The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-10
CAUGHT Mr.. HOUSE
JONES FIRST CONFESSED RICE
MURDER TO HINs.
CAUSED HEATED ARGUMENT.
PUTS ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENSE IN
A HOLE.

That Jones' story Was "A COncOcted
borne Had Jones Tell of HIS First
Confession to MIR. House, Then His
Lawyer-Patrlck Was Present
Then, and Told Him to Tell the
Truth.
New York, April "a feature of the
examination of Valet Jones in to-day's
session of the hearing concerning the
death of William Marsh Rice, the Texas
millionaire. was a line of questioning
which led to heated scene at the noon
recess between Attorney Moore. who rep
resents Lawyer Patrick, and Assistant
District Attorney Osborne The cause of
the dispute was Mr.. Osbornes success in
wringing from Valet Jones certain testi-
mony against Patrick. Frederick House
is one of Patrick's lawyers. Previous TO
Jones turning states evidence Mr.. House
represented the valet also. BY ruling of
the court Mr.. Osborne was allowed to ask
the witness what he and Patrick had tod
their lawyer at their first interview In the
tombs. Jones replied that it was a COM
at all from his story at the hearing.
During all the long s-examination
of Jones, which ended only an hour be-
fore recess. Mr.. Moore made it apparent
that his sledge-hammer questions were all
directed at one point He sought to show
that Jones' story was concocted at the
instigatIon of some of the men interested
in disproving the second Rice will.
When, at last, Mr.. Moore said:
eve are through with the witness" Mr..
Osborne, on the rebuttal, leaned back in
his chair and asked quietly:
MIR. Osborne's BOmbsheH.
Jones, to whom did you first tell the
story of your having chloroformed Mr..
Rice? l mean the same story you told
here?"
ITO Mr.. House." was the reply.
The question apparently was a surprise.
Mr. House flushed and looked hard at
the table. Patrick tugged at his beard
and Mr. Moore sprang to his feet.
1--WE object to that question" he shout
ed. I'VE have some rights in this court.
Anything the witness said to his counsel
involves the prisoner. 1t Is a professional
confidence which must not be revealed
But Justice Jerome only said -'
objection overruled," and Jones then
described at length his first interview
with Mr. House in the Tombs counsel
room on Patrick's advice ne had told
the truth, he said.
II told Mr.. House that murdered Mr..
Rice" said Jones. "I told him that
gave him mercury pills, where got the
chloroform and all about it,
"Did you tell him about the oxalic
acid?'
yes"
And what did Mr.. House say?"
"He told Patrick that 1t would not 10
for him to put all the blame on me, that
he was as much in 1t as / was.
Mr. Osborne brought out the fact that
the talk with Mr.. House occurred sew
eral days before the district attorney had
the faintest idea that the prisoner would
make confession.
'fWhat did Patrick say to Mr.. House2"
Mr.. Osborne asked.
"Why. he explained that we had put
Mr.. Rice out of the way because the
drafts were coming due from Texas" said
Jones.
Lawyers Have Hot Argument.
Court then adjourned until o'clock. A
few minutes later Justice Jerome went
out and the courtroom was cleared OF
everyone save the lawyers and reporters.
Mr. Moore met Mr.. Osborne at the corner
OF the table.
"Mr Osborne" he began in a quiet tone.
81 want to tell you that your conduct In
making Jones tell about his conversation
With Mr. House was unprofessional. Al
was not right"
The district attorneys face was crimson
in a minute.
II only did it," he said, because of
your insinuations that we concocted
Jones story. You have cast reflections
upon Capt. Baker. He is my friend /
guard his reputation as zealously as 1
do my own"
At the mention OF his name. Capt. Ba-
ker stepped forward and stood at Mr. Os-
bcrnes elbow.
you have not strengthened your case
any," continued Mr.. Moore. You have
only put Mr.. House In a hole. / tell you,
it wasn't fair"
II don't give a damn for the way you
do things up the state" shouted Mr.. Os-
borne. referring TO Mr. Moore being a re-
cent arrival in this city. you attend to
your own side OF the case. II you had q
professional sense of honor you would not
interfere with me In trying the case out
of court"
Assistant District Attorney Garyan then
stepped between the two men. Amid a
running fire of accusations and recrimina-
tions Mr.. Osborne went back TO his office
Mr.. Moore followed him as far as the
hall.
JnNE.G (gnngQ TcY AAfExErn