The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-09
Must be Produced blythe Prosecution to
Justify the Court In Holding Him on
Charge OF Forgery and Murder-Hfs
Many False Statements Shown-Hfs
Cross Examination Brings out His
Natural Propensity for Lying-Meyer
Gives Ball..

Justice Jerome, who presides at the
hearing and which probably shows why
Lawyer Patrick, accused with Jones of
the murder of the former Texan, has
all along taken the accusations of Jones
against himself with a demeanor al
most bordering on contempt.
Attorney Moore. for the defense, had
k that when the hearing closed for
the day it be not resumed until Tues
day. Justice Jerome seemed willing
and then added: 1T is necessary that
Jones testimony as to this murder
should be corroborated. He being al
s~elf-confessed accomplice. his testi-
non alone is not enough upon which
to hold Patrick"
Attorney Moore tersely added to this:
w understand that. and we suppose
the district attorney does, too"
Tonight those who are watching the
case closely are wondering COR
roborative testimony the state will in
troduce TO sustain the statements of
Jones.
The other incident brought out in the
slearest light the indominable nerve OF
Lawyer Patrick. In the race Of the
reiterated story of Jones that Patrick
had instigated the forgeries and the
actual murder, the latter took his place
in the court proceedings with the ut
most nonchalance.
At one point it became necessary that
a statement made by Jones be read
and it was given into the hands of the
counsel for the defense for hat pur-
pose. This was the statement in which
the valet claimed Patrick killed Rice
and which he has since denied The
reader hesitated and stumbled over the
written words. Suddenly Patrick spoke
exclaiming: Here. 1 guess I can make
it out; I'll read it." This was agreed
to and in a loud. clear voice he read:
"P' got a towel and sponge and sat
urated the sponge with a ~colorless
liquid he a in a bottle. Then he went
into the room where r. lay in bed. ]
(JOnes) was not in the room, but open
ed the door and-peeped in. p was
standing over r. with the cone-shaped
towel in his hand and he pressed it
down over RS face"
Patrick was still reading with no
show Of emotion. when Justice jerome
ordered a recess for luncheon.
The Fps" and RS" in the state
ment stand for Patrick and. Rice.
At another point in the proceedings
Justice jerome gave his estimate of
Jones with characteristic ~terseness
ATTORNEY mOOTe ndQ Deen TdChlnS the
witness with questions all tending to
bring out the Wallets lying ~propensities.
He showed that Jones had lied to and
deceived his own father wnen the lat
ter called on him in the hospital aftei
he had attempted suicide: that he had
told sntruths to Assistant District At
torney Osborne and that he had lied &c
his counsel. Here Justice Jerome
struck in with the remark:
This witness is a weak, wicked and
unfortunate man. He is a ~self-confess-
ed murderer and deserves contempt
but 1 won't allow you to nsult him."
There was very little new matter
brought out at today's hearing. TIL
whole of the cross examination of Nc
Moore. who is Patrick's personal coun-
sci. was confined to showing up Jones
as a man who could not be believed
When court adjourned it was until mex
Tuesday.
Jones bv Mr.. Moore. the witness de
scribed a visit from his father wht
lived near Houston. Texas.
Il felt bad" sal Jones, "and m!
father was very much distressed. / re
ferred my father to Mr.. Battle for any
thing regarding the Rice case.
Did you expect him to tell your
father all in regard to the murder o
your b~enefactor, that you had told him
Jones said that he had thought tina
was the understanding.
Had you told Mr.. Battle the sam,
story about the murder as YOU told Mr.
Osborne on October 2Sth?" asked Mr.
Moore.
Yes. L had"
Then" said MIR. Moore. Ion tina
evening you were quite determined u
deceive your W father; you were
willing that he should be told a HEP"
Witness did not reply.
Mr.. Moore insisted that a direct an
swer be given and Justice Jerome fin
ally put the question to the witnes!
himself.
Were you willing to deceive your
father?"
Il was on that occasion" witness re
piled.
when you made your first state.
ment to Mr.. Osborne. did he not tel
you that you lied?'
ITO the best of nv recollection h,
said that I had made a fictitious state
ment and thought it could not be cor
roborated."
did not Mr.. Osborne say you woult
both be punished if your did not tell tn
TRUTH"
ST mir not"
Jones said it was true that in TIL
statement of his own case which he haC
made to his counse he had told q false
hood in stating that Patrick had kille'
Rice
In this statement which was cad il
court. the valet-secretarv said that on
dav when old man Rice was sleepy am
half dazed he made him sign a vii
which had been drawn by Patrick an'
which Morris Meyer had written. Thi
was not the Patrick will which wa
filed for probate, but the one Jones ties
titled Patrick said he had destroyed OF
the Monday night following the dealt
of Rice. Jones saws that Meyer an
Short may have got Rice to sign an
other will on June 30th. but he did no
believe so. At the close of the state
ment Jones said Patrick killed the OLE
man.
At the afternoon session Jones
he saw Captain Baker at the housa 2
detention after his first statement Il
Mr.. Battle. CAPTAIN Baker said at tho
time he believed Jones told a f~alsehoo'
when he had said Rice signed tn
Patrick will" when he was sleepy