River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-07-26

| court OF appeals to amend the record
of decision in the case. His motion was
denied. Matters began to look grave.
On July Justice Rogers called Pat
rick to the bar in the criminal branch
of the supreme court and sentenced
him to die in the week beginning Janu-
airy % of this year. Then Patrick made
personal appeal to Gov. Higgins for a
stay of execution. The appeal was de-
MED. Patrick then made a public ap-
peal for ga square deal" This was on
December %. Time was getting short
and Patrick's resources seemed ex-
hausted.
AS a result of Patrick's appeal many
petitions reached Gov. Higgins on De-
cember 30, asking him to save Patrick s
life. Patrick followed these with an
other appeal to the governor for stay
Of execution, but this, too, the COVER
nor refused to grant
When January Is came and Patrick
execution was only distant seven days,
the governor granted Patrick an extern
sion to March 10 in order that he might
present the testimony of the Texan wit
nesses who came to New York city la
ter to tell what Valet Jones had told
them about Patrick's innocence.
Patrick waited until February Is be-
fore filing his motion for new trial on
the grounds of newly discovered evil
dence. His fight for a new t. il began
before Recorder Golf on February Fl
and ended disastrously, one of the Tex
an witnesses being arrested and sent to
Jail for perjury.
On March IL, one week from the date
of execution, Patrick received another
reprieve, this time to May II, and on
May IA, with the day of execution one
week away once more, Gov. Higgins
granted further respite to June IS.
Gov. Higgins dealt Patrick a hard
blow on May 80 by vetoing legislative
bill passed at Albany which would have
permitted him to obtain easily a new
trial on the grounds of newly discov-
cred evidence.
Another very hard blow came on
June II, when Recorder Golf handed
down a decision denying Patrick's mo-
ton for new trial. Patrick apparent,
ly had reached his last ditch. He was
to die within week.
But on June II writ of error was
granted on his application to the Unit
ed States supreme court. This acted as
stay of execution and is not returna-
BILE until the October term of court.
In his prolonged fight Patrick has
had the assistance of many celebrated
attorneys, but almost every move made
has been at his own suggestion or that
Of Attorney Bell Thomas, who has been
his most constant adviser.
Public sentiment in New York has
been great factor in the case. That
Rice was murdered has been proved be-
yond all doubt, but many believe the
millionaire's valet, Jones was the as
sassin. Both Patrick and Jones bene-
/ flied in a pecuniary way through the
death of Rice.
During his stay in fail Patrick has
made himself the Idol Of the prisoners,
acting as their legal adviser in many
cases. His knowledge of the law is
profound, and many criminal, 1t is
alleged, has attained his liberty
| through clever technicalities devised by
Patrick. The states attorneys Office
would be glad to have him liberated or
the death sentence, so long delayed,
carried out
The case shows as perhaps never be-
fore in criminal history how easily a
man of resources can evade punish
ment for his misdeeds.