The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-25
FOR MURDER OF RICE
EVIDENCE AGAINST PATRICK Is
BEGUN.
WILL BE LONG DRAWN TRIAL.
THE $4,000 CHECK OFFERED IN
EVIDENCE.

REGULARITY of Its Signature Attract
Cd Attention at the Bank and Led
IN Discovery of Rice's Death-Pay-
ing Teller Wallace and Clerk
xyeathersbee of swensOn's Bank
The Principal Witnesses Ycster-
day-Lawyers Make Many objec-
lions.
New York, Jan. 24.--The taking of
evidence was begun to-day in the trial
of Albert T. Patrick a lawyer, on an
indlctment charging him with the
murder of William Marsh Rice, in
This city, in September, 1900
John H. Wallace, paying teller at
swenson's Bank. where Rice had an
account. identified a check for. $500
pavable to Albert T. Patrick, as one
that had been presented to him. 1t
was the misspelling of the name Albert
that caused a telephone call to Rice's
apartment which resulted in the dis
covery that the man was dead. The
witness said the check was handed to
him for payment by Short, who said he
came from Patrick. Wallace told of
the telephone communication with
Rioe's house and of the discovery that
Mr. Rice had died the previous day.
Counsel for Patrick objected to every
question asked on this line on the
ground that the witness could not tes-
tify to hearsay evidence, but the court
overruled these objections until State
District Attorney Caravan asked who
answered the telephone. He sustained
the objection that Mr.. Wallace could
not tell who it was. Wallace testified
that he had never seen Patrick until
the day the check was presented. So
far as he knew, Rices business was
attended to by Jones, the valet secre-
tary
In your opinion is the signature on
the check the signature of William M.
Rice asked the attorney for the
prosecution.
Counsel for Patrick objected but the
witness was allowed to reply.
I'm my opinion he said, sit was
not written by Mr.. Rice"
On cross examination Wallace said
that when the check was returned to
the bank Endorsed ALBERT T. Pat
rick" and Albert T. Patrick he
stamped it Accepted" although he
had doubts as to the genuineness of
the signature. Finally, he said:
Il don't know what is wrong with
the signature, but 1 don't like it. 1t
does not look natural to me- The final
curve of the M for instance looks as
If it were an after-thought."
W. O. Weatherbee. a clerk in the
bank of Swenson e. Son, said he knew
RICE for twelve years. He was asked
TO tell of visit alleged to have been
made by Jones, the valet-sscretary
to the witness home in Brooklyn, but
this was ruled out. Weatherbee said
he had never seen Patrick until the
day the check was handed in at the
bank. He had not known Patrick to
be connected in any way with Rice's
business. When Patrick called at the
bank he saw Mr.. Swenson. In the
conversation that day Patrick said
Rice's body was to be cremated as
the old gentleman was crank on
cremation Patrick also said there
bad been an understanding between
him and Rice as to what was to be
done with the proceeds of the checks.
Weatherbee said it was his opinion
that me $4,000 check was not signed
by William NJ. Rice.
Counsel for Patrick Objected TO the
admission of the $25, 600 check as evil
dence on the ground that the defend
ant was under indictment. for forging
mat check, and that it would not be
Ialr to bias the minds of the Jury by
admitting it,
This check is one of the steps bv
which | intend to prove the conspiracy
between this defendant and Jones'"
said Mr.. Osborne.
Inc prosecution should not be al
ioWed 10 say that a murder was COM
Hltted because they think a check was
urged said Mr.. Moses. for Patrick.
Inc recorder admitted the check.
Ohuer cross-eXamination, Weather
zee SAID he was not an expert in hand
writing, and he could not analyze the
signature on the $4,000 check. The
uouDt in his mind was more general
than specific.
Inc witness said he lid rot decide
me check was not genuine when he
HIst examined it. This was before it
was stamped Accepted
+, Mr. Weatherbee then testified that
tne check was accepted and certified,
ana mat the certification was cancelled
" MI Swenson after ne had talked
win somebody over the telephone.
Had Eaten Nine Bananas.
Eric B. Swenson and James w.
TynTard testified that Patrick told them
rice mad eaten nine bananas, and that
ills "3s probably the cause Of the mil
Aonalre's death.