The Washington herald., 1906-12-21
MIND GONE
Higgins Says Lawyer Is Not
Responsible for Acts.
DEMANDS A FULL PARDON
Under Sentence of Death for Murder
of William Rice, He Insists He
Does Not Want Sentence Com
muted to life mprisOnment-Exec
utive Issues Statement.

Albany, n. Y. Dec. 20.--According to
Gov. Higgins who to-day commuted to
imposed on Albert r Patrick for the
murder of the aged millionaire, William
Rice. Patrick is in a fair way to lose his
mind.
The governor made the following deela-
ration after he had been informed that
Patrick was displeased at the commute
ton of sentence
Patrick had better look out or he will
be in the Mattewsn asylum for criminal
insane. The strain he has been under
has been practically too much for him.
There's no question about that"
It is said that Patrick has lately &C
quired A mania for writing letters The
State superintendent of prisons and the
governor receive letters almost daily from
the prisoner.
Patrick Wants Pardon.
When informed by Warden Johnson.
at Sing Sing prison, to-day, Of Gov. Hig-
gins action in committing his sentence to
life Imprisonment, Patrick Indignantly
declared that he did not believe it, and
would not accept any Communication.
Il don't believe it," said Patrick, heat
edly, and I won't accept il if the gov
ernor has consulted my sentence. I'm
going right on with my fight for liberty
or nothing"
Patrick viii probably be placed at work
| In the prison proper.
Gov. Higgins Statement.
In committing the sentence. the gov
| ernor says:
Albert T. Patrick has been convicted
| of the murder of William NJ. Rice. and
/ the judgment Of conviction has been af-
| frmed by a divided court. Il is not
/ claimed that Patrick committed the muir
der in person. but that he procured the
act to be done. He has been convicted
| principally upon the evidence Of Charles
| f. Jones. who confessed that he muir
dered his master while he lay asleep. in
stigated thereto by Patrick. and Jones,
by this testimony. has purchased his own
/ immunity from trial or punishment
Neither this fact alone, nor the review
/ of any question Of fact already passed
upon by the court at some stage of the
proceedings, would seem 10 me to war
rant interfering with the judgment Of
1 death pronounced against the defendant.
/ but three Of the seven judges of the
/ Court Of Appeals were so strongly Of the
/ opinion that errors were committed at
/ the trial which were substantially preju-
/ dicia! TO the rights Of Patrick. that I feel
! that the death penalty ought not. under
1 all the circumstances, TO be inflicted.
/ In view Of these facts, and the grave
/ doubts expressed by these judges. 1 am
( satisfied that I ought TO relieve the de-
/ PENDANT from the extreme penalty of the
/ law. and commute his sentence 10 i'm
/ prisonment for life"
Wife Visits Him mt Prison.
Ossining n Y, Dec. 2o.-Albert z.
Patrick knows his life has been spared.
His faithful wife the woman he mar
ried in the Tombs, after he had been
! condemned to death. was one Of the first
to bear the good news 10 him.
| Mrs. Patrick arrived late this after
noon, and went directly to the prison.
Size was at once admitted to the death
| house, where she communicated 10 Pat
rick the action Of the governor.
Patrick did not seem to be greatly sur
prised. He received the information. with
his customary GOODNESS. His wife re-
manned with him for a considerable time
and then left the prison. She refused
to discuss her opinion Of the governor
| action.
Mrs Patrick was in the death house
about au hour. When she left 20 take The
train for New York, she was asked if she
had anything to say regarding the gov
eTnor's action.
Nothing whatever. was her reply.
Did you come up TO tell your husband
| that his sentence had been cOmmuted2'
What else did you think I came for2'
It was learned that Mrs. Patrick had
been 1T the prison on Tuesday, bat that
she told Patrick that when she saw him
next she would have good news for him
Mrs. Patrick was dressed entirely ir
black. She drove to the prison in a hired
hack. and returned to the station in the
| same conveyance.