The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-02
Incident of the Case Against Lawyer
Patrick, Who Is Accused of MUIR
dering Millionaire Rice.
LANDLADY WHO KNOWS MUCH
But DECLINED TO ANSWER UNTII
LECTURED BY THE JUSTICE.
Patrick Boarded with Her for Severa
Years and She Was One of
His Confdantes.

to-day at the hearing of Alfred T.. Patrick,
the lawyer charged with causing the death
OF William Marsh Rice last September,
was Mrs. A. Nj. Francis, who kept the
house where Patrick formerly boarded.
When she had been sworn and Assistant
District Attorney Osborne was about TO
put his first question Mr.. Moore, Patrick's
lawyer, said he thought the witness ought
TO be cautioned against testifying to any
thing that might incriminate herself.
Mrs Francis testified that she had known
Patrick since January, 1898. Patrick was
her Doarder at several places where she
conducted boarding houses and boarded
with her at the time of his arrest. She
was acquainted with David l.. Short and
Morris Meyers and w. Potts, all of whom
have figured in the case. Patrick occupied
the back parlor I'm her house. She herself
had no stated room, she said, in reply TO
a question by Mr.. Osborne.
"When did Patrick begin to speak TO you
about Mr.. Rice?' asked Mr.. Osborne.
Il decline to answer on the advice of my
lawyer" witness replied.
ION what ground" asked Mr.. Osborne.
ION the ground that it would incriminate
me- Mrs. Francis answered.
Assistant District Attorney Osborne said
there was no intention of duplicating the
witness with Patrick, but she still refused
to testify.
Justice Jerome then asked the witness:
DO you believe the answer to this ques-
ton would tend to convict you of a crime?
Understand, not Patrick nor Short nor
Meyers nor anybody else but yourself"
The witness thought a while. Il do
think it would tend To me-" she
said.
VNHa~o - al
ly Justice Jerome said: If the witness is
willing to place herself in such a position
in the community as the witness does
through her testimony L don't see that /
can compel her to answer. She is an in
telligent woman and fully understands this
question. Are you willing TO stand in that
light?' Justice Jerome added, turning to
II am" the witness said.
SHE KNEW JONES.
Mrs. Francis said she had known Jones
since January, 1900, but she refused to re-
ply to any further questions concerning
Jones on the ground that the answers
might incriminate her. For the same rea-
son she refused TO say whether Patrick
remained in the house all day on Sept. %
last year.
Mrs. Francis was too i'll to appear as a
witness on Friday. To-day she testified
that she was down TO the Tombs on Sat
urday, where she spent several hours talk
ing TO Patrick.
Did you discuss the case with hfm?'
az did,
What did you say?'
Nothing of any Importance at ALL"
1t came out in the testimony that the
witness had been told by a awyer that If
she said anything favorable to Patrick the
district attorney would nave her arrested.
Mr.. Osborne then handed witness a let
ter. which she identified as one that she
wrote him last year. 1t was marked and
placed In evidence.
"You were not at that time afraid or in
eliminating yourself?' he said.
Il was not"
What has made you change your mind
my counsel's advice, my own opinion
that ii would incriminate me and the
of YOU she said. her eyes flashing and
her head erect.
Did | ever threaten you personally ?"
asked Mr.. Osborne.
why do you believe 1 would have you
arrested"
Il saw in the papers on Saturday night
that YOU were TO make more arrests
And do you believe after my declara-
ton in open court that l would arrest you,
though Innocent
Justice Jerome interrupted her and said:
9TH evidence of this witness shows that
she is a woman previously helG IN hlgn
that she shall go out of this courtroom
with a stigma on her name for lack of time
to consider this matter. We Will take a
recess During the recess. madam, | would
advise you to see some ~friend-not neces-
sarily a Iawyer-but some man or woman
with sound business sense who can give
YOU counsel and advice.
CHANGED HER MIND.
Al the afternoon session Mrs. Francis
answered some of the questions she had
refused to answer before. She said she first
met Jones when she kept a boarding house
in Lexington avenue. Jones called there
to see Patrick. She remembered that Jones
called to see Patrick in the Fifty-eighth-
street house about 9 or 10 o'clock in the
morning on Sept. %, the day before Rice's
death. She did not remember whether he
called a second time on that day or not
and she did not recall the name of the
servant she had at that time.
1t was developed i'm Mrs. Francis's testi-
mony that Patrick's wife died I'm Louisiana
and that her physician was Or. Walker
Curry. 1t was DR.. Curry who treated Rice
for six months before he died.
At this point an undertaken named Plow-
right testified that he was directed by Pat
rick TO take chorge of Rice's funeral. Mira.
Francis then resumed. Patrick was in her
AT 4 d. m. on that day John r. Potts and
his daughter called. At $3.50 Patrick went
down TO supper. There were other boarders
present in the house at the time. but after
supper they went TO church. Patrick and
witness were then alone in the house. At
5 o'clock in the evening, witness said, the
telephone rang. Il went TO answer the
call" witness said. but Mr.. Patrick got
there ahead of me and took the receiver.
The message was from Jones. He said Mr..
Rice was very sick or dead" Patrick went
out after receiving. this message. saying
he would go to the house.
did you ever speak about the relations
with Rice?"
Witness said they had. She said. to the
best of her recollection. Patrick had told
her he represented a Mr.. Holt in settling
Mr.. Rice's will.
Mrs. Francis testified that on the Satur-
day morning previous TO Mr.. Rice's death
valet Jones called at her house and deliv-
cred a large envelope TO MIR. Patrick. Pat
rick. witness said. had told her the en-
velope contained checks for the settlement
of Mr.. Rice's will. Patrick. she said. asked
her TO assign him a place where they could
be kept safely and she had the envelone
put in the dumb waiter closet. under some
other papers, where no one would look for
them.
SHE SENT ~TELEGRAMS.
Witness Identified a telegram which she
had sent 10 j. VI. Coleman, OF Houston.
Tex. 1t gave an outline of the second or
so-called Patrick" will. She said she sent
the telegram in response TO a request from
Patrick. ana was In reply TO one from j.
Nj. Coleman. Patrick. she said. was not
certain the telegram was a genuine one.
but a subterfuge TO draw him (Patrick) out,
and the latter. therefore. had asked her. the
witness. to reply.
A second telegram sent 10 Coleman by