New-York tribune., 1901-04-08
PATRICK SAYS JONES LIES.
VALET NEVER KILLED RICE, LAWYER
DECLARES. IN BITTER ATTACK.
CONFESSIONS RESULT OF COLLABORATION
WITH OSBORNE. BAKER, BATTLE
AND WITTHAUS HE ASSERTS.


Albert T. Patrick, the lawyer who is charged
with numbering William Marsh Rice, talked
yesterday about his case and the part taken
in 1t by Charles F. Jones Rce's valet. who has
made two confessions, in of which. the first
he said Patrick committed the murder, and in
the other. the second. declared that he him
self was guilty of the crime. Patrick led
to speak through being asked what he had TO
say in regard to the reported tour Of the
Tenderoin made by Jones on Friday night. He
said:
have known that this kind of thing has been
going on for several weeks. could not have
from various sources that Jones was plentfuly
supplied with money. was taken out buggy riding
Jones never killed W: NJ; Rice Had he done so
the District Attorney has promised him no i'm
vided by Baker. have permitted him to do So HIS
confidence is due 10 the fact that II Is estab
shed fact that ". ". Rice, at the age Of eighty
four died Of heart failure did his brother F. A.
Rice. yesterday, at the age OF seventy. and there
will never be any proof otherwise, The only crime
OF which Jones IS guilty IS that Of conspirins
against the ly VIII ana 1hat of perjury IN IN, [Hf
OF a collaboration with Captain James A. Baker.
Assistant District Attornsy osborne. who stops at
nothing. and Professor W!tthaus the professional
months has been expecting in q few days, ana who
aid not de Of somfthng Else The obe{ Of
story is 10 have me held in prison pending the will
have already been IN prison six months on the
forgery charge without even being indicted, and
I do not believe that there IS any serious intention
10 try a criminal charge before jury. Ny
arrest on a murder charge and the desperate
and attempt TO give bail unon any less serious
the 1900 will is their ALREADY demonstrated ability
TO control the District-AttOrney's Office; that Is
10 say, that portion presided over by Osborne. over
which there seems to be no administrative super
vision. So far the tactics employed against me
tinually. Of statements known by him to he false
and causing the to be published in the news
me guilty so as 10 justify false Imprisonment and
TO prevent fair trial. the wrongful imprison-
the 1rocnes ~ tb courts b ai@ Inc nPTSe OF
ing. in the name of the court. persons to person
ally appear before him and submit TO examna-
tons in his office
The use under the guise Of witnesses Of pro-
fessional handwriting experts, who have been hired
oy Baker as detecuves 10 swear that the signatures
forgeries, and the procuring OF false testimony
stand, and Osborne admitted it In open court that
Jones had Informed Osborne about January that
Jones had killed Mr. Rice with choroform. and that
subsequently, in collaboration with Witthaus
with killing Rice with mecurial poison. was made
at the instance of Osborne, who now boasts TO the
knowledge Of the nature of the accusation against
me until he had used as witnesses those whom he
When the prosecutors weapons consist of GRIM
inal abuse Of court process intrusted TO him. paid
jury, and right OF indiscriminate and
limited imprisonment both for the purpose of de-
grading the defendant and manufacturing State
witnesses by the "sweatbox' process. any person
cowardly enough and brutal enough to employ such
methods ought to be able to beat down and convict
any person. guilty or innocent.
I have been informed that Jones has been, at
the instance of Osborne for several weeks past
permitted 10 roam the streets. but as long as
Baker. Osborne, Witthaus and the attorney hired
for Jones, who is Battle, and others do so. |
feel that there is no incongruiy in their procuring
for Jones the same privilege, and far as I am
concerned I have objection, provided that Jones
be kept within the jurisdiction Of the court.
II would take but little confederation to convict
Jones upon his confession. but II would take
a great deal TO convict upon Joness accusa-
ton. If / held indicted for murder Jones
will certainly be also. and | would be
acquitted; but in his effort have himself corro-
borated he might be convicted, innocent though he
be. and then he would surely be eectrocuted for
no hand could him.
Jones is stalking his life upon the ability of the
handwriting experts discredt Rice's SIGNATURES
which Jones him write and which, he shows
by his numerous statements and uncertain testi-
mony, he knows Rice signed. Jones may rest as
sured that those through whose duplicty he has
outlawed himself from mankind will abandon him
when they longer him.
AS my position. l only say that I will
be vindicated and will be able to discharge all
duties devolving upon and maintain all rights be-
longing TO me- all of which. however Is in the
hands of my able and conservative attorneys