Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-27
GWEN D[A|H SENTENCE.
Jury in the Patrick Murder Trial
Returns Verdict OF
Guilty.
Convicted OF the Murder Of Mil
lionaire Rice-Decision
Quickly Reached.
Friends OF Prisoner Create a
Friends OF Prisoner Create a
Scene When Verdict is
Announced.


New York, March 27.-Albert T. Pat
rick lawyer, was last evening convicted
Of the murder on Sept %, 1900, of the
aged millionaire recluse. William
Marsh Rice. The penalty under the
statute is death in the electric chair. A
scant three hours of elaboration at the
close of trial prolonged for nine weeks
and replete with sensational interest
sufficed to enable the jury to reach
their verdict. The issue of the trial es-
tablished the charge that Patrick con-
spired with Mr.. Rice's valet Charles F..
Jones, to obtain possession of the aged
Texans estate, estimated at $7,OO0,O0O,
and that Jones killed his employer by
administering chloroform at the direct
Iinstigation of Patrick.
At the close of Recorder Goff's
charge, which occupied the morning
session of the court the jury retired.
This was at 1850 p. m. At 5:55 they mo-
titled the officer in charge that they
more than an hour of intervening time
having been devoted to luncheon. In
anticipation of scene of excitement in
the event of verdict of guilty, the I'M
usual step was taken of ordering all
women to leave the court room. Among
them were the prisoners two sisters
and Mrs. Francis, with whom he
boarded.
With grave faces the members Of the
jury filed into their places. and some
minutes of painful tension elapsed
while messengers were, endeavoring to
find the counsel, who had departed, not
expecting verdict for many hours.
Calm as ever, and with confidence
seemingly mistaken, the prisoner was
escorted into the court room. He
walked rapidly and took his stand, fac
ing the jury, with head erect and hands
loosely clasped behind his back. At the
word "Guilty," pronounced by Foreman
Machell, not the slightest change
passed over Patrick's face, and he re-
NAMED standing in an almost listless
attitude while the customary. poll Of
the jury was being taken. His aged
father, Captain Patrick, sitting near
him, and straining to catch the state
ment of the foreman. started for an in
slant as its import reached him, and
then sat calmly awaiting further pro-
ccedings. ,8
A smile Of triumph lit up the face. of
Assistant District Attorney Osborne.
who fastened from the court immedi-
ately after Recorder Golf had, atsthe
request of the prisoners counsel, fixed
on week from Monday as the day oni
which to pronounce sentence. Therver-r
dict was known almost Immediately In
the corridor, where the women rela-
tives and friends of the prisoner were
waiting, and a scene of excitement en-
sued. Screaming Historically, the pris-
cner's eldest sister ran about the corri-
dor, begging to be allowed to see her
brother. Mrs Francis tainted, and on
recovering She broke from the attend
ants and rushed into the court room,
from which Patrick had just been re-
moved. There she again swooned. Both
women were removed to an ante room
and were sent home in a carriage.
Captain Patrick after taking leave of
his son, who was led back to the Tombs,
would only say: ut is hard. Well have
to try again.
None of the jurors could be induced
TIC reveal how the verdict had been
reached, an agreement having been
made to tell nothing A motion will be
made for new trial when the prisoner
is arraigned for sentence.
William M. Rice came to New York
from Texas. He lived alone, with his
valet secretary, Charles F. Jones, at
500 Madison avenue. He was engaged
in litigation over his wife's will, which
sought to divide half of his estate. AL
bert T. Patrick, also from Texas origin
ally, was one of the contestants attor-
neys.
Old man Rice died Sept 20, 1900.
Notification of his death was delayed.
The next day. before 1t was known that
he had died, Patrick tried to get several
checks. purporting to have been signed
by Rice, certified. A slip of the pen, de-
tected by watchful bank clerk, be-
trayed the plot. In a check for $4,000,
to which old man Rice's signature is
alleged to have been forged, the letter
'1'' was left out of Patrick's first name.
1t was presented for payment on
Sept %. w. o. Wetherby, clerk for S.
NJ. Swenson & Sons, Rice's bankers
where the check was presented for pay
ment called the old mans apartments
up on telephone. Valet Jones an
swered the phone and told him Rice
was dead.
The police Immediately took UP the
case. Patrick, assuming charge Of the
old mans affairs. notified relatives in
distant parts of the country and made
arrangements for immediate cremation
of the body. The remains were being
taken from the apartments when De-
tective Valley stopped the little pro-
cession. and instead of going to the
cemtery the body went to the morgue
THREATENED HIS LIFE.