confess unless he could tell straight story,
whereupon Patrick said that would be the best
thing for them both. and that he would Kill
himself too.
Patrick said he had a small knife in
HIS cell" the witness continued. THE
knife would do for of US. and he
would try to get some carbolic acid from Mr..
Potts. He gave me the knife. I put it in my
shoe and took it TO my cell Later Potts called
Patrick told me Potts would not get him the
poison. About O'Clock in the afternoon, after
had got the knife. I sat in my cell writing
some letters, and preparing for the end Just
then l wcs called to the District Attorney s
Office. While there I made a confession was
brought back 10 my cell in the evening, and at
about o'clock in the morning tried to cut my
throat"
Jones said that when he was taken TO Ponce
Headquarters he met Patrick there.
Did you have any talk on that afternoon
asked Mr.. Osborne.
Yes; Patrick told me he had been at his office
on the previous night. That he had destroyed
the viii witnessed in his Office, and also num-
Der Of the bogus letters l had written bearing
On the Will matter"
Witness said Patrick asked him when he last
gave Rice mercury.
I told him on Thursday" Jones said Pat
rick then told that there would not be any
traces Of that left in the system at the time OF
the autopsy. and that the embalming fluid
would Kill all traces Of the oxallc acld, Whlch
was vegetable poison"
Witness then told Of DR.. Curry coming to
the apartments on Tuesday where ne met Fat
rick and had long talk with him In the back
room. Jones did not hear the conversation
The so-called Patrick Will was then brought
up. Jones said he had told Patrick that the pro
visions for Rice's relatives in the former VIII,
which was destroyed on the day following Rice 8
death were too small and that il would be inn
possible to get ii probated. Patrick then had
the so-called Patrick will" drawn