The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-05

clared Untrue.
New York, April 3.-Charles F. Jones'
who was the vaiet-secretary to Will
liam Marsh Rice, the aged millionaire,
who, according to Jones confession
yesterday, was murdered by the use of
chloroform in September last finish
ed his testimony today on direct exam
ination in the proceedings before JUS
tice Jerome, charging Albert T. Pat
rick with murder. When court ad
journed on Tuesday people went out OF
the little room in which Justice Jerome
was conducting the examination Of
Lawyer Patrick filled with wonder at
the extraordinary story of the man who
confessed that he had placed over the
face of his benefactor as he slept fold
ed napkin saturated with chloroform,
thereby causing the death of the mil
iOnaire.
Today they heard the same story re-
peated under a different condition, but
with even more dramatic surroundings.
The story of the murder and conspir-
acy which Jones outlined on Tuesday,
he today filled in with a wealth of de-
tail and with a GOODNESS and nerve
which under the circumstances was al
most overwhelming.
According to the story of the valet
secretary, he and Patrick had drawn
up the bogus will and were waiting
with what patience they could for old
man Rice to die. when q mill burned
down in Texas. Rice's connections
there desired to rebuild it and he spoke
of advancing the $4,000 or $125,O00 re-
quired.
Patrick told me to use all my infu
ence," said Jones today, with Rice
not to rebuild the mill as this would
take out all the ready cash from the
estate; but Rice insisted on advancing
the money and presently authorized
draft for $4,000 from one of his cor
respondents in Texas. Word of the
draft arrived in New York on Satur-
day, and Jones in accordance with
his compact, told Patrick about it.
1t was only $4,000. but. according to
not spare even this much out of the
millions that he was already counting
as his own.
He then said.' testified Jones, that
he would have to do something to get
Rice out of the way before Monday
when the draft would arrive.
Even more illustrative o. the caution
and the roughness of the alleged plot
conceived and carried out bv these men
was another instance related by Jones
The manager of Rice's estate in Texas
"a man named Cohen-was in the habit
of sending a check made out in his
| name for his salary to Rice monthly
Rice paid him by signing the check
| and mailing it back to him. When
Of oh oil md
| after Rice had signed it and given it to
| Jones to mail. he turned it over to
| Patrick in order that the latter might
| practice on the signature. The next
| check that came from Cohen was sign
| ed with the forgery Of Rices name
| and sent along in order by it's passage
| through the banks of Texas that they
| might test the merit of their forgery.
| The experiment was an entire success
| and gave them great confidence in the
| greater forgeries yet to come.
Patrick's defense will be a general de-
| nial. 1t will not be revealed in detail
| until the actual murder trial takes
| place, which will probably not be until
| October next. Jones. according to tn
| defense, was the arch conSpirator and
| Patrick was only the innocent tool of
| the valet. The greatest stress will be
| laid upon the fact by the defense that
| Jones is a self-confessed purjurer and
|
| confessions should obtain no credence.
! Jones the valet-secretary of William
| Mash Rice, the rich Texan. resumed
| the giving of testimony today in the
| proceedings against Albert T. Patrick
| who is charged with causing Rice's
| death in order to obtain his property
by means of a will. deeds and checks,
| which 1t is alleged. were forged.
| Jones began today by relating that
on Monday the day following Rice's
| death, four men who represented them
selves to be lawyers. called at the
| and asked questions concerning the
| circumstances surrounding the death.
Jones told Patrick he thought hes
men were detectives. On Tuesday at
ternoon he was taken to police head
quarters where he was questioned. He
| found Patrick also at police headquar-
ters. Patrick told Jones he had de-
| stroyed the will witnessed in Patrick s
| office and a number of bogus letters
| written on the will matter. On this
occasion Jones testified Patrick asked
| when Rice had last been given mer-
| curry. II told him on Thursday" Jones
| said; Patrick then told me that there
would not be any traces of that left
| topsy and that the embalming 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 de-
| stroyed on the day following Rice's
| death were too small and that it would
| be impossible to get it probated. Pat
| rick, Jones said. then had the so-called
] Patrick wilf' drawn.
Jones said before he was locked up
| he made a statement which was en-
| tirely fictitious and of which he could
| not recall even the most salient fea-
| lures.
Jones then told how Mr.. House had
| been appointed lawyer OF both Patrie
| and himself. From here Jones passed
| to his attempt to commit suicide.