The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-04

Patrick asked me whether / did not
think old Rice was living little too
| long for our purpose / said / thought
so. Patrick suggested We put him out
of the way. | suggested Dr. Curry, but
Patrick said DR.. Curry would not do
anything Of the kind
Patrick, witness went on, suggested
that Jones get laudanum from drug
store at Coney Island for the purpose
Of poisoning Rice.
Witness then went on to say that he
had procured the poison from his
brother in Texas.
What did you get?"
"Chloroform and laudanum.'
How was he poison sent?"
ut was sent by express. small
package containing the POISON came /
think by the American express"
Did you sign a receipt?'
II did
Jones testified that he delivered the
poison to Patrick about three weeks be-
fore the death of Mr.. Rice.
Jones then went on to testify that
Patrick had never been introduced to
Rice up to the time of the latter's death.
''As far as I know Jones said, Rice
never saw Patrick bur once This was
an evening when Patrick called ON me.
Rice, against his custu;y., was up late.
He hooked in the parior and saw Pat
rick who was seated there. Next morn
ing he asked who the bald headed man
with the red beard was. | told Mr.. Rice
it was friend of mine"
Mr.. Osborne then referred to the as
signments transferring the property of
Mr.. Rice to Patrick, Which We're execut-
ed on September 7th. Jones was handed
deed for identification. He said it was
witnessed by Meyer on September 7th.
did Mr.. Rice sign any general as
signment on thai daL'
He did not"
The witness said MIR. Rice prepared
all his meals himself. Witness was
then shown the general assignments,
transferring all properly of Mr.. Rice to
Patrick. Jones testified that Rice did
not sign the assignments.
Jones, Will you stare all the CONVEX
sation that took place between you and
Patrick in regard to getting Rice out
of the Way?" said Mr. Osborne.
About the end of August" witness
replied Patrick asked me whether /
had gotten the laudanum from drug
store on Coney Island. | said / had not
but that l had made some other ar
engagements to get the poison.
Patrick then told me to give Rice
Sapolio as that would break him down
l told Patrick | could not do that. but
told him / had some mecurial pills
which Dr. Curry gave me- Patrick
said | ought to give them to Rice
told Patrick / could not do so without
taking them myself in his presence.
Then do 50, Patrick said, 1T won't do
you any HARM
Il took some Of the pills in Rices
presence and then left the bottle of pills
on the dresser. Rice took some This
brought on a severe dlarrhoea, which
weakened MIN. but alter he got over
this attack the mercury seemed to do
him GOOD"
Witness also said that by the same
method he got Rice to take some mer-
curial tablets which Patrick had given
him.
Would Rice take anything you took?"
Yes, and he would never take medi-
cine unless l first took some in his pres
ence. All medicine that was sent him
had to taste when he saw it,
Jones then related what took place on
the day of the death of Mr. Rice.
Il saw Patrick at his house." said he.
He told me to let him know if Rice grew
better. He would then get from his of
flee bottle of oxalic acid. he said, to
quicken Riees nerve
Rice got better and about noon he want
ed to get up. He talked cheerfully about
going downtown and seemed much i'm
proved. Jones said he could not get
Rice to take the oxalic acid He then
telephoned to Patrick to meet him at |
luncheon, at restaurant on Sixth Avenue
near Fiftieth street.
81 met him there" Jones continued.
Patrick gave me the bottle of chloroform.
chloroform and leave it over his face for !
about thirty minutes. He said Rice
would probably laugh, but that I should
not be scared as that would only show
that the poison was beginning to work, |
and that it would soon be over
II did as Patrick told me. / returned
home took a napkin and saturated it
with chloroform. put it on my own face
first and then put it over the face of Mr.. |
Rice and left the room. l walked up and
down in the hall several times. The bell
rang several times. / did not open the
door. Finally after about half an hour |
went into Mr.. Rice's room. / raised the
window took the napkin and towel away
from his face and placed them both in
the range where burnt them.
Il sent hall boy for DR.. Curry, telling
him that Mr.. Rice was very bad. l went
to the telephone to tell Patrick that Rice
was pretty near gone. When DR.. Curry |
came Patrick was with him. | told them
that Rice was dead Dead! Oh, my God |
doctor, that is the worst thingTth could
have happened to me, said Patrick.
Jones said Patrick on the day following
took charge of the apartments. On that
day, Jones testified, at the request of
Patrick, he made out the checks for