New-York tribune., 1902-01-31
DECLARE WILL FORGED.
LY TESTIFY TO OPINIONS ON W.
NJ. RICE'S SIGNATURES.

When the trial OF Albert T Patrick was resumed
before Recorder Goff and a jury yesterday AS
sstant District Attorney Osborne recalled Norman
Meldrum to the stand. and had him relate the
conversation he had with Patrick in the latter's
room when Captain Baker was present, on Septem-
ber q. 1900 II then that Patrick told or the
will Of 1900 alleged have been made by Mr. Rice
and showed the general assignment of Mr. Rices
property TO him. The witness thought the sigma
ture to the will a forgery. The witness said Fat
rick declared that he did not intend to quaiify as
of the executors of the 1900 WILL and that o
per cent of Mr.. Rice's estate would be divided be-
tween two executors Therefore Captain Baker
would receive a large The witness corrob-
Grated the testimony of Captain Baker as 10 the
surrender of many of Mr. Rice's "apers and the
checks which had been drawn Swenson's bank.
Mr.. Osborne then showed to the witness the sig
nature Mr.. Rice's will OF 1896. and Mr. Meldrum
said it the signature of William NJ Rice MT
Osborne made another attempt to have the entlre
will put evidence Patrick's counsel oo1ected'
and after argument the Records" sustained the
objection The signature of the Rice Will OF 1888
was allowed in evidence but the will itself was
kept out.
On cross-examination Mr.. Meldrum said he knew
Captain Baker in Texas Captain Baker was coun-
sci for a railroad company by which Mr. Meldrum
had been employed nine years. but ne hao hot
seen Captain Baker since 1888 until after Mr Rlce
death
Joseph L. BIinn a nephew of William NJ. Rice,
testified that he came to this city receiving
valet In the room where Mr.. Rice had died, and
Patrick entered the
Mr.. Patrick asked Jones'" the witness sa1d'
"how the body keeping and If the undertaken
had arrived. Then he came over to me and asked
if ] knew how | Jared under the Will ~ i salu n
no. and he told me L get $4,000 and my son
5000. Then he sat and began 10 hgure ouI nom nom
much each of would get. asked him how soon
| could have the money, and he sald couid ar tdhe
II home with me. He sat down, and was hguring
out the margin of newspaper. lie was cdlIeG
away by Jones TO attend to some OF the 1uneTaI
n q
and put IL in my pocket ~
The clipping was placed IN eYiaence id ad shoowed
that Patrick knew of the provisions Of the 1886 VIII
date heirs under the 1900 wili For the tenth time
he asked have the 1896 will put In evidence lie
Recorder used to admit II. 49, 40, ,o.
the Rice Institute II the 1888 will was proba ted.
Under the 1896 viii he was to receive only >SVy9' >I
came from Colonel Joseph Rice, nephew OF W. NJ
Rice -, nj,
Emanuel Raphael of the trustees of the Rice
Institute of Houston Tex, said the institute owned
property worth over 1000. mostly contributed
by Mr.. and Mrs. Rice. The charter OF the instl-
pensation for services. Mr.. Osborne put that In
evidence indication that Mr.. Rice Wouid
not have made the 1900 will which gave 5000 TO
each OF the trustees. Mr.. Raphael examiner tns
the signature to the 1900 win, and said they were
the signatures of Mr.. Rice. lie SAID ne never
had heard Of Patrick & before M es and Charles
interviews given out by Patrick after Mr. Riee's
he had kept his relations with Mr.. Rice secret IN
expectation OF nakng sa1sfncs4rMS M Ssd Inceyed n
the Swenson checks from Mr.. Rice ana tnat the
value of Mr.. Rices estate was about $1,000 .,.
and agent in Texas looked at the signatures on
the 1900 will and the Swenson checks, and said
witness was awaiting cross-examnaton when the
court adjourned for the day.