Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-26
VALET JONES. CONTINUES
His Horrible Story of the Things
Leading to Rice's Murder.

New York, Feb 25-The sixth week of
the trial of Albert T. Patrick for the mu"-
der of William NJ. Rice was begun. to-
day. Charles F. Jones, the valet of Mr..
Rice. continuing his testimony When
court adjourned Friday, Jones was iden-
tifying certain letters and papers found
among Mr.. Rice's effects when the police
took charge of his apartments, and this
line of the examination was continued.
today. Jones had shown all the papers
to Patrick prior to the death of Mr.. Rice.
District Attorney Osborne made an at
tempt to place in evidence check books
of Mr. Rice to show certain blank stubs
in confederation of Jones testimony that
he gave Patrick blank checks. the de-
fence objected and the recorder refused
to admit the check books. Jones then be-
gan to repeat the talks he had had with
Patrick prior to the making of the 1899
will.
Robert NJ Moore of counsel for the de-
fence, objected to Jones telling what oc-
Cured between him and Patrick and
their then joint counsel at the, time of
Jones arraignment. on the ground that
the conversation between the counsel
and client was privileged. Argument Oh
the objection was in progress when re-
cess was announced
After recess the argument was resumed
and at its conclusion the recorder ruled
that the testimony was not admissible.
The recorder also ruled out all testimony
by Jones respecting his conversations
with Patrick in the presence of his at
torney and also with the latter.
Mr.. Osborne then asked the witness
what he had said to Patrick before he
talked with his lawyer about the case.
II asked Patrick what l should say to
the lawyer" Jones said, ''and Patrick
told me l might tell him a murder had
name in connection with it. / told him
would not confess the murder unless
could tell all the facts connected with it,
Did you and Patrick ever talk of sui
ut = I 4 .
suicide if l had any way to do it. Pat
rick said he would do the same; that we
should both do it together as otherwise
the survivor would have to answer alone
for the crime. Patrick told me he had a
knife and some. oxalic acied in his cell.
| asked him to give me one blade of the
knife. He said it had only one blade.
Next day Patrick gave me a small knife.
About O'Clock in the morning | took the
knife and tried to cut my throat. l found
the artery on the right side and cut at
it dozen times. ! had considerable
trouble with the knife it WIS so DUH
Jones then showed the wound he had in
1icted on himself to the jury.
Jones told of many interviews he had
with Mr.. Osborne and Capt. Baker after
he had decided to turn states evidence
This completed his examination by Mr.
Osborne and the witness was turned over
to the defence for cross-examination.
After Jones had told of his three years
employment by Mr.. Rice he said that he
was taken tne mousse OF ueCenIlOn, NOV.
u 1900 but that since May s, 1901 he has
been living at the boarding house, 200
West Forty-fourth street. During those
eight or nine months he had been out
walking almost every day and perhaps
two evenings. He has had dinner at
restaurant with wine and visited some
theatres or other place of amusement.
How frequently have you visited the
eight months?" asked Mr. Moore. Per
haps a dozen times in all. until about
two months before this trial began. Dur
ing those two months l saw the district
attorney daily"
During the time you were in prison..
Mr. Moore asked, did you have any
knife except the one you say Patrick
gave you?" mo
Jones had testified on the direct ex-
animation that he left pages in Mr.. Rice's
correspondence book blank. intending to
fill the spaces with the letters Patrick
was to claim he received from Mr.. Rice.
When confronted with the correspOn-
dence book by Mr.. Moore, he could not
find the spaces left. One space occurred
between two entries made in Mr.. Rice's
handwriting.
did Mr.. Rice leave that space for you
to enter a forged letter." Mr.. Moore
asked. "Was he party to the conspira-
cy between you and Patrick?' Il can't
answer two questions at once" replied
the witness somewhat testify.
How many different statements,
JONES'" asked counsel. have you made
about the death of Mr. Rice?' -Four"
The recorder adjourned court at this
point until tomorrow morning.