The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-02
TRIAL OF PATRICK.
A Woman Was the Most Important
Witness Heard.
SHE GAVE HER TESTIMONY
In Very Reluctant Manner, Fearing
TO lncriminate Herself.
THE WITNESS KNEW VALET JONES
And Several Other Persons Connected
With The Affair.
dad TALKED OF CASE WITH PATRICK
At the Afternoon Session She Answered
Questions that She Had Previously
Refused to Answer.
THE WITNESS KNEW VALET JONES
And Several Other Persons Connected
With the Affair.
dad TALKED OF CASE WITH PATRICK
At the Afternoon Session She Answered
Questions that She Had Previously
Refused to Answer.

New York. Aprn 1.--'Gherc was new
act in the Patrick murder case today ana
woman now has the center OF The stage
1t was not what she did tell that was of
Importance, but what she fefused 10 tell
ana the ground upon which she based her
refusal Many leading questions she de.
cltnod TO answer because she had been ad-
vised that to do so would he TO incrininatc
herself, and her refusal WAS taniqmount 10
giving damaging evidence against her for
MGR boarder, A, l. Patrick Mrs Francis
Is depended on as a most valuable witness
for the State. and she Is proving such The
Judge took occasion TO prevent her refusal
70 answer placing stigma on her charac-
ter, and she then answered some OF the
questions she had previously uegatlvcd;
but she did not answer several which wern
propouuded 10 her and which vera leading,
~
The FIRST witness today at the hearing OF
Albert I. Patrick. the lawyer charged with
causing the death Of william Marsh Rice,
September last, was a Mrs. Francis, who
kept the house whore Patrick formerly
boarded. When she had been sworn and
Assistant District Attorney Osborne was
about to put his question, Mr.. Moore, Pat
rck's lawyer said he thought the witness
ought to he cautioned against tcstlfylng
to ANYTHING Mat might incrmluate herself.
Mrs Francis testified that she had known
Patrick since January. 1893. Patrick was
her boardcr at several places where she
conducted boarding houses. and boarded
with her at the time Of his arrest She
was acquainted with David L. Short and
Morris Meyer and with Pdtts all of whom
have figured in thc case. Patrick occupied
the back parlor n her house. She herself
had no stared room. she said. in reply to
question by Mr., Osborne.
when did Patrick begin to speak to you
about Sir Rce?" asked Mr. Osborne,
~ decline to answer, on the advice OF
my lawyer" witness replied
ION what groundT asked Mi. Osborne.
ION the ground that 1t would incrminate
me-" Mrs. Francis answered
Assistant District Attorney Osborne said
there was no intention of duplicating the
witness VITA Patrick, but she Stli refused
to testify.
Justice Jerome then usked the witness.
do YOU believe the answer 20 this ques
ton wouid tend to convict you Of a crime
Understand not Patrick nor Short nor
| Meyers nor anybody else, but yourselfY'
The witness Thought a while, II do
I think It would tend to incrimnate me-"
I She said
There was some moro argumen; ana
/ finally Justice jerome said III the witness
! is willing 20 place herself IN such post
! ton In the community as she does through
her testimony, | do not sec that | can com
pei her TO answer She Is an intelligent
woman and fully understands this ques
| ton Are you Willing to stand IN that
! Hghtf" Justice Jerome added, turning to
the witness.
81 am" the witness said.
Mrs Francis said she had known Jones
! since January 1900, hut she refused to
reply to any further questions concerning
Jones on the ground that the answers
might incrminate her.
For the same resson she refused 10 say
whether Patrlcb remained in tho house al
day on September % last year
Mrs Francis was 700 III to appear ms :
witness on Friday. To-day che testified
that She was down to the Tomhs on sun
day. where she spent several hours talking
10 Patrick
did you discuss the case with him7''
81 did"
what did you say7''
"Nothng Of any Importance at sil J."
II came out In the testimony that W.T.
ness had been told by LAWYER that II sh
said anything favorable to Patrick the ais
trict attorney would have her arrested.
Mr. Osborne then handed the witness
letter which she identified as one that sh
wrote him last year. 1t was marked an
piaoed IN evidence.
"You were not at that time afraid OF IN
eliminating yourself7' he said.
Il was not"
"wha, made you change your mind sine
that hneT
"My counsers advice, my own oplnio
that II would lncrlmiuate me- ana III
threats Of the assistant district attorney.
OF you, she said. her eyes ashlng and h,
head erect.
} did ! ever threaten you personally?
, asked Mr. Osborne.
NO"
"whr lid you believe would have va
. arrtsiedf'
~ saw In the papers on sunday nigl
that you were 10 make more arrests"
, "And DC you believe after NY doelar
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