The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-05
J0NESAN AWFUL LIAR
HIS TESTIMONY WILL HAVE TO BE
CoRROBORATED.
STATES CASE LOOKS WEAK.
WITNESS WEAK, WICKED AND UN-
FORTUNATE, SAID JUDGE.

His Lying PrOpensities Pretty Well
shown Up by Pntrick's Attorney.
The Court Protects Him, However.
Patrick's Nerve Well Illustrated.
Read Jones' Confession, Charging
Him With Murder of Rice, to the
Court, without Any Show of Feel
ing, Whatever-Hearing Adjourned
Until Tuesday.
New York, April 4-There were at least
two incidents during to-day's cross-ex-
animation of Charles f. Jones, the valet
secretary of Millionaire William Marsh
Rice. which rose above the ordinary One
was a remark made by Justice Jerome,
who presides at the hearing, and which
probably shows why Lawyer Patrick, ac-
cused with Jones of the murder of the
former Texan, has all along taken the
accusations of Jones against himself
with a demeanor almost bordering on
contempt.
Attorney Moore, for the defense, had
asked that when the hearing closed for
the day it be not resumed until Tuesday.
Justice Jerome seemed willing and then
added:
1T is necessary that Jones' testimony
as to this murder should be corroborated.
He being self-confessed accomplice his
testimony is not alone enough upon
which to hold Patrick"
Attorney Moore tersely added to this:
1--WE understand that, and we suppose
the district attorney does, too"
Tonight those who are watching the
case closely are wondering what cor
roborative testimony the state will intro
duce to sustain the statements of Jones.
Patrick's IndOmitabIe Nerve.
The other incident brought out in the
clearest light the indomitable nerve of
Lawyer Patrick. In the face of the re-
iterated story of Jones that Patrick had
instigated the forgeries and the actual
murder, the latter took his place in the
court proceedings with the utmost nom
chalance.
AT one point it became necessary that
a statement made by Jones be read, and
it was given into the hands of one of
counsel for the defense for that purpose.
This was the statement in which the val
ct claimed Patrick killed Rice and which
he has since denied. The reader hesttated
and stumbled over the written words.
Suddenly Patrick spoke up. exclaiming:
Here, I guess 1 can make it out; I'll
read it,"
This was agreed to and in loud. clear
voice read:
"P. got a towel and sponge and satur-
ated the sponge with colorless liquid he
had in a bottle Then he went in the room
where r. lay in bed. I (Jones) was not
in the room, but opened the door and
peeped in.
"P. was standing over R. with the
cone-shaped towel in his hand, and he
presesds it down over RS face"
Patrick was still reading, with no show
of emotion, when Justice Jerome ordered
a recess for luncheon.
The ops and "R's" in the statement
stand for Patrick and Rice.
Witness sized Up by Judge.
An another point in the proceedings
Justice jerome gave his estimate of
Jones with characteristic terseness. At
torney Moore had been rackng the wit
ness with questions, all tending to bring
out the valet's lying propensities. He
showed that Jones had lied to and de-
ceived his own father when the latter
called on him in the hospital after he had
attempted suicide; that he had told un-
truths to Assistant District Attorney Os-
borne, and that he had lied to his own
counsel. Here Justice Jerome struck in
with the remark:
This witness is a weak wicked and un-
fortunate man. He is a self-confessed
murderer and deserves contempt, but /
won't allow you to insult him"
There was very little new matter
brought out at to-day's hearing. The
whole of the cross examination of Mr..
Moore, who is Patricll's s personal counsel
was confined to showing up Jones
man who could not be believed.
When court adjourned it was until next
Tuesday.
During the cross-examination of Jones
by Mr.. Moore, witness described a visit
from his father who lived near Houston,
Tex.
Il felt bad" said Jones, "and my father
was very much distressed. l referred
my father to Mr.. Battle for anything re-
garding the Rice case"
Did you expect him to tell your IA
ther all in regard to the murder of your
benefactor that you had told him?'
Jones said that he had thought that
was the understanding.
Had you told Mr.. Battle the same
story about the murder as you told Mr..
Osborne on Oct. 2S?" asked Mr.. Moore.
Eyes, l had"
Then" said Mr.. Moore. ION that even
ing you were quite determined to deceive
your own father; you were wiling that
he should be told a lie?"
Witness did not reply.
Mr. Moore insisted that a direct answer
be given, and Justice Jerome finally put
the question to the witness himself
'Were you willing to deceive your faith
err"
81 was on that OCCASION" witness re-
piled.
when you made your first statement
TO Mr. osborne, did he not tell you that
you lied?"
ITO the best Of my recollection he said
that l had made a fictitious statement
and thought 1t could not be corroborat-
ed"
"Did not Mr.. Osborne say you would
both be punished If you did not tell the
truth2"
81 think not"
witness Admits That lie Lied.
Jones said II was true that in the state
ment Of his own case which he had made
10 his counsel. he had told falsehOod,
I'm stating that Patrick had killed Rice
In this statement, which was read In
court the yalet-secretary said that one
dsv when Old man Rice was sleepy and
half-dazed he made him sign q VIII which
bad been drawn by Patrick and which
Morris Meyer had written. This was not
Inc Patrick will which was filed for pro-
lato. but the one Jones testified Patrick
aid he had destroyed on the Monday
right following the death Of Rice. Jones