Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20
VALET Of RICE
TESTIFIES
AGAIN
CLERK TO MURDERED MILLION
ARE CONTINUES ON THE
STAND IN THE PAT
RIcK,TRlAL.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1s.-Charless F. Jones
continued his testimony in the trial of Al
bert T. Patrick, accused Of the murder OF
William NJ. Rice Jones was Rice's valet
and clerk In his testimony yesterday
Jones referred to an affidavit which he
said was shown him by Patrick, which
purported to be signed by Rice. Assistant
District Attorney Osborne called upon the
defense to produce the affidavit.
Mr.. Moore, counsel for the defense, pro-
tested that the action of the prosecution
was improper, and Recorder Golf sustain
ed the defense. The assistant district at
torney was urging a reversal of this de-
cision when the recorder adjourned court,
and he resumed his argument today. At
the close of Mr.. Osborne's plea the re-
corder ruled that the prosecution might
present secondary evidence Of the exist
ence OF the affidavit.
The examination Of Jones was then re-
sumed. He was asked to tell what was
the contents of the affidavit shown him
by Patrick. He said it was a paper swear
ing off Rice's personal taxes in New York
on the ground that he was a resident Of
Texas. Patrick asked what Jones
received, and on learning that it was $50
month. replied that he, Jones, was
worth twice that much. Then said the
witness. Patrick showed him a form Of
win.
Patrick said he would help Jones to
read law and would help make a smart
man of him. The witness said he did not
believe this. The form of the will sub
mitted by Patrick, said Jones, purported
to leave all the property of William NJ.
Rice to Albert T. Patrick.
''I asked Patrick what ne was going to
do with it," Jones said. ''He told me If I
would typewrite it he would see about the
signing Of the witnesses. / said would
help him. wrote 1t for him. The defend
ant took 1t away He said it would not do
and he would have 1t rewritten at his
office. Patrick asked If Mr.. Rice had made
any other viii, and told him yes. said
I had seen it and knew where 1t was kept.
got il for him-the will of 1896 He said
he did not think it right for Mr.. Rice to
leave so little Of his property for his rela-
tives and so much to charity. I agreed
with him. Patrick told me we ought to get
the same witnesses to the new viii that
had signed the will of 1S96-Palmer and
Wetherbee. Of Swanson's bank.
HE said all the heirs under the 1895
will would get more under the new will.
told Patrick he was taking too
much for himself and that he would never
get such a will probated. Patrick said:
Nonsense. all the relatives get more than
IN the 1896 will and they will all employ
lawyers to get my will probated.'
Replying TO questions by Mr. Osborne.
mitted to him in dozen different forms
before it finally took its present proper
lions. He and Patrick talked over differ
ent items in 1t and sometimes they would
change them. se
Mr. Patrick said he would give me
anything 1 wanted" the witness said. Ito
help this thing through. 1 objected 10 be-
ing witness to the viii and to having to
swear to the signature but / agreed TO
help get the will probated- It was decided
that I should not be a beneficiary because
the heirs might make claim OF undue
influence. One of the forms of the will
we did make made me the beneficiary in
stead of Patrick. He wanted to get the
1896 witnesses for the viii. Wetherbee
called on Mr.. Rice to get some money to
take up mortgage on Texas property.
He was not successful and thought
IL a good chance TO get hold Of him as
a witness while he was suffering from
hts disapbointment. / called upon Pat
rick on the telephone and told him about
1t. Patrick suggested that call on Mr..
william Wetherbee and sound him.
called on Wetherbee and told him that
Mr.. Rice woke up 'dopy' at times and that
on such occasions could get him to sign
anything 1 said II he would get a will
made naming himself as executor could
get 1t signed.
What did Wetherbee say asked Dis
trict Attorney Osborne.
He said it would be like cutting of his
own head. He said that he would like
to be the executor Of a big estate Ike
Mr.. Rice's. but that he would not go
into such a scheme as that,
Did you tell Patrick about that in
terview?".
yves. and he told me not to bother with
Wetherbee any more. He salu he could
get one witness and would have 70 be
the other. 1 objected that / could not
be a witness and a beneficiary, but he
said that difficulty. could be gotten over.
a few DAYS later, some time in January,
100 he told me David L. Short and Nor
ris AIerrer would serve as Witnesses.