The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-03-27
PRELIMINARY
OF ALBERT PATRICK
FOr the Murder Of MilliCG-
aire William Rice

New York, Marca 26-Aibert T.
Patrick. the lawyer, who is accused ~ :
rsuraeriug william Marsh Rice, the aged
rrgas milOanairc last September was siv-
au preliminary hearing before Judge
Jerome, sitting ns "a committing magis-
trate today. The charge against Pat
Tsck Is based on anidavits made By Char
lts NJ Jones. q valet in tho employ of the
tstc minionaire al The time of his death,
ami by Professor Nitthaus. an expert
chemist
Tbe nrst Witness was naYid J.. short
pubifher Of Brooklyn
short said he became Commissioner
al deeds of Texas at the suggestion of
Patrick Jones was introduced To- him,
- slid as the private secretary on
rtalthy Texas client of patricka The
witness admitted that on several occa
aons be- had ieft his omcai seal at the
APARTMENTS OF Mr. R.ce after tran1act-
ing business there. Witness said he had
sever acted as commissioner fnr anyone
except Mr. Rice and that was at the
request OF Patrick Witness bad never
seen Patrick al Rice's house until after
Air Rces death Jones was excluded
from tho court room while the witness
sas toaufJing.
The witness identified a paper that he
bad Acknowledged as commissioner Of
deeds The paper was offered In evi-
aeuct by thc prosecution. who expected To
urove that q was forgery. Counsel
for the defense objected on the ground
" srreleyancy. and the paper was exciud-
Cd temporarily
The prosecution brought out from the
hot Na IsH I.. az p Rflnfa
mouse on business on May g. June 30
September z. September i9 and September
q. two days before Rices death Short
eud ne might have been at the house
Bf Mr. Rice on other occasions lie had
gltncssed several assignments OF proper
ty 20 be huod IN the state OF New York.
Al the afternoon session Short assumed
the stand and said De had failed 10 find
ihe book IN which he put down the dates
shen ne had visited Rlces house.
..On June 30 you said sou had aelSnow-
srdged three papers for Mr. Rce7' ask
"a Assistant District Attorney osborne.
YES"
lIa afso .0id he had Witnessed anoth-
ar d Wiz
mid YOU see Mr. Rice sign those pap
<rz. Including the wil2'
Short said ho did He said he signed
ahe three documents and Rice then said .
.Gcntiemen while YOU arc heto ! Want
soa 70 Witness another paper. my last
xul and testament"
rae witness then said Rec handed tho
Wni % Myers. Patricks partner. who
fiauced u over and returned IT, and Mr.
Edag sat az his desk and ssitsi all the
qapers Myers and short then signed as
witnesses Osborne handed witness the
2fII( which he Identified The witness
nlSo identined three other papers as doc
amsuis which he had executed as COM
missioner on June 90 when the viii had
acen executed Il was handed 10 Myers
~ take 20 PatricKs office
ma Mr. Rice say anything 10 you re-
rarding the wili2" asked Mr.. Osborne.
-Yoa. he ASKED me not 10 say anything
about Il until after he was dead and
eoue
MI Osborne then examined Short al
sength concerning bis last visit TO the
anuse Of Mr.. Rice. on the 2ist Of Sep
aembrr. two days before the death OF
Hr Rice
3Ir Osborne then passed over the In
sidrnts following immediately upon the
death OF MIR Rice. Witness related how
he had been sent 10 swcnson aud sons
20 cash a check for s25Oo DE did not
suoN Mr Rice was dead st that time
Patrick had not told him
so you are positive Patrick sent YOU 70
cash Mr Ricc's check for S25O0 and did
aot tell You De was dead? are you sure
az thisf" asked Mr.. osborne
~ 1m. replied the witness cmphatioal-
o.
Tho Witness related now swenson and
Son'R had refused a. cash the check, and
said that he had been notified OF Rice's
afath az their office. Subsequently, wit
asEs told how he had given check Tor
tglSooo on the Fifth Avenue Trust come
peny which he had taken 20 the Office
~ that company 10 have II certified He
succeeded in having the check certified.
Witness admitted thatlhe had not meu-
6oued az the bank that Rice was dead.
1he two checba were placed Ia eyi-
aeuce
Patrick, the witness said upon bis re-
eurn frnn the onicc of swenaon and
ssns. had Informed him that Rice was
1esi. mad passed away carly ON SUM
fuy afternoon