The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-29
CAPT BAKER ON THE STAND.
Texas Lawyer Tells OF His Expert
ence with Patrick.

New York, Jan. 2S.-A large part of
to-day's session in the trial of Lawyer
Albert r. Patrick for the murder of
Millionaire William NJ. Rice was taken
up in the examination of Capt. James
A. Baker of Houston, Tex. He told of
coming to New York and being sur
prised that Mr.. Rice had engaged Pat
rick as his lawyer. He also related
what occurred at his meeting with Pat
rick after Rice's death.
Early in the session to-day DIR. Ham
ilton Williams, whose cross-examina-
iterated his opinion that the condition
of Mr.. Rice's lungs was due to the in
halation of a gaseous irritant.
According to Capt. Baker, Patrick
said he intended to entrust Rice
legal affairs to Capt. Bakers firm.
Patrick gave him the 1896 will and
copies of the 1900 will, and of the as
signment of Rice's property. Patrick
said he had taken a number of papers
from Rice's rooms. and that he would
show them to Baker.
The witness told of opening Rice's
box in the vault, and of the produce
ton by Patrick of what he claimed
was list of the securities there.
The list was wrong" said the wit
ness, 'in every item but one. He de-
clined to give us copy of his list.
said TO Patrick, In view of your
hostile relations to Mr.. Rice, if you ex-
pected this will and assignment to hold
In any court, why did you not have
some friend of Mr.. Rice. the Sven
sons for instance, who had known him
Tor thirty years, go with you to Mr.
Hices apartments and read over in
their presence the will and assign
ments? Patrick replied, L expect I
ought to have done that, but you know
Mr.. Rice was peculiar, and he insisted
that our relations should be secret "
Il told Patrick" the witness con-
tinaed. that I would never consent
70 the probate of the will of 1898 and
that believed the will of 1896 was
the Last genuine will of Mr.. Rice,
Patrick replied that he did not care.
that he would just as soon see one
wlll proved as to see the other. Pat
rick said he was the greatest sufferer
oy MT. Rice's death, because Mr.. Rice
had arranged to come down town on
Monday and make physical deliveries
of all his securities"
How did he say he obtained those
checks ?" asked Mr.. Osborne.
ALI FOrgerfes, Said Baker.
How did he say he obtained those
checks?" asked Mr.. Osborne.
He said that Jones had brought
them to him in conformity with an
| agreement Mr.. Rice had made with
him Patrick) The $3.50, 900, he said,
was to settle the Texas litigation"
The prosecution failed to secure the
admission of any testimony as to the
check for $4,000, purporting to have
been given by Rice to Patrick, or rs
to the will of 1896. Assistant District
Attorney Osborne was very insistent as
to the latter, and the Recorder finally
told him he was annoying the court.
Both ruling were made during the tes-
timony of Capt. Baker, who remained
on the stand and under examination
until court adjourned. The check for
$500 was never presented fer pay
ment, and the court ruled that it was
not pertinent to the crime. Baker tes-
titled that to the best of his belief the
will of 1900, the two checks for $25,OCo
each and the cremation letter were
forgeries.