The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-30
PATRICK'S FRIENDS
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY IN RICE
WILL CASE.
LAWYERS SHORT AND MYERS.
TESTIFIED IN PATRICK's FAVOR
YESTERDAY.

Assistant District Attorney Osborne
Declares His Belief That the win
is Forgery, Having Consulted
Handwriting Experts-TcstImony
of DIR. Curry Before Judge jerome
Yesterday sounds as Fishy as That
of the Preceding witnesses.
New York. March 29--David L. Short,
commissioner Of deeds for Texas, and
Morris Meyers. lawyer, the two persons
whose names appear at witnesses to tho
alleged bogus Rice will. were arerstsd
to-day, charged with forgery In the first
degree. Both are friends of Lawyer Al
bert T. Patrick who is charged with
having murdered the Texas millionaire.
Short and Meyers appeared before JUS
tice Jerome as witnesses In the exami-
nation of Patrick. Assistant District At
torney Osborne has declared his belief
that the will was forgery. having con-
suited handwriting experts. Mr.. Osborne
appeared before Justice Jerome to-day
and swore out warrants for the arrest Of
Short and Meyers.
Meyers was formerly employed
by Patrick on his examination
he acknowledged that Patrick nad
dictated the Rice will to him.
BY this will the Rice millions were iert to
Patrick. Short became a commissioners
OF deeds az the suggestion Of Patrick.
Short, when examined before Justice Je-
rome swore that he had never used his
seal except when transacting business for
Mr.. Rice.
The forgery charge against the two WITT
nesses grows out OF the fact that they
signed their names 10 the will. The ex-
perts declare that the signature to the
will is forged.
When Patrick learned of the arrests he
declared that Short and Meyers were in
nocent of any wrongdolng.
Short and Meyers will be arraigned to-
morrow morning.
The hearing in the case OF Albert r.
Patrick was resumed before Judge Je-
rome to-day with John r.. Potts, the
witness OF yesterday, again on the stand.
His testimony brought out nothing new.
DIR. Walker Curry. who attended MIR.
Rice in his last Illness, was sick and un-
able 20 attend. The judge and attorneys
therefore went to DR.. curry's residence
and his examination took place there,
He said he had treated Jones, Rice's val
ct.
What did you prescribe for Jones?'
asked the assistant district attorney.
ct prescribed a tonic and protidide Of
mercury In pills OF 1-5 grain each. | gave
him bottle OF 100 pills One day he told
me his pills were out. told him 20 get
another bottle
A long statement by DIR. Curry was
read. stating the circumstances and cep-
nections of DIR. Curry with the last dis
ease of the late Mr.. Rice. The closing
paragraph reads
'Mr. Rice's death was from the great
mental strain on his nerve force, ne be-
ing So years old; his heart being weak
and II being OF slow action"
What did you prescribe for hice from
Osborne.
We'll" the doctor replied Jones
brought me bottle containing about 500
pills which he said Mr. Rice had been
taxing to cure his deafness. Jones said
Rice was taking them before going to
bed at night, and that he did not caro-
to have him take anything which he did
not know the nature OF. / then pre-
scribed four drops of nux vomIca to give
him at night. He did not need a great
deal of medicine"
did you give him any mercury" Mr..
Osborne asked.
No" the doctor replied
Lawyer Moore asked the witness II he
still believed that Mr.. Rice died from
natural causes.
II do" said Dr. Curry.
An adjournment was taken until Mon.
day.