The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-04-05
Sta rtling Confession BY
Valet Jones'.
INCITED BY PATRICK
Sensational Story Told by For
mer Servant of Dead
MuIti-MiiIion-
aire.

New York. April 3.-Charles Il.
Jones, secretary and valet to the late
William Marsh Rice confessed under
oath that he had ended the life of his
employer and benefactor with chloro.
form.
The confession was the climax of
q remarkable recital, in which was
laid bare the details of an alleged
subtle conspiracy which had for its
object the seizure of $3,000,000 In
cash and negotiable securities and
the conversion of $3,000,000 in realty
to the uses of the alleged chief con-
spirator.
The capital crime he committed
and all the minor offenses that pre-
ceded 1t were, he declared, at the in.
stigation and direction of Albert T..
Patrick. 1t was Patrick, he said, who
conceived the idea Of forging will
and forging transfers and convey.
ances. 1t was Patrick who induced
two persons to witness the forged
signature. 1t was Patrick who de.
termined that Rice should die, and
Patrick who sought to have him
killed slowly, and then, becoming i'm.
patient, determined upon quick ac.
ton. And, according to Jones, re-
markable as 1t may seem, Rice never
knew Patrick during his lifetime and
never saw him but once.
Jones. according to his story, first
began his acquaintance with Patrick
when the lawyer called at the resi-.
dence 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 de-
tails of the story Of the transfers and
conveyances of real and personal
property to Patrick, over the forged
signature of Rice; the stealing Of
blank checks from the millionaire's
check book; then delivery to Patrick
and the forging of Rices signature;
the proposition to put the aged mil
lionaire out of the way, first weaken
ing him by continuous doses of mer-
curry, the calling in OF a physician at
frequent intervals, thus apparently
providing for the issuance of a death
certificate, and the extreme care with
which this plan of slow poisoning
was carried out.
He swore that Patrick had furnish.
ed him with mercury pills of diff
ferent composition from those first
administered; told how the million.
aire defeated the purpose of the plot
ters by refusing to take them. Then, |
Jones said, Patrick began to display |
impatience. He swore the lawyer |
brought two ounces of oxalic acid to |
no itfNI
to dilute one ounce in 20 times its |
weight in water and TO give the mix |
ture to Rice for the purpose OF weak |
ening his heart action.
To induce the old man to take these |
several poisons, Jones said he was
compelled to take doses himself in .
Rices presence. One dose was really
not dangerous. 1t was the cumulative
effect Of the drug that was to lie
feared.
According to this remarkable con.
fession the oxalic acid was too slow,
and Jones was asked to use chloro.
form and laudanum. Jones said he
was afraid to buy the drugs in the
and he sent to his
brother in Texas for them. They
came by express. This was followed
by a meeting in the street with Pat
rick, who told him that the old man
was lasting too long; that he must
be put out of the way at once;
that Jones must do the work, and
there would really be no harm in it,
ms Rice had poisoned his own wife
years ago, and deserved the poison
Ing.
Jones described his return to Mr..
Rice's apartment and the discovery
Of the millionaire sleeping peacefully
In bed; he told of his stealthy search
Tor a napkin and the fashioning of
Il into a cone shape. as directed, he
said, by Patrick. He detailed the
story Of the pinning of small sponge
1T the point of the cone. Then he
told Of saturating the napkin and
sponge with chloroform and holding
It over his own nostrils to test it's ef-
'ect Jones looked straight into the
Dyes OF Assistant District Attorney
Osborne and continued his story ,
without break. without a tremor In ,
MS voice. He described his approach
10 the bed with the saturated napkin
n his hand; Of the placing it over
he face of the sleeping old man; OF
he flight from the room; OF the +,
weary wait of 80 minutes in accord, |,
lncc with Patrick's alleged instruc-
Ions; at the expiration of the half :
lour he returned and found Rice ..
lead. He then threw open the win !
lows to free the room from the odo- I
Il chloroform. telephoned to Patrick !
hat Rice was dead, sent for a physi- |
ian. and then, after expressing his
rief at the loss of go good and kind t
n employer, he said he went to bed c
md fell into a sound sleep. I
Patrick. accused by the witness of y
leing the arch criminal. listened to
he witness with attention and occa. a
ionaIy made notes OF the testimony. &
Tot even the remarkable witness on 4
he stand was more cool, calm and q
elected than this remarkable pris- y
ner. Patrick's hand was firm and h
faady He dianlauad xaitha. a..... | :