Evening star., 1901-04-02
Jones, His Valet, Testi6es in the
Hearing Today.
TELLS OF THE FORGED WILL, TOO
Damaging Evidence Brought Out
Against Lawyer Patrick
MRS. FRANCIS TEST1FIES

NEW YORK, April 2-When Albert T.
Patrick brought into Justice Jerome g
court today for a continuation of the pre-
liminary hearing on the charge that he had
caused the death of William NJ. Rice of
Texas. David L. Short and Morris Meyers,
the witnesses TO Rices will, who held
on n charge of forgery, were brought in
with him.
Mrs Anna Francis was recalled to the
witness stand. She testified that she had
never written any letters for Patrick She
had written one letter concerning the Rice
will matter to J. NJ Coleman of Houston,
Texas but it was not at PatricIl's request
Patrick had never told her he was Rice's
confidential friend and attorney Assist
ant District Attorney Osborne asked what
medicines Patrick had taken last year and
the witness replied that she knew he had
taken iron and calonel pills and medicine
for malaria.
At the conclusion of Mrs Francis testi-
mony the assistant district attorney OBJ
tanned d subpoena for Patricks medicine
chest, which Mrs. Francis said was at her
house.
Rice's Valet Called.
Charles f. Jones, Rice's valet, was then
called. He said he had worked as store
keeper at the Capitol Hotel, Houston, Tex,
owned by Mr.. Rice. He said that he met
Mr.. Rice in 1896, and that he had been
MIR Rices secretary, valet and general
utility man. MIR, Rice, he said, moved to
New York in September. 1897.
Witness said that he first met Patrick in
November, 1899. Patrick represented him
self as a commercial man from Texas.
in bed at the time. and Patrick intro
duced himself Mr.. Smith
Mr.. Patrick at that time, Jones said had
long talk with witness. He asked whether
hah al fgfi in
city and showed himself inquisitive about
the affairs of the old millionaire
Patrick witness said, called a second
time He then spent about an hour with
Jones' They discussed the will of Mrs.
Rice. Witness said Patrick at that time
stated that there was no doubt that the
Holt side of the case would win. There
was an abundance of evidence. Patrick
said all he needed was a letter to Capt.
Baker.
AT the second visit of Mr.. Patrick, did
he tell You what he wanted?
He said he wanted to communicate With
Mr.. Rice: that he wanted to get him to
compromise the case. He was also very
anxious to get this letter to Capt. Baker"
Letter to Capt. Baker.
The letter witness said. was one to Capt
Baker. purporting to come from Rice. In
the letter Rice said that Baker had misrep-
resented the case to him. that he was tired
of New York. and wanted to return to
Texas. where all his relatives lived.
Jones said Patrick asked him to write a
letter on his typewriter and give it to Pat
rick. with the purpose of putting it in evil
dence in the Holt case. Patrick said he
would see to the signing of the letter.
Witness said he wrote the letter on his
typewriter and on Mr.. Rce's letterheads.
II delivered the letter to Mr.. Patrick on
the third visit" Jones continued. Il was
to get $50 for writing the letter to him.
However, he did not pay me anything, say
ing that the money was not to be paid
until L had gone on the stand and sworn
that l wrote the letter at Mr.. Rice's dicta
ton.
Witness said Patrick took the letter and
underlined parts of it. He gave 1t back to
Jones and wanted him to rewrite it for him
Jones said ne rewrote 1t, but did not think
he gave Patrick the second copy.
Patrick, witness said. on of his visits
had shown witness an affidavit by Mr.
Rice which he said he had obtained from
the tax department. In this Rice is pur-
ported to swear to residence In Texas. The
litigation in the case of Mrs. Rice turned on
the point of residence.
Jones said Patrick asked him whether
Rice was going to remember him in his
will. Witness said, he answered that Mr.
Rice had spoken in indefinite terms about
remembering him in his will.
Patrick then. witness said had told him
(wituess) all right. after Mr.. Rice's death.
In December, 1899. witness swore, Pat
rick first approached him about the draw
ing of a will. Jones was to draw the docu-
ment on his typewriter and get Rice to
sign 1t when his mind was not quite clear.