The Washington times., 1901-07-29
FEARS FOR pArR1cK's MIND.
Queer Conduct of the Alleged Muir.
der ef w. NJ, Rice,

NEW YORK. July 2S.-After nearly ten
months Imprisonment in the Tombs, Al
bert T. Patrick shows evidences of men
tai disturbanceito those who closely study
him. Patrick is the lawyer accused of
having forged will to gain the fortune
of William Marsh Rice. the old million
aire who died last September, and of
having at least laid and put into execu-
tion plot by which Rice was murdered
Charles +. Jones, who was Rice's valet
has confessed that he actually killed Rice
hut declares he was only Patricks tool
in the murder
Before the accusations of forgery and
murder overwhelmed him Patrick was a
man of singularIy cold bearing and man
ner, entirely self-controlled. When he
was first accused Patrick's GOODNESS was
remarkable, but it lever amounted to
bravado. But during his long imprison-
ment the legal proceedings against him
have taken most complicated shape. AL
ways actively on the defensive his brain
has been under utmost strain to resist
and turn the charges laid at his door.
And lately there have been many signs
that the mental strain mas been too great
for him.
The fact that, guilty or not, he has not
strain of all on Patrick Now this man,
who was so frigi6 and so stolid. constant
iy PAGES his cell, while he mutters the
thoughts that are distracting him. Oc-
casionally, while he talks to himself, he
emphasizes what he says by wild ges-
lures.
He refuses to eat either the prison fare
or the food supplied by the prison
caterer, which he has plenty of money
TO buy. For he has the firm idea that
those who contend that he is forger and
a murderer seek to poison him; that there
is conspIri cy against his lite, headed
by Assistant District Attorney James w.
Osborne. And Patrick is convinced that
all the lawyers are Mr.. Osborne's fellow
conspirators, who are involved in the
complicated will contest.
For fear of poison Patrick will accept
food only from one person, and he has
been permitted TO cook his food in his
cell. For cooking it is as simple the
food. Patrick eats only eggs and pre-
pared cereals He will accept the eggs
and cereals only from the person whom
he trusts. and even then he carefully ex-
amines the boxes of cereals to assure
himself that they have not been opened
or tampered with.
Even before his mental powers seemed
to be waning Patrick confided in only
three or four people. Now he is more
reticent and suspicious than ever. But
short time ago one OF his very few friends
said to him:
why do you have your food brought to
you and cool, it in this way? Are you out
of your mindT'
mo, / am not" answered Patrick Il
confess that ordinarily if ! saw anyone
behaving as / do l would think him de-
mented. But l have every reason to be
suspicious" "
Then the lawyer made an astonishing
accusation against Mr.. Osborne, now
made public for the first time.
why does not Osborne bring me to
trial?" he asked. Il have been here since
last October. and soon after | was i'm
prisoned / was indicted for forgery and
put under $1,000 bail.
Soon after / was indicted Osborne sent
word TO me that If ] dared to offer bail
he would have me Indicted for murder
I'm the first degree
After weeks of consultation with my
counsel. / called Osbornes bluff and
dared to offer bail on the charge of
forgery. At once | was indicted for muir
der. This was early last April, and
| have not been brought to trial.
why not? At most | can be found to
have only provoked Jones TO murder Rice.
Jones has confessed that he did the
tual murder Yet he is being treated wi:h
the Tenderloin and to the theatres 10 di-
vert his thoughts. While I-here l am
Us IL any wonder / fear there is a con-
spiracy against mey
Patrick. muttering, pacing his cell. Of
ten asks himself why Jones should be so
indulged and inveighs against Mr. Os-
borne for falling to bring him TO speedy
trial.