New-York tribune., 1902-01-28
RICE WANTED CREMATION.
so LETTER PURPORTING TO BE HIS
SAYS, AS READ TO PATRICK JURY.

James W. Gerard, of Bowers & Sands counsel
| for Swenson & Sons again occupied the witness
stand when the trial of Albert r. Patrick accused
of the murder of William Marsh Rice was resumed
before Recorder Gof and jury in Part IL OF Gen
eral Sessions yesterday. Robert NJ. Moore of coun-
sci for the defence, cross examining him He ad-
mitted that as counsel for the representatives OF
the William NJ. Rice Institute he was interested in
having the will of 1900. which it is alleged Patrick
forged set aside The institution would lose
eral million dollars if 1900 will admitted
be valid. Patrick being its chief beneficiary.
Detective Sergeant James f. Valley. who ar
rested Patrick. testified that at the latters office in
Ffty-eghth-st. the lawyer told him that Rice had
eaten nine bananas sent him by woman when
asked about Rice's death. Patrick also said that
he would get nothing from Rice's will except a
secret trust
Charles Plowright, undertaken, Of No. S55
Fourth-ave said he first met Patrick when he
called to Mr.. Rice'S apartments.
Mr. Patrick told me- the witness said ''he
wanted the body cremated. 1 told him should
have twenty-four hours to prepare for that, and
asked him If he did not want a funeral. He said
he would have to consult the relatives about that"
be necessary to preserve the body. and that the
| lawyer told him to go ahead and do it.
This testimony was favorable Patrick. and he
showed his appreciation by the increased color of
his face and a smile
John S. Potter. assistant to Mr.. Plowwrlght.
the next witness told of the arrangements he made
for the cremation of Mr. Rices body.
"On Monday morning." he said, Mr.. Patrick
showed letter signed by Mr. Rice in which
Mr.. Rice said he wanted to be cremated and he
did not wish his body to be embalmed"
The witness made arrangements for the crema-
ton the following day Early on Tuesday morn
ing Patrick over the telephone said the cremation
must be called off, in consequence Of a telegram
he had just received from Texas but that it would
probably he held on Thursday.
Mr.. Garvan read to the jury the order sent to the
anti tiaS y-;th -,
certificate signed by DR.. Walter Curry. Both were
indorsed by ALBERT T. Patrick, authorized
torney."
The witness identified the letter signed 'W. NJ.
Rice. indicating his desire to be cremated and it
was admitted in evidence 1t in part fol-
lows
New-YorIx August 8 1900
Albert 7. Patrick, Esq. No. 277 Broadway, City.
Dear Sir; Concerning the matter of cremation
for Information. and got two ciTcTIaTs Which are
e very & inieresting I viii will show them to you when
and Colonel Waring were cremated, / have thought
rather have my body burned than eaten by worms
or stolen by some medical student and carved to
Ben &iR not then as they MI you with chemicals
body cremated at once and nv ashes n nut II i'm an
Urn Pn and inferred with my late wife, Elizabeth b.
should care to come TO mine. and 1
wife wrote these things because | happened TO
think Of them, although you told me TO give you
written directions some time ago. But expect to
I've i've twenty years as l came Of long lived fam.
O
my Yours truly, WILLIAM VI. RICE.
Dr. Hamilton Williams testified that he was
present with Dr. Donlon at the morgue when the
autopsy was performed the body of Mr.. Rice
The brain was normal the heart and kid
neys. The intestines very badly affected BY
an embalmlng fluid. but I to the conclusion
that for a man Of that age they normal. What
struck me most the condition OF the lungs
There was intense congestion Of the lungs 1
decided that some irritant had invaded the whole
LuiIE ana pronEht ABOUT death, and that the
some gaseous irritant.'
Inhalation Of chOToform would have produced the
condition he saw Pneumonia could produce the
same conditions.
Dr. Williams offered 10 submit microscopic slides
showing the results OF his Investigations and Mr..
Osborne invited him 10 do so. DR.. Willamss mi
Croscope at his home and the slides were use
less without IL. The Recorder ruled the microscope
ana slides out. and sustained the objections the
defence that the Illustrations were not competent
evidence.
Under cross examination by Mr. Moore Dr. VIII
Jams said that chloroform produced congestion OF
the eye but that there would be no evidence of It
Mr.. Rice's eyes, when the autopsy was made.
were normal
Captain Parker. OF Washington. one OF Admiral
Schleys counsel i'm court in the afternoon
and shook hands with Patrick. wishing him sue
with a long address on surgery medicine pro-
yoked numerous wrangles between counsel for the
state and for the defence. The Recorder warned
him dozen times Yes or No hut
the jury understand what he meant unless he was
allowed to answer in his way.
The defence got from him the admission that
many OF the ordinary indications of death from
chloroform were absent in the case OF Mr. Rice
DR.. Williams was under OSs-eXamination when
the court adjourned until 1880 a. m. to-day