The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-30
Especial to The Post)

NSpeCinl TO Inc foSt1
New York, January 2o,--At the close Of
the trial OF Albert T. Patrick today the
defendant declared that he was more than
satisfied with the progress OF the trial and
especially with tho testimony given by
Captain Baker.
Attorney House stated that he did not
believe that the prosecution would dare
put Valet Jones on tho stand. AZ he left
the court room he said' patrick IS as
good as free man"
Assistant District Attorney Osborne
would not comment upon the evidence, but
smiled when Houses remarks were re-
peated to him.
Captain Bakers attitude when on the
stand, which he occupied practically all
day, was calm and impressive. He showed
that he was n man OF legal training by the
way he answered the searching questions
Of Mr. Moore, but hc aid not seok 10
cover anything OF which he was cogniEaut,
whether it was for or against the defend.
| ant. He impressed those who heard him
as an extremely fair witness and in no
| wise trying to bias the jury one way or
| the other.
The captain admitted that he expressed
no opinion as TO The renuneness Of tho
signatures OF various papers hearing Mr..
Ricos name and which he now calls for
gcrcs until he had Obtained tno opinion
Of handwriting experts. lie furthtimcre
admitted that Patrick. before mia arrest,
uad told him hc desired fun ipvostiga
tion Of his relations with the aged mil.
lionairc The witness, too, declined TO
swear positively that Patrick was not pres
cnt In Ricc's apartments when the old
man was at ono time making dispositions
relative TO litigation he was involved in.
Tho prosecution has been endcAyorinE 20
prove that Patrick and Rice never met
when Mr. Osborne for the people Pre-.
scented the 1896 viii in evidence as 10 the
gonuineness Of the signature, Mr. Moore
for the defense objected, declaring that
the rulings Of the court NJ appeals in the
MolincuX case were pertinent After listen.
ing To Mr.. Moore, who argued the docu.
ment was improper and irrelevant as cvi.
dcncc, Recorder Con- sustained the objcc.
tlon.
Norman Medium, banker, testified
that The signatures on The $4,000 and So
COO checks were forGeries
Recorder Con declined to permit Cap
tain Baker to describe the signature Nv.
NJ. Rice on the assignment OF property
shown 10y Patrick four days after the old
mans death The witness Identified 4
copy OF the 1900 viii and the copy was
admitted as evidence. Tho original OF the
1890 viii was then presented by clerk
from the surrogate Office and 1t was
handed 10 the witness for Identification,
me will consists Of four pages, and each
page bears the signature NV. NJ. Rice.
-. al f.t, EttF al
these signatures was genuine. The will OF
1896 signed sis times, known as the Baker
viii. was handed 20 the Witness who said
each Of the six signatures was genuine.
The witness said Rice attended 20 an o
his own business affairs Captain Baker
Gfm recci, cd business letter from Ric
about every two weeks.
ON cross. examination Captain Baker sal
he was almost sure Patrick Vas not prcscn
. al tho hearings In the matter Of the litga
ton over Mrs Rlccs viii that were hel
in Mr. Rlces apartments during three day.
Attorney Moore then tooh mp the record n
the hearings IN Pstrlck's case before ma;
p istrnte ana before Justice jerome. Nh
witness dld not remember that he testlde
: at either Of these hearings to the effect the
Patrick had offered n give $1,000. O'
!. 100000 or 100000 TO the W. NJ Rir
= institute to stavc on litigation. He though
2. he had not testified that Patrick oaere
}. him a large remuneration t. permit the az
h mission ot the 1900 VIII. At the first int
q view between the witness and Patrick, tt
r defendant said the checks bearing Rice
name had been given IN settlement Of Mr.
Rice's. viii Baker said Patrick told hi
that an agreement existed whereby Il
Rice estate under the 1900 will was 10
= dsbursed In charity Patrick also said
made NO pecuniary difference 10 him whi'
viii was probatcd. that he wanted the vi
ness 10 make complete Investigation
the whole matter aud that he had depost'
- the check Tor $4,000 with the Fifth Az
a