The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-05
SO. WILMINGTON. n c.. FRIDAY APRIL 5 19O!

a. talk in the reception room at the
| Tombs. Patrick told me his means
! were exhausted and that they were in
| desperate straits. Patrick wanted me
| 10 shoulder the responsibility for the
| time. / told him 1 would not confess
| unless 1 could tell a straight story. l
said / would rather kill myself on ac-
count OF the disgrace of the thing.
Patrick said this might be the best
thing for US both and said he
small knife in his cell. The knife would
do for one and he would try to get
some carbolic from Mr.. Potts.
He gave me the knife. : put it in
my shoe and took it to my cell. Later.
Potts called. Patrick told me Potts
would not get him the poison. About
o'clock in the afternoon. after 1 had
gotten the knife. sat in my cell writ
ing some letters and preparing for the
end. Just then / was called to the dis
trict attorneys office. When there I
made confession. / was brought back
4 o'clock in the morning I tried to cut
my throat
Jones then told of being taken to
Bellevue and there making a new con-
fession. The new confession is the
one on which his present testimony is
based.
Jones explained today what he meant
yesterday when he said that Patrick
did not wish Rice to live till Monday as
on that day a draft would be payable
The witness said that a week or so
before the death of Rice certain oil
wells in Texas in which he was inter-
ested were destroyed by fire. Rice re-
solved to rebuild them and bound him
self to provide nearly 100000 for the
rebuilding. On the strength of this
the oil well people drew for $4,000.
the draft being payable on Monday,
September oath. Jones testified again
today that Patrick wished to avoid the
payment of this money.
Il said, witness continued, Ion Sat
turday, that the old man would prob
ably drop off. Patrick said we could
not rely on that, but had to get him
out of the way the next day."
a number of kilograms sent by Jones
notifying relatives of Rice's death were
placed in evidence. They all read alike,
setting forth that Rice died under the
care Of physician and that the death
certificate gave as cause, diarrhoea, old
age and heart failure, concluding with
notice of funeral
A check was then produced and plac-
ed in evidence. This check which, it is
alleged, was forged, was for the salary
of a Texas employee of Rice name Co
hen. Jones testified that the check was
forged and forwarded to Texas to see
whether the signature would pass the
bank.
At the afternoon session Assistant
| District Attorney Garvin asked Jones
| a few unimportant questions regarding
the sum of money given by Rice to the
| William Marsh Rice institute.
| Jones cross examination was then be-
| gun by Attorney Moore.
The witness said he could not remem-
| ber what took place at police headquar-
| terS as the story he had told was large
| ly fictitious
| Jones admitted having told Captain
| McCluSky that Rice had instructed
| Patrick to draw a new will and had
| given Jones the checks on Saturday to
| give to Patrick.
| Jones said that sometime between
! October 26th and October 30th he was
| taken to the district attorneys office
| and kept until o'clock in the morning
| making his first confession.
| Assistant District Attorney Oborne
| produced the statement made by Jones
| on that occasion, and it was marked
| for identification.
Jones then in answer to questions de-
MED that various statements made by
him in the confession were true.
when did you make your last con-
fession?"
| "At the house of detention last Janu-
ary. Mr. Osborne and Mr.. Battle were
present"
What promise was made you to get
you to make this confession?"
| "a good many promises have been
made to me, but none of a definite ma
ture."
| DO you mean to tell me that you
| willingly made this confession, know
| ing that it will bring you to the cleo
| trio chair?"
'I did not exactly think it would
bring me to the chair, witness falter-
| ed.
| The witness finally said that he made
| this confession because he would not
| perjure himself. "Mr. Battle told me-"
| witness said, that if / told the truth
I would receive less punishment"
Did not Mr.. Battle tell you that he
had seen Mr.. Osborne and that his
| promise was a result of a talk with
| him.
| He said Mr.. Osborne said had told
| so many stories and none of them could
be corroborated. Mr.. Battle told me
| must tell the truth if my story was to
be corroborated."
| chloroformed poor Rice corroborated
| ed?" asked Mr.. Moore
| Il suppose it would have to be cor
roborated to be believed" witness re-
| piled.
| You wanted to be corroborated to
get hanged?" broken by Mr.. Moore.
| Were you not promised that if you
made this statement your punishment
would be less severe-that, in fact you
| would escape death?"
| "I was told that nothing could be
| done for me unless I told the truth
the witness replied.
| Adjournment was taken until tomor-
! row.
The New Chicago City Council
Chicago. April 3.-The new Chicago
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