Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-05
The EVIDENCE Of JONES
WILL NOT HOLD PATRICK.
pATRICK'S WONDERFUL NERVE
READ HESITATION
JONES,S CONFESSION, BLAM-
ING THE CRIME ON HIM.

4cC 4OIkIA, <APA Il Ss
least two incidents during to-day's
cross-examination of Charles F. Jones,
the valet-secretary of Millionaire Will
liam Marsh Rice, which rose above the
ordinary. One was a remark made by
Justice Jerome, who presides at the
hearing and which probably shows why
Lawyer Patrick, accused with Jones of
the murder of the former Texan, has
all along taken the accusations of
Jones against himself with a demean-
Or almost bordering on contempt.
Attorney Moore for the defense had
asked that when the hearing closed
for the day it be not resumed until
Tuesday. Justice Jerome seemed will
ing and then added:
1T is necessary that Jones testl-
mony as to this murder should be cor
roborated. He being a self-confessed
accomplish, his testimony alone, is not
enough upon which to hold Patrick.
Attorney Moore tersely added to this:
I'VE understand that and we sup
pose the district attorney does too"
Tonight, those who are watching the
case closely are wondering what cor
roborative testimony the State will in
troduce to sustain the statements of
Jones.
The other incident brought out in
the c~learest light the indomitable nerve
of Lawyer Patrick.
In the face of the reiterated story
that Lawyer Patrick had i"nstigated
the forgeries and the actual murder, the
latter took his place in the court pro-
ceedings with the utmost nonchalance.
At n point it became necessary that
a statement made by Jones be read
and it was given into the hands of n
of counseI for the defense for that
purpose. This was the statement in
which the valet claimed Patrick kill
ed Rice and which he mas since de-
MED. The reader hesitated and
stumbled over the written words. Sud-
denly Patrick spoke UP, exclaiming
Here, I guess | can make it out; I'll
read it."
This was agreed to, and in a loud
clear voice he read:
"'P' got a towel and sponge and
saturated the sponge with a colorless
liquid he had in a bottle. Then he
went into the room where r. lay in
bed. | (Jones) was not in the room,
but opened the door and peeped in.
"'P' vas standing over r. with the
co~ne-shaped towel in his hand and he
pressed it down over RS face"
Patrick was still reading, with no
show of emotion, when Justice Jerome
ordered a recess for luncheon.
The sP's' and RS in the statement
stand for Patrick and Rice.
At another point in the proceedings
Justice Jerome gave his estimate of
Jones with characteristic terseness.
Attorney Moore had been racking the
witness with questions all tending to
bring out the Wallets lying p~ropensities.
He showed that Jones had lied to and
deceived his own father when the lat
ter called on him in the hospital after
he had attempted suicide; that he had
told untruths to Assistant District At
torney Osborne and that ne had lied to
his W counsel. Here Justice Jerome
struck in with the remark:
This witness is a weak, wicked and
unfortunate man. He is a s~elf-confess-
ed murderer and deserves contempt,
but l wont allow you to insult him"
There was very little new matter
brought out at to-day's hearing. The
whole of the croSS-examination of Mr..
Moore. who is Patrick's personal
counsel, was confined to showing up
Jones as a man who could not be be-
lieved. When court adjourned it was
until next Tuesday.
Before the proceedings to-day began
the representatives of the prosecution
and defense discussed a proposition to
adjourn to-day until next Tuesday
morning.
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
said:
we don't want an adjournment un-
less the defense will waive further ex-
animation"
Well said Justice Jerome, "as yet
nothing has been shown to prove that
Patrick is really guilty of murder except
the uncorroborated testimony of an ac-
knowledged accomplice. There must be
confederation of Jones statements in
order to hold Patrick on a murder
charge, and / will not accept a waiver
at the present time from either side"
The cross-examination of Charles F.
Jones was then taken up Jones said
that on the afternoon before he at
tempted to commit suicide he wrote
some letters. When he got better he
destroyed the mail. He did not think
they had been out of his possession
from the time they were written until
he destroyed them. Jones said. how
ever, that he left the letters in his cell
when he was taken to the district attor-
ney's Office. One of the letters was to
Fred B. House, who was his counsel at
that time. He did not write a statement
while he was in Bellevue hospital.
While in the hospital he received visits
from CaptAin5Baker, e Texao, one OF