Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-04-06
CONFESSION OF MURDER.
Valet Jon 5 Tells of' III Killing of
Wl..ie.n Lash ace.
PATRICK oBIBF ooJsPtRAToR.

According to the story OF the Mar
derer the Accused Lawyer Was tae
Author of the Conspiracy to Rob
and Murder the Aged millionaire.
New York. April 3.-Without the
slightest quaver in his well modulated
voice, and displaying no outward sign
OF regret or remorse. Charles F. Jones,
secretary and valet to the late William
Marsh Rice, yesterday confessed I'M
der oath that he had ended the life OF
his employer and benefactor with
chloToform.
The confession was the climax OF a
remarkable recital In which was laid
bare the details of an alleged subtle
conspiracy which had for it's object the
seizure of $4,000 900 in cash and nego-
table securities and the conversion Of
$S,Oo0.O0O in realty to the uses of the
alleged conspirator.
The self-confessed murderer told tho
story Of the alleged plot from it's in
ception. The capital crime he COM
mitted and all the minor offenses that
preceded it were, he declared, at the
instigation and direction of Albert T.
Patrick. 1t was Patrick, he said, who
conceived the idea OF forging a will
and forging transfers and conveyances
1t was Patrick who induced two per-
sons to witness the forged signature
1t was Patrick who determined that
Rice should die, and it was Patrick
who sought to have him killed slowly,
and then, becoming impatient, de-
termined upon quick action. And, ac-
cordtng to Jones, remarkable as IL may
seem, Rice never knew Patrick during
his lifetime and never saw him but
once.
Jones, according to his story. first
began bis acquaintance with Patrick
when the lawyer called at the residence
OF Millionaire Rice on Madison avenue,
this city. in October, 1899. The witness
told of the growing friendship and the
gradual approach to the discussion OF
the affairs Of Mr. Rice which finally
resulted in the proposition to defraud,
and Jones finally yielded. Then came
the deafls OF the story of the transfers
and conveyances Of real and personal
property to Patrick, over the forged
signatures Of Rice; the stealing of
blank checks from the millionaire's
check book; then delivery to Patrick
and the forging OF Rice's signature;
the proposition TO put the aged million
atre out Of the way, first weakening
him, by c9ntifinohs doses OF mercury;
the calling In OF physician a. fire.
Quent intervals, thus apparently pro-
vidipg for the issuance OF a death GER
tificate. and the SktreIne care, with
which this plan Of slow poisoning vas
carried OUT
Jones described his return to Mr..
Rices apartments and the discovery
or the millionaire sleeping peacefully
In bed, OF his stealthy search for a
napkin and the fashioning OF IL into a
cone shape as directed, he said, by Pat
rick, and Of pinning a small sponge at
the point OF the cone. Then he told of
saturating the napkin and sponge with
chloroform and holding 1t over his own
nostrils to test its effect He described
his approach to the bed with the sat
urated napkin in his hand, placing IL
over the face OF the sleeping old man.
his flight from the room, the weary
walt or 80 minutes, in accordance with
Patrick's alleged instructions, at the
expiration OF which time he returned
and found Rice dead. He then threw
open the windows to free the room
from the odor of chloroform, telephon-
ed to Patrick that Rice was dead. sent
for a physician and then, after ex-
pressing his grief at the loss of so good
and kind an employer, he, said be went
to bed and fell into q sound sleep. -
Patrick, accused by Jones of being
the arch criminal, listened to the wit
ness with attention and occasionally
made notes OF the testimony. Not even
the nerve OF the remarkable witness on
the stand was more cool. calm and col
lected than this remarkable prisoner.
Patrick displayed neither anger, fear
nor resentment.