New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-26
TELLS ABOUT THE KNIFE.
JONES SAYS PATRICK GAVE 1T TO HIM
FOR SUICIDE.
THEY HAD BOTH AGREED TO TAKE THEIR
LIVES. THE VALET DECLARES-CROSS-
EXAMINATION BEGINS.

THEY HAD BOTH AGREED TO TAKE THEIR
LIVES. THE VALET DECLAREs-CRoss-
EXAMINATION BEGINS.
For three whole court days last week Charles
F. Jones, the former valet of William, Marsh
Rice. sat in the witness chair before Recorder
Golf and the jury engaged in the trial of Albert
T. Patrick and told details of the alleged con-
spiracy TO kill Mr. Rice and get possession of his
millions. When the trial resumed yester-
day Jones returned to the witness chair and
continued his testimony in response to the ques-
tions of Assistant District Attorney Osborne.
His direct testimony was finished. and his cross
examination was begun by Mr.. Moore, of Pat
rick's counsel, in the afternoon.
Jones said that he and Patrick had destroyed
the checkbook from which the forged Swenson
checks were taken. The book destroyed
after the death of Mr.. Rice. Then Jones told Of
frightening Maria Scott. a colored woman, who
had been employed about Mr.. Rce's rooms.
Patrick had told her, he said, that she to
be accused of poisoning Mr.. Rice, and she had
said Mr.. Rice always did his own cooking.
Mr. Osborne wanted Jones to tell of a
versation which Patrick and Jones had. after
their arrest. with Mr.. Martin of F. B. Houses
law office. There was long argument. and the
Recorder finally ruled that the conversation
with the lawyer was privileged. and could not
be divulged.
Before you talked TO Mr. House." Mr.. Os-
borne asked later, what did you say to Pat
rick?"
II asked Patrick what I should say to the
lawyer. and Patrick told me 1 might tell him a
murder had been committed. but not to men
tion his name in connection with it. 1 told
him I would not confess the murder unless
could tell all the acts connected with It,"
Mr.. Osborne wanted to know what Jones said
to Mr.. House. but he ran against the ruling Of
the Recorder. and the witness was not allowed
to reply. He told Of many interviews with Mr..
Osborne and with Captain Baker. after he had
decided to turn States evidence. The examina-
ton continued:
HE AND PATRICK TALKED OF SUICIDE.
Odd you and Patrick ever talk Of suicide? A
We did. The morning after 1 talked with Mr..
Q.3,What was said? Al said would commit
suicide suicide n had any way TO do IT. Patrick said he
gether, as otherwise the survivor would have TO
answer alone for the crime. Patrick told he
asked him TO give me one blade Of the knife He
said 1t had only one blade. Next day Patrick gave
night ''-A'
That attempt was made after Jones had one
talk with Mr.. Osborne. but before he had
agreed TO tell the State all he knew. Counsel
for the defence objected TO Jones describing his
attempt at self-destruction- Mr. Osborne ar
Sued that the attempt was made at Patrick's
nstgation. 10 destroy the only real evidence
that connected Patrick with the killing of Mr.
Rice. The Recorder allowed the question. and
Jones told of writing some letters of farewell
TRIED TO CUT AN ARTERY.
About o'clock in the morning" he said 'I
took the knife and tried to cut my throat
found the artery on the right side and cut at It
a dozen times. I had considerable trouble with
the knife IL was so dull
SHOW us the wound you made" demanded
Mr.. Osborne.
The defence objected. but the Recorder was
against them. Jones took off his collar and
necktie and opened his shirt in front Juror
No. II was the only one who seemed TO be in
terested IN the exhibition He left his seat and
examined the wound closely
Replying to questions by Mr.. Moore the
cross examination, Jones said he was taken to
the House OF Detention for Witnesses on No
vember l.. 1900 but that since Nav s 1901 he
had been living at the boarding house No 200
West Forty-fourth-st. For eight or nine months
he had been out walking almost every day and
perhaps two evenings a week He had visited
theatres and other places OF amusement.
Attorneys oaice during those eight months? A.
merh3ps dozen en- times In all until about two
months saw the District Attorney daily.
TALKED OVER CASE MANY TIMES.
-Q.-You talked over the on every visit? A
Q.-Some of those talks about the case lasted two
or three hours. Al have been with the District
Attorney on some occasions six and seven hours
but were not talking about the case all the
time.
Jones said he had read several times a tran
script of the testimony he gave in the prelimi-
nary examination held by Justice Jerome and
Magistrate Brann.
Q.-During the time you were in prison did you
have any knife except the one you say Patrick
gave you2 A.-NO.
Odd you not borrow knife from a prisoner
on your tier? Al did
Mr.. Osborne produced the knife with which
Jones tried TO kill himself and for which the
defence asked II was admitted in evidence
How many different statements. Jones" Mr.
Moore asked, have you made about the death
Of Mr. Rice?'
-Four" was the prompt reply.
The Recorder adjourned court at this point
until 1870 a. m. to-day