The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-21

Then we got Mr.. Rice to sign similar
checks"
Whore are those checks7" asked Record
ed Con.
Jones identified the Cancelled checks and
the Jurors inspected them They were ac
cepted and cashcd at the First National
hank Of Houston, Texas.
At this point the defendant showed more
alxiety than at any time during the day.
conversug in low tones with Mr.. Turner,
to whom he of late has taken an especial
liking.
Jones said he sent several letters written
| by Mr.. Rice but unsigned to Patrick
Patrick told me, - Jones continued. "that
he signed them aud mailed them as od-
dressed"
what did YOU do that for:'
| He told mo ii would ne good idea to
/ have those signatures accepted by Mr.
/ Ricc's agent as genuine, they could be
/ used for comparison in ease Of any night
| over the will"
Jones said he showed all Of Riccs cor.
respondcnce TO Patrick because ne thought
! IT. we'll that Patrick should become ac-
quainted with Rce's business aud his
methods Of conducting It. He let Patrick
examine the hooks kept by Rice aud the
prosecution put in evidence small cash
book and memorandum book ono entry
Was copy Of an advertisement signed
William +. Patrick" The entry was in
Rice's handwriting The witness then
told Of the general assignment of Rice 5
property to Patrick.
Patrick showed me-" he said "threc or
four drafts of such assignments ono OF
them was transfer of all of Mr. Ricc's
property IN the New York Safe Deposit
vaults. There were others assigning IN Fat
rick all Of Rice's property in Texas, Louisi.
ana and New Jersey Patrick told me he
would file copy of each gssignmcp In the
State where Mr. Rice had property.
"How many assignments and carbon
copies aid you sce?"
about twenty five
when did you last see any Of them?"
~ saw two or three in Mr. Houses pos
session after my arrest"
"What became Of tho others?"
Patrick told me he destroyed them the
night after Mr.. Ricc's death"
At this point Jones was excused tenn
porarily and the court announced a recess.
Jones dcuti6cd letter written by Rice
on September Il, 1900, to the Merchants
and Planters oil company regarding Tho
rebuilding Of the companys plant. which
had been burned. The date of the letter
had been changed. he said, To September
- at patrick's suggestion IN order TO show
that Rice was in normal condition just be-
fore mis- death.
In August 1900, Patrick gave him draft
agreement of settlement of Mrs. Rice's
viii which he copied on the typewriter and
returned unsigned. 10 Patrick, who later
said he had transferred 1t TO o. T. Holt in
Houston. Texas.
The witness then went on 10 the most
vital matter in his testimony, the ALLEGED
poisoning Of William Marsh Rice Tho
natter was actually broached for the hrSt
time in August 1900 according 10 the
witness. IN Patrick's office. Patrick sug
eestcd Jones sworc that Rice was living
too long Patrick asked Jones II he coulo
get some chloroform He had iucldcntalll
mentioned chloroform to Jones before. hui
not in connection with Rices demise Jone'
Thought nc might obtain some from the
PRESBYTERIAN hospital. but later decided e
obtain it through hls brother IN Texas
who sent IL 10 him by express. Jones WA
doubtful about the success Of using chioro
form as Rice read an article IN a magazine
about It's use aud was aware Of It's efec
and premdieed against It's use in any way
Jones said he asked Dr. Curry abou
whether chloroform could be detected Il
the body Of one who had died from IL
effects and the doctor had said it woul'
be difacuit thing 10 do. This, Jone'
said he repeated 10 Patrick.
some time In August" Jones testified
Patrick asked me II did not think Mr.
: Rice was living too long for our own wei
fare lie thought tt would be good thlnI
if we could put him out Of the way. H'
said If I'd tell him some night when Mr.
Rice was sleeping soundy he'd come dowI
ana do it If / would not asked VIII
Or. Curry would not do IT, and he SALE
that Or. Curry drew the line there. III
would do anything that was wanted II
was not actually crime
| "what was said Of chloroform! aske'
Mr.. osborne
Patrick said that would be an cas-!
WAY 10 pnt Rice away. An article In
. magazine gave the idea. Something wa
said about getting chloroform and Patrlc
said # was very hard TO gets. that on
mad 10 have ali sorts OF certificates "
fore the druggist would sell IT, l'i
Patrick he could leave that 20 me ! sen
; nv brother 81 and be sent me choroforI
s IN a four-onco bottle"
i "Did Mr. Rice read that article o
e chloreformY"
~He did and W. talked about it. u
said law sAsuId be passed 10 prersl