Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-27
PATRICK IS FOUND GUILTY
Lawyer Convicted Of Murder of William
Rice, Millionaire.
UNSoVED BY VERDICT OF THE JUaY
Prisoners Aged Father is Shocked
and sister Becomes HystericRI
over the ResuIt-Motion
for New Trial.

NEW YORK, March 26.-Albert T. Pat
rick, lawyer was this evening convicted Of
the murder on September %. 1900 Of the
aged millionaire recluse, William Marsh
Rice. The penalty under the statute is death
in the electric chair. A scant three hours
OF deliberation at the close of a trial pro-
longed for nine weeks and replete with sem
eational interest, sufhced to enable the jury
to reach the verdict.
The issue Of the trial establishes the
charge that Patrick conspired with Mr..
Rices valet. Charles F. Jones, to obtain
possession Of the aged Texans estate, esti-
mated at $1,000, 900. and that Jones killed
his employer by the administering Of chlor-
oform at the direct instgation of Patrick.
At the close OF Recorder Goffs charge,
which occupied the morning session of the
court, the jury retired. This was at 1850
D. m. At 5:55 they notified the officer in
charge that they were ready TO return to
court. rather more than an hour OF the in
tervening time having been devoted to
luncheon.
order Women Ont of Room.
In anticipation Of a scene Of excitement
in the event Of verdict of guilty, the un-
usual step was taken of ordering all wo-
men to leave the court room Among them
Francis, with whom he boarded. With
grave faces the members Of the jury filed
into their places and some minutes Of
painful tension elapsed while messengers
were endeavorng to find the counsel, who
had departed. not expecting a verdict for
many hours.
Calm as ever and with confidence seem
ingly unshsken. the prisoner was escorted
into the court room. He walked rapidly
and took his stand facing the jury, with
head erect and hands loosely clasped be-
hind his back. At the word guilty" pro-
nounced by Foreman Mitchell in tone low,
but distinct, not the slightest change
passed over Patricks face and he re-
mained standing in an almost listless at
titude while the customary poll of the
fury was being taken.
Aged Father is shocked.
His aged father. Captain Patrick, sitting
near him. and straining to catch the fore
mans verdict. started for an instant as its
import reached him. and then sat calmly
awaiting the further proceedings. A smile
Of triumph lit up the face of Assistant
District Attorney Osborne, who FASTENED
from the court Immediately after Recorder
Goff had. at the request of the prisoners
counsel fixed a week from Monday next as
the day on which to pronounce sentence.
The verdict was known almost imme-
diately In the corridor where the women
relatives and friends OF the prisoner were
waiting and scene of excitement ensued.
Screaming hysterically the prisoners eld-
est sister ran about the corridor begging Ia
he allowed to see her brother. Mrs. Fran
els tainted and on recovering broke from
the attendants and rushed into the court
room. from which Patrick had just bsen
removed There she again swooned. Both
women were removed to an anteroom and
we're sent home in a carriage.
Captain Patrick, after taking leave Of his
son. was led back to the Tombs. He would
| only say: 1T is hard; we'll have to try
again."
None Of the Jurors could be induced to
reveal how the verdict had been reached
an agreement having been made to tell
| nothing.
A motion will be made for a new trial
when the prisoner is arraigned for SEN
tence.