Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-03

Mrs. Anna Francis was re-
called to the witness stand.
this morning. at the opening of the
Patrick trial for the murder of
Millionaire Rice. She had never writ
ten any letters for Patrick Mrs. Fran
els said she had not destroyed Pat
riek's medicine chest. and that Mr..
Osborne could have it if he would send
for it. She also offered to give the
prosecution all of the letters written
her by Patrick.
Charles J. Jones. Rice's valet, was
then called. He said he had worked as
store keeper at the Capitol Hotel
Houston, Texas. owned by Mr.. Rice
He said he had been Mr.. Rice's secre
tary. valet and general utility man. Mr..
Rice. he said. moved to New York in
September. 1897.
Witness said that he first met Pat
rick in November. 1899. Patrick repre-
scented himself as a commercial man
from Texas and wanted to see Mr..
Rice. Patrick introduced himself as Mr..
Smith. Mr.. Patrick at the time. Jones
said, had a long talk with witness He
asked whether Rice had a legal rep
resentative in this city and showed
himself inquisitive about the affairs of
the old millionaire.
Patrick. witness said called sec
ond time. He then spent an hour with
Jones. They discovered the will of Mrs.
Rice. Witness said Patrick at that time
stated that there was no doubt that
the Holt side of he case would vim
There was an abundance of evidence
Patrick said all he needed was a letter
to Captain Baker.
At the second visit of Mr.. Patrick
he said he wanted to communicate
with Mr.. Rice: that he wanted to get
him to compromise the case. He was
also very anxious to get a letter to
Captain Baker. purporting to come
from Rice. In the letter Rice said that
he (Baker) had misrepresented the
case to him: that he was tired of New
York and wanted to return to Texas,
where all his relatives lived.
Jones and Patrick asked him to write
a letter on his typewriter and give it
to Patrick with the purpose of putting
it in evidence in the Holt case.
But who would sign the letter."
Mr.. Rice, 1 suppose. Patrick said he
would take care of that
Witness said he wrote the letter on
his typewriter and on Mr.. Rice's let
ter heads. II delivered the letter TO
Mr.. Patrick on the third visit Jones
continued. Il was to get $3.50 for writ
ing the letter. However he did not pay
me anything. saying that the money
was not to be paid until l had gone
on the stand and sworn that 1 wrote
the letter at Mr.. Rices dictation.''
In December. 1899. witness swOre.
Patrick first approached him about the
drawing of a will. Jones was to draw
the document on his typewriter and get
Rice to sign it when his mind was not
quite clear.
Patrick proposed they should try to
get the witnesses of the will of 1896.
Jones afterward approached Weather
by. the clerk in Swenson & Sons Of
flee to get him to act as a witness.
Weatherby refused and threatened to
take Jones' head off, of he dared to
suggest any fraudulent scheme against
Rice.
At the afternoon session, Jones said
that, May 26, Rice had some papers to
execute and Jones took them to Pat
rick's office, where he met. Short. who
at Patrick's request had become
commissioner of deeds for the state of
Texas. Short went to Rice's house and
executed the papers. -
Was the will you saw in Patricks
office dated before it was shown to
Meyer" asked Mr.. Osborne.
NO: it was made in March. but was
not dated until June SO.s Mr.. Patrick
told me he destroyed it on the Monday
night following the death of Mr.. Rice.
Continuing, Jones said that Meyer
and Short were at Rice's Tat, June 30,
to witness certain papeF F Rice
Did Mr.. Rice sign any 'V'efll. June 80.
during the time Meyer and Short were
in the apartments?
'Hc did not. I was there all the time
and I did not see him sign any will
Had he signed one l should have
known it
Patrick asked me- witness contin-
ued, whether / did not think old Rice
was living little too long for our
push. said I thought SO. Patrick sug-
gested we put him out of the way. |
suggested Dr. Curry but Patrick said
DIR. Curry would not do anything OF the
kind
Patrick, witness went on. suggested
that Jones get laudanum from drug
sure 5t COneE lSldnu loi lHc pui P''S
of poisoning Rice.
Witness then went on to say that he
procured the poison from his brother
in Texas
What did you get?
"Chloroform and iaudanum
How was the poison sent?'
1T was sent by express"
Did you sign a receipt
Il did"
Jones testified that he delivered the
poison to Patrick about three weeks
before Ricc's death.
Jones, will you state all the CONVEX
ton that took place between you
and Patrick in regard to getting Rlce
out OF the way" said Mr.. Osborne.
About the end of August. witness
replied Patrick asked me whether L
had gotten the laudanum from the
drug store at Coney Island. I said l
had not, but that ! had made some
other arrangements to get the poison
Patrick then told me to give Itice
Sapolio. as that would break him
down. / told Patrick l could not DO
mat. but told him I had some 1ner-
curial pills which Mr.. Curry gave me.
Patrick said I ought to give them to
Rice. / told Patrick / could not do SO