New-York tribune., 1901-03-27
HEARING IN PATRICK CASE.
CLERK OF LAWYER CHARGED WITH
DEATH OF RICE A WITNESS AT
NIGHT SESSION.

Albert T Patrick, the la wyer who on the strength
of afiidavits made by Charles F. Jones formerly
valet TO w. y. Rice and Professor Witthaus the
chemical expert. has been charged with the mur-
der Of Rice last September. had a preliminary
hearing yesterday before Justice Jerome. sitting
committing magistrate in the library of the Dis
trict Attorneys office.
David L. Short. publisher. OF No. l. 4i2 Bedford
ave. Brooklyn, the first witness He testified
that in the spring of 1900 he became a commission
er Of deeds Of Texas at the request of Patrick
and that he had subsequently acted as commits
sioner for Mr.. Rice. He had been introduced to
hice by Charles Z. Jones, and had never acted as
commissioner for any one but Rice. His seal he
said. was frequently left at Mr. Rices house II
was there. he believed. after September : II was
also brought out that Mr. Short had gone to Rice's
house after September TO act as a witness TO
papers which he thought were assignments. The
last visit had been made on September 81 two davs
before Rices death
On June 80. said Mr. Short he had witnessed
Rice's will at his request. Rice had asked him not
TO say anything about IT until he was dead Short
testified further that the day after Rices death
Patrick had sent for him and asked him TO get the
check for s25,co0 cashed. Patrick he said had NOT
told him of Rice's death but he had first learned
OF II when he tried TO get the check cashed bv
svenson & Son. who refused because Mr. Rice
was dead. Patrick had told him of Rice's death
when he returned from Svenson & Sons Subse-
quently he had succeeded in having a check for
slSooO certned by the Fifth Avenue Trust Com
pany, which did not know of Rlces death Both
checks were placed in evidence.
The hearing resumed at 7:S0 D. m Morris
Meyer, the witness 10 be examined arrived half an
hour late. He was in evening dress He explained
that he had been best at a wedding Never
said he had been admitted the bar in June 1897
He had served part OF his cerkship in Patrick .
office. He took charge of Patrick's affairs after
the latter's arrest
Mr. Osborne questioned him regarding the doc,l-
ments executed on June 80 That was the date on
which the alleged will OF Rice known as the Pat
rick Will executed.
He did remember whether Rice had signed
al the documents executed that date incudine,
the will. with the pen. He was handed
me VIII. which is known in this as People s
Exhibit No. g.
Where was this will drawn do Won knov1r,. Mr.
Osborne asked. '
I'm Mr. Patrick's office I drew IL at Mr. Pat
TICK request on my machine and partly stem
He was shown Peoples Exhibits Nos Z & and q
and was asked whether ne had drawn thos. 5ocn'
nlents as wei on his machine. He might have
Gone so. nut was not positive. These documents
are general assignments transferring some az H.
late milhonaire's property 70 Patrick Never said
ne had seen Rice sign them all and that he him,
sels @ nan signeo each OF them as witness Patrick
had frst informed him OF Rces death on Nonda, :,
morning - 'i'iiu"5
Following the visit Of Patrick To his bousa -,
nirness saia. ne had been sent by the latter with
ments. He found the police in possession ana ne
pairing TO take charge Of the body of tho daad
inllionaire- Jones. much perturbed had sent bin,
with an urgent message 20 Patrick Mevar su,nra
ne did not remember the purport OF the rnessage
Justice Jerome rebuked the Witness for hts 80
siye answers several times. ' ms eva
stand. " "ea'n take the