The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-09
THE RICE MURDER TRIAL

The remarkable case now in progress
in New York in which the principal to
an alleged murder is acting the role of
states witness in order to fasten the
offense on one Of the alleged accessories
is of the utmost value as a social study.
It is doubtful whether it possesses any
further significance.
Whatever the outcome Of the trial Of
Patrick may be- the fact viii remain
patent to the ordinary understanding
that it is not the death of the former
millionaire, so much as it is the dis
position of his millions, which is at issue.
York a reform administration of the
Office of prosecuting attorney. The for
mer incumbent of that office was not
such a man as would commend himself
to the good will or judgment of those of
the citizens Of the metropolis who look
to such an official to promote the adj
ministration of justice without fear or
favor. Accordingly District Attorney
Philbin is in Office through the appoint
ment of the former governor of the state,
Mr. Theodore Roosevelt
The attitude which Mr.. Phnbin's Of
fee occupies toward the effort to con-
Wet the man Patrick is not one which
on its face can commend itself to any
intelligent citizen. It is not necessary
70
as they have found expression in the
recent dispatches. All that is necessary
is to read the testimony of the man
who acts as prosecuting witness to sat
isfy any man, lawyer Or layman, that
something like crime is involved in the
present attitude Of the district attorneys
office. To allow such a man as this for
mer valet of the deceased millionaire
shows himself to be through his testi-
mony to escape the clutches Of the law
is nothing short of participation in crime.
What good public end can be accom-
plished by the conviction of Patrick and
the discharge OF the man Jones? None
whatever. Admitting all that Jones tes-
titles to to be true, what then? 1t sim
ply involves the immunity from punish
ment of one of the most inhuman mon
sters that the criminal courts of our
| be so. 1t could not be so if there was
but a single purpose, and that the full
| vindication of justice, animating the
prosecuting officials of New York
| 1t appears from the statement Of the
defendant in this notable case that i'm
n1unity has not been promised to the
prosecuting witness II this be so then
| the duty Of all concerned seems to be
to stop the recent prosecution and put
| both these men on trial for conspiracy
to murder. Were Patrick to be convicted
no healthy mind will be satisfied with
the discharge of the man who is now
acting as prosecuting witness
1t is a sad reflection on the tendency Of
our times that such a trial could he had
Right or wrong, the defendant Patrick
! strikes a true note when he intimates
! that it is not so much his conviction
that is sought as it is the advancement
of the distribution of a millionaire 8
fortune in a given manner. The prose-
cutting officials may be innocent of any
known participation in such a mission;
but the case is too shocking in it's lead
ing features Ito leave any doubt what
ever that the disposition of the millions
Of the deceased, rather than the manner
of his taking off, is the real question at
issue ia the prevailing controversy