Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-04-08
NEVER KILLED RICE.
Patrick Declares Jones Self
Confession False.
CALLS 1T A FAIRY TALE.
Said 1t Was Result of Collaboration
Between Jones, Witthaus, Baker,
Battle and osborne-Scheme to
Hold Him During viii Litigation.

New York, April S.--Lawyer Albert
! T. Patrick, who is charged with the
murder of Millionaire William Marsh
/ Rice, made statement last night
concerning the case. He had been
/ asked to say something concerning
a story printed in a morning paper
Z to the effect that ex-Valet Jones had
/ spent several hours, accompanied by
policeman attached to the district
attorneys office, in touring the Ten
derloin district. According to this
story, hotels, concert halls and gar
4 dens and theaters had been visited by
] the prisoner and his attendant and
/ dozens of drinks taken. On this point
Lawyer Patrick said;
Il have known that this kind of
! thing has been going on for several
| weeks. | could not have sworn that
/ such was the case, but | have heafd
from various sources that Jones was
| plentifully supplied with money, was
! taken out buggy-riding and was other
! wise treated with great kindness and
consideration.
Patrick went on to speak of the
/ Rice murder case He said in part
Jones never killed w. NJ. Rice.
Had he done so he never would have
I testified TO 1t, especially as the dis.
/ triet attorney has promised him no
/ immunity, nor would his counsel,
even though provided by Captain
! Baker, have permitted him to do SO.
His confidence is due to the fact that
w. NJ. Rice, at the age of "a, died of
/ heart failure. as did his brother, f. A.
Rice, yesterday at the age of 10. and
there will never be any proof other
wise. The only crime of which Jones
is guilty is that of conspiring against
the 1900 will and that of perjury in
the present proceedings. His fairy
story is the result of collaboration
with Captain James A. Baker. Jones
lawyer; Mr.. Battle, who is hired by
| Baker; Assistant District Attorney
I Osborne and Prof. Witthaus. the pro
fessional expert, whose report Osborne
for the last six months has been ex.
pecting in a few days, and who swore
that Rice died Of mercurial poisoning,
If he did not die of something else.
1.-THE object of Jones story is to
! have me held in prison pending the
will litigation.
1T would take but little corrobora-
| ton to convict Jones upon his own
| confession, but it would take a great
deal to convict me upon Jones' ac-
cusations. If / am held or indicted
for murder, Jones will certainly be
also and | would surely be acquitted,
but in his effort to have himself
corroborated he might be convicted,
1 trr 10 t. L
would surely be electrocuted, for no
hand could save him.
Jones is stalking his life upon the
ability Of the han3sriting experts to
discredit Rice's signature. which
Jones saw him write and which he
shows by his numerous statements
and uncertain testimony that he
knows Rice signed.
Jones may rest assured that those
for whom he has outlawed himself
from mankind will abandon him when
they can no longer use him.
AS to my own position ! can only
say that l will be indicated and will
be able to discharge all duties de-
volying upon and maintain all rights
belonging to me, all Of which, how
ever, is in the hands of my able and
conservative attorneys.
'Of personal revenge | have no
thought, but II | am ever convinced
that w. M. Rice was murdered | shall
do my utmost to convict all implicat-
ed, in which event | am sure can
prove the motive to the alleged will
of 1896 and the instigators to be per-
sons striving to uphold it, and prove
that Jones did the deed believing that
/ he could thus prevent the consumma-
ton Of Mr.. Rices plans through me-"
District Attorney Philbin was
asked Sunday what he knew of Jones
alleged tour of the tenderloin He
replied that he knew nothing what.
ever except what he had read.
Have you at any time given per-
mission for him to absent himself
from the house Of detention except
when he was in attendance at court @
Il Il have not he replied
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
last night said that he was aware of
Jones trip through the tenderloin
Friday night and that it was taken
for the purpose of locating witnesses
to testify in the Rice case. He added
that six witnesses were wanted and
that one had been located by means
OF this trip.