The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-30
RICE'S SIGNATURE IS LET IN,
COURT ADMITS 1T As TEST FOR
THE ALLEGED FORGERIES.
Capt. Baker. Rice's Former Lawyer. Tee
tines hat the Institution In Texas to
Which the Dead Millionaire Gave HIS
Name Exists so Far Only on Paper.

sapt' baker, Rice's Former lawyer, Tee
tines That the Institution In Texas 70
Which the Dead Millionaire Gave His
Name Exists so Far Only on Paper.
The fact that the William NJ. Rice Insti-
tute OF Houston. Tex. exists only on paper,
was made clear yesterday by the cross
examination OF Capt. James A.. Baker In
the Patrick murder trial before Recorder
Gof. This institute has been one Of the
principal and most familiar features Of the
case since Albert T. Patrick. the lawyer was
arrested sixteen months ago on the charge
OF numbering his client. William Marsh Rice,
at the latter's hotse, 500 Madison avenue,
on Sept. %, 1900. The institute Is the re-
siduary legatee under the Rice will Of 1905,
and 1t is practically cut of without a cent
by tho alleged Rice will Of 1900 which
Patrick Ii accused Of having forged.
Tn institute has been repeatedly referred
10 by those who are opposed to Patrick a.
an Industrial and educational institution
similar to the one in this city founded by
Peter Cooper.
Many persons who have kept track Of
the case had dropped into the habit OF
thinking of the William NJ. Rice Institute
as a thriving institution doing much to raise
the average Of intelligence In Texas and to
drive illiteracy from Houston. But. al
though Incorporated eleven years ago.
1t has only reached the stage Of acquiring
a site, according to Capt, Bakers admissions
on the witness stand yesterday.
Another feature Of the trial yesterday
was Assistant District Attorney Osborpe's
six unsuccessful attempts TO have the will
OF 1896 introduced as evidence. in spite Of
Recorder COTS ruling to the contrary on
the day before.
Capt. Baker, who was Rice's lawyer In
Texas for many years, resumed his direct
testimony at the opening Of court. He
examined the signature Wv. NJ. Rice on
the will Of 1900 and on the checks and other
documents which had figured In the case
before and pronounced them all forgeries.
Then the prosecuting attorney made his
first effort of the day 10 get the will Of 1890
before the jury. He was reprimanded 10y
the Recorder, who later admitted the sig
nature on the will no that the juryTnen
might compare IL with the signature on
the will Of 1900. The body Of the will Of
1890 was covered with a sheet OF paper
and then the document was shown to the
jury,
In his direct examination on Tuesday
Capt. Baker testified that he had demanded
all OF Rice's checks and private papers from
Patrick and that Patrick SURRENDERED them
As a matter Of fact didn't Patrick give you
those papers and say that he was perfectly
yesterday. YES replied Capt. Baker.
Q Then you got the papers because Of his
viii In gness and not as the result Of your de-
mAndsl A ] don't remember. There was
10 Didn't YOU say that you would not de-
clare under oath that the. signatures we're
% Mere no, the signature examined BY tho
experts before you formed your opinionf
A BEFORE oppressed my opinion 49,.
cay before you expressed your opinionf A
We're you influenced BY the 'rp'rt''
II was az this stage that In answer 70
questions by Patnck's counsel Capt. Baker
made the admissions already referred 70
concerning the present undevelopod state
II the hios Institute at Houston. Aftar-
ward la the redirect examination the pross-
cutiDn devoted itself To dispelling the
Impression given by hls testimony that
the institute was something OF . myth.
The witness enumerated the various gns
Of real estate that had been given by MI.
Rio. for tho institute Thslr aggregate
value IL about t1.go0Oo. not counting the
siIm the Institute would TeneiVs under tbs
will 81 1850 The witness also nsmsd the
Houston business msn Who are directors
OF iiAe HisAlAhNF
III. prosecuting attorney followed that
up by Introducing tho ~tll - 1910 AZ svt-
dsnos and reading u "a the lHTy There
vac ~ objection Ihis IL the wtl which
n held. wuuld sive ~ latrtck practically
ali ~ the Rice millions II CONTAINS . d.
quust ~ tgD go fnT the hlog Institute 9TH
dls strange pr1yiso that Ito bsgu - shah
IL. y ~ N u ~ showu uiai NJ 100. had
previously made provision 10 tho is'
luton
n \ M.ldnlm fuunsHy ~ fetAs 80
az asssuiAts - tapt hAkof a. tie ne
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