The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-03
WILL IS A FORGERY.
Charles F. Jones Testified that Rice
Never Saw the Document.
JONES WROTE THE WILL
Al the InstigatiOn of Lawyer A. 7.
Patrick, He Testified.
VALET JONES WROTE A LETTER
TO Captain Baker of Houston, Purpor.ing
TO Be Written by Rice.
HE WAS TO RECEIVE $3.50 FOR IT
Patrick Took the Letter, Saying de
Would See About Ree's sigma
ture to 1t.
'ALET JONES WROTE A LETTER
To Captain Baker of Houston, Purpor.ing
TO Be Written by Rice.
he WAS TO RECEIVE $3.50 FOR IT
Patrick Took tho Letter. Saying de
Would Sec About Rioe's sigma
ture to It.

New York. April e.--without the slightest
Quaycr in his well moduluted voice and dis
PLAYING no outward sign of regret or re-
morse, Charles T. Jones. secretary and valet
80 the late William Marsh Rice, today con.
fcssed under oath that he had ended the
lie of his employer and benefactor with
chloroform.
Tho confession was the climax or a re-.
mmhnblc recital In which was laid bare the
details Of an alleged subtle conspiracy
which had for It's object the seizure Of
$1,000 600 In cash and negotiable securities
ana the conversion Of S3,000.OO0 IN realty
to the use of the alleged chief oouspirator.
There was dramatic force In the direct
ness and minute attention 10 details with
which Jones approached the tragedy--the
moment whom he covered the face Of the
Sleeping man with the saturated napkin and
then waited for him 10 die.
| The sef.confesscd murderer told the story
or the alleged plot from It's inception. The
capital crime hc committed, aud all the
/
declared at the instlgation and direction
of Albert r. Patrick 1t was Patrick, he
said, who conceived the Idea of forging
win aud forging transfers and conveyances.
It was Patrick who Induced two persons
to witness the forged signature. II was
Patrick who determined that Rice should
die. aud 1t was Patrick WHO sought 10 have
hin killed slowly. and then, becoming Inn
patient, determined upon quicb action. And,
according 10 Jones. remarkable as II may
scem, Rice never knew Patrick during his
life time and never saw him but once
Jones' according to his story, first begsu
his acquaintance with Patrick when the
lawyer called al the residence OF millionaire
Rice on Madison avenue. this city. In oc-
tober, 1899. The witness told of tue grow
lug friendship aud the gradual approach
10 the discussion of the affairs OF Mr. Rice
which Hually resulted in the proposition to
defraud, and Jones finally yielded. Then
came the details OF the story of the traus-
fers and conveyances OF real estate and
I personal property to Patrick over the forged
signatures Of Rlce the stealing of blank
checks from the mlllionaire's check book;
their delivery TO Patrick and the forging
Of Ricc's signature. The proposition to put
the aged millionaire out OF the way was by
weakening him By continuous doses of mer-
| curry. the calling IN OF a physician at fire.
qGent intervals, thus apparently providing
for the Issuance Of a death certificate. and
the extreme care with which thls plan OF
slow poisoning was carried out.
Then, as calmly as though unfolding the
plot Of II drama IN which he was Interested
only MS spectator, Jones led up TO the
day OF the murder. lie sworc that Patrick
had furnished him with mercurial pills OF
different composition from those already
administered; told how the millionaire de
feaied the purpose Of the plotters by re-
fusing TO take them. Then, Jones said,
Patrick began to display impaticnce. He
swore the lawyer brought two ounces OF
oxallc acid 10 Jones and Jones swears he
told him TO dilute one ounce In twenty
(Continued on Second Pa1e.)