The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-21
His Alleged Victim Being The Aged
Millionaire, William NJ. Rice.
REVIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
Which Caused the Arrest of Patrick and
the Present Prosecution.
MRS. FRANCIS STICKS TO THE ACCUSED.
Says that She VIII Is iuse to Ansu.,
Questions on the ''pal as She
Did at the Inquest.

New York, January 2o-AIbert T Pat.
rick was called to trial today before Re.
corder Con on an indictment charging him
with the murder Of william Marsh Rice.
VINO died In this city September 80, 1000
a special panel of 200 talesmen was sum.
moned from which to select jury. ASSIST.
ant states Attorneys James W. Osborne
ana francis +. Garvln were In charge OF
the prosecution aud Patrlck's defense was
In the hands OF +. r. House and Robcrk
NJ. Moore. When the case was called it
was announced that the hearing OF the
evidence would require at least mouth
OF the courts time
me trial will be the most remarka ne In
the history OF the criminal bar-nrst. b.
cause OF the subtlety Of the alleged claus
itself; second, because OF the great array
or legal counsel that will strive for conyic.
ton; third, because Of the confessiop--the
most graphic that ever has been told OF
the crime itself-by one of the conspira
tors. Valet Jones: and, fourth, and proha
bly, most important. because upon the ties.
timony Of a woman. Mrs. Addle NJ FrancI.
the accused's landlady. depends largely the
fate OF the lawyer.
Mrs Addie VI. Francis. upon whose syrIv
word hangs the fate Of the defendant. Is 4,
many respects a remarkable woman. She
is a woman who is not likely 10 be frfrbt-
ened by the position in which she has been
placed. She has known Lawyer Patrick for
years. knew much Of his private anairs
and heard much relative 10 old man Rice.
his millions and his death. and, IL is claim.
ed by the state. may do much to clear
M great deal of the mystery still lack,
ing positive confirmation.
Around this woman and her testlnonw
the blttercst legal nght ever witnessed in
criminal trial viii be wseed.
She has stood by Patrick ever since hia
arrest has declared time and again that
be is innocent. and has refused to be 10.
undated even by threats OF the State
that she might 80 behind the bars II she
did not explain every act Of PatrlcS's OF
which she had cognisnnee.
Mrs. Francis called to testify in the pre-.
lniuary hearing, said when questioned an
to Patrick's Affairs
y decline to answer any questions put 70
me concerning my relations with Patrick or
Jones or any one else In connection With
the life ~ death Of william NJ. Rice on
the grounds:
First that any answers might teud ia
lncriminnte or convict me OF a crime.
Second, because my COUNSEL advises ma
not to answer
Third, because have been threatened
with arrest by the district attorneys Office
and am IN fear"
Mrs. Francis later declared that when
Patrick is supposed to have been by tia
bedside Of Rice, directing the method of
his murder by Valet c. +. Jones. he was, in
fact In her house at No $40 West Fifty.
eighth street, singing hymns.
William Rice was millionaire recluses
He lived at an apartment house with his
Charles Il. Jones. After
bis death Patrick took charge OF the fun.
eral arrangements and notified Rlces rela-
tives in distant parts Of the country. Be-
fore the funeral several checks signed with
Rice's name were presented at the private
bank Of Swenson a. Son aud to the Eifta
Avenue bank for certiGcation. All vera
made payable 10 Patrlck's order.
One check on Swensou & Son had Pat
rioks FIRST name spelled ALBERT" instead
n "Albert" aud an investigation which
showed that Mr.. Rice was dead
when the check was presented TO the bank.
Payment on this check was refused; Pat.
rick then produced will signed William
Marsh Rice under which almost the entire
estate OF more than 100000 WIS be-
queathed 10 Patrick. An earlier Will datol
OF the estate r. the Rice Institute at Hons.
ton, Texas. Norris Mayer and David L.
Short, who witnessed what came 10 be
known as rhe Patrick will, were Indicted
rested. He made a statement to the eject
that Patrick killed Rice by administering
and Patrick was thereupon held
for trial on the charge Of murder.