The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-04-11
TESTIMONY
Given In the Now Celebrated Rice viii
Case.
MURDERER TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF
The Former Valet of the Murdered
Millionaire Relates His Story in
Court.

New York, Special-Charles F.
Jones. the valet-secrecary Of VIM.
Marsh Rice, the rich Texan, resumed
the giving Of testimony in The proceed
ings against Albert T. Patrick, who is
charged with causing Rices death in
order to obtain possession OF his prop
erty by means of will, deeds and
checks. which it is alleged, were forg-
ed
Jones began the day by relating
that on Monday, the day following
Rice's death, four men. who repre-
scented themselves to be lawyers. call
ed at :he fiat and asked questions con-
ccrning the circumstances surrounding
the death. Jones told Patrick he
thought these men were detectives. On
Tuesday afternoon he was taken to
police headquarters. where he was
questioned. He found Patrick also at
police headquarters. Patrick told Jones
he had destroyed the will witnessed
in Patrick's office and a number OF
bogus letters written on the will mat.
ter On this occasion, Jones testified
Patrick asked when Rice had last
been given mercury. Il told him on
Thursday" Jones said. Patrick then
told me there would not be any
traces Of that left in the system at the
time Of the autopsy and that the en-
balming fluid would kill all traces Of
the oxalic acid. which was a vegetable
poison"
The so-called Patrick will" was
then brought up. Jones said he had
told Patrick that the provisions for
Rice's relatives in the Will which was
destroyed the day following Rice's
death were too small and that 1T
would be impossible to get it probated.
Patrick, Jones said, then had the so
called Patrick will drawn. Jones
said before he was locked UP he made
statement which was entirely fcti-
,ious and OF which he could not recall
even the most salient features.
Jones then told how Mr.. House had
been appointed lawyer Of both Patrick
and himself. From here Jones passed
to his attempt to commit suicide. "On
the day before the attempt was made"
said Jones. Patrick and had talk
in the reception room at the Tombs.
Patrick wanted me to shoulder the
responsibility for the time. I told him
| would not confess unless | could tell
a straight story. said | would rather
kill myself on account OF the disgrace
OF the thing. Patrick said this might
be the best thing for us both and said
he would kill himself, too. He said he
had q small knife in his cell. The knife
would DO for one and he would try to
get some carbolic acid from Mr.. Potts
He gave me the knife. | put 1t in my
shoe and took it to my cell. Later,
Potts called. Patrick told me Potts
would not ge: him the poison. About
1 o'clock in the afternoon, after l had
gotten the knife sat in my cell writ
ing some letters and preparing for the
end. Just then was called to the dis
trio. attorneys office. While there l
made a confession. was brought back
to my cell in the evening and at
about o'clock in the morning l
tried to cut my throat" Jones then
told Of being taken to Bellevue and
there making a new confession. The
new confession is the ons on which
mis- present testimony is 5asnd.
Jones explained what he meant
when he sa:d that Patrick did not
wish TO live until Monday, as on that
day draft would be payable. The
witness SAID that week or so before
the death OF Rice certain oil wells
in Texas in which he was interested
were destroyed by fire. Rice resolved
to rebuild them and bound himself to
provide nearly 100000 for the re-
building. On the strength OF this the
oil well people drew Cos $4,000, the
draft being payable on Monday, Sep
tember u, Jones testified again Eoday
that Patrick wished to avoid the
payment OF this money. Il said," the
witness continued, "on Saturday tina.
the old man would probably drop OF.
Patrick said we could not rely on that
but had TO get him out Of the way the