New-York tribune., 1902-02-22
JONES NEAR COLLAPSE.
COURT A ADJOURNS EARLY Be
CAUSE or HIS WEAKNESS.
VALET SAYS PATRICK NEVER STOKE
TO RICE-LAWYER ESTIMATED
FORTUNE AT IS 600 600

Charles F. Jones. the valet who testified he
fore Recorder Gof and jury on Thursday that
he killed mis- employer William Marsh Rice, at
the instigation Of Albert T. Patrick, continued
his testimony in the Patrick trial yesterday.
Assistant District Attorney Osborne drew from
him statements Of absorbing interest tending TO
sustain the terrible story Of conspiracy % get
Mr. Rice's property which eliminated in the
murder with chloroform on Sunday, September
% 1900. Jones had been in the witness chair
all through Wednesdays and Thursdays ses
sions Of the court, and he seemed TO be weak
and in danger Of collapse yesterday afternoon
when the court was adjourned, at an earlier
hour than usual.
Al the beginning Of the session yesterday
Jones identified copies Of teIegrams he had sent
10 Mr.. Rice's relatives in Texas, announcing Mr..
Rce's death Then his attention directed 70
copies Of assignments Of Mr. Rice's property TO
Patrick and he said he had made the copies by
direction of Patrick He and Patrick had talked
a at1rt the ot1a % 5fr. Rice's property, he said.
Tatrick thought T. 'as about SS.6oaeOo. The
examination then continued
aQ-Did Patrick ever meet Mr. Rice so,, M - r
the summer ~ lsH They did not speak
best Of my knowle,ase he never did ! dom he
SONS When Mir Rice saw Patrick il was by a-ci-
dent Patrick was visiting me- and Mr.. Rice came
Q Did Mr. Rice say anything 70 YOU about tnose
eucounters2 Al did, and told Patrick about
# Mr. Rice asked Who that fine looking, bald
Of mine.
SAYS RICE DID NOT SIGN ASSIGNMENTS
Jones testified that Mr- Rice never signed the
assignments of his property 10 Patrick The
papers were not signed when Patrick took them
from Mr.. Rice's apartment. but the next time
Jones saw them they bore the name Wv. NJ
Rice" the witness declared.
Odd you have any talk with Or Curry about
the medicine he prescribed for Mr.. Rice A--Yes
II was difficult 10 make Mr- Rice TAX" medicine
aud wanted to he aole to tell him what was
9 was. there any mercury, in any of those pre-.
When did Pr. curry begin TO treeat. Mr.. Rce,::
before his death Mr. Rice never knew that DR.
Curry was Ealing as physician. He thousht Dr
NJ. Rice Consulted Dr curry professionally.
WHY a LETTER WAS NOT MAILED
Earlier in the week. Jones testified, Mr.. Rice
received a letter from Mr. oliver. the manager
of the mill that had been burned in Texas. and
on Saturday came a draft for $4,000 for repairs
to the mill Mr.. Osborne introduced a letter to
Mr. Oliver written by Mr. Rice agreeing to pay
$25O.OO0 for reconstructing the plant The letter
was dated September 10, 1900 but never was
mailed
Q.-Why was the letter not mailed? A.-Patrick
said # the letter was Mr.. Oliver would draw
for the money and his draft would take all the
cash to Mr.. RCes credit in the New-YOrk bank.
O-Wen2 Al told Patrick Mr.. Rice seemed |
anxious to rebuild the works, and that h had tele |
graphed authority the secretary OF the oil
pany to draw upon him for $4,000.
Q.What did Patrick say? Ale said We |
must get Rice Of the way. Whatever YOU do |
Jones. Mr. Rice must be here Monday | had |
told him that the first draft presented Satur-
day. and that I had told the messenger Mr.. Rice |
was IN to attend TO business. and that it must
wait until Monday.
on Saturday, Jones said, he told Patrick that |
Dr. Curry had said Mr. Rice might he bile go |
dow ntown and attend to business Monday. |
Patrick was keeping away from Mr.. Rce's |
apartment, saying IL would not do 10 have him !
seen there near the time of Mr. Rce's death, AZ /
he was to get most of Mr.. RiCe's estate. The /
having Mr. RiCe's body Cremated to destroy |
traces OF drugs Patrick said time that |
ne would not have the checks drawn on Sven
sons bank presented, hut he changed his mind
PREPARED COMPANY FOR BIG CHECKS.
Il had prepared the Fifth Avenue Trust Com
pany for the checks on them" Jones said by
asking for statement on September IL and tell
ng the secretary that Mr.. Rice intended drawing
some rather large checks in a few days
At this point Mr.. Osborne pleaded Jones's in
disposition, and Mr.. Moore said he wanted 10 go
home to Malone, n. Y, for Sunday. The Re
oorder thought the excuses good and adjourned
court until Monday morning.