Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
DATE FIXED SEVEN TIMES.
Twenty Murderers Put to Death Since
His Sentence.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 20.-Seven times
had date been fixed which Albert r.
Patrick was to die for the murder Of Will
liam Marsh Rice the eccentric old million
aire recluse, which occurred in his home at
800 Madison avenue, on September 23. 1900.
The fight of Patrick from the date of his
first arrest in October In the same year on
the charge of forgery. through his subse-
uuent arrest on the murder charge, and his
conviction before Recorder Golf on March
20, 1902, presents one of the hardest IL not
the hardest, battles ever given to the law
of this state by man accused of a crime
In the years that he has been In the
death house in Sing Sing. nearly five in all,
Patrick has seen score of murderers enter
the death chamber to leave it only to go to
the chair. In that time, too. he has seen
at least two who were under sentence OF
death go out to their freedom. Roland b.
Molineaux and DIR. Samuel ]. Kenne-y We're
both inmates of the death house during
Patrcks incarceration there.
Ii has been estimated that the cost of the
Patrick case to the state and to himself
is in the neighborhood of $500 900.
Patrick had fought his case up to the
United States Supreme Court. His case
was never actually heard in that tribunal
Of highest jurisdiction. but notice had
been entered that application would be
there for review of this case. This appli-
cation was withdrawn only a few days ago,
and il was then limited that the attorneys
acted the beilef that GOV. higgins WOULD
commute the sentence.
Came From Texas.
Albert r. Patrick came here from Texas
in 1891 He was then approaching, age,
and his record in Texas did not show, so
far as success went. any great ability as
a lawyer His practice in New York did
not show that he was possessed of any
great ability, but his subsequent work on
his own case demonstrated that he was
man of high intellectual order.
In his cell in Sing Sing he lost no mo-
ment of his waking hours away from his
case. 1t had been brought out at the trial
that the death of Rice had been caused
by the administration of chloroform. and
as this was the point on which his life in
q great measure hung, Patrick devoted
himself to the study of chloroform and
other poisons until he became a thorough
expert in them.
Some of the hest legal talent in the
state had been retained at different times
in support of Patrick. but it has been said
that the ground work of their arguments
was always well prepared by the prisoner
himself that his attorneys had little to
do but present to The court the facts and
arguments he gave them.
William Marsh Rice had for years been
a mystery of New York. He had accumu-
lated a large fortune in Texas before he
came to this city. but during the time he
lived here his life was so much that of the
hermit that few ever heard of him. In
deed, 1t was a general surprise to the public
to learn on his death that he was possessed
of such large fortune. Only one or two
attendants lived with him In his gloomy
Madison avenue house. and among these
was Charles F. Jones. his valet, who also
acted in the capacity of private secretary.
Retained by Executor.
Patrick was still in Texas when he was
first employed in the capacity that brought
him to the knowledge of Mr.. Rice. Rice's
wife had died in Texas, and under the COM
munity law of the state had in her Will
disposed of $2.5o0.0O0 of Rices property.
Rice fought the will and brought suit
against the executor. 1t was in this action
that Patrick was retained by one of the
executors to get evidence against Rice. 1t
Is believed that IL was at that time that
the lawyer first came to know of Rice's
vast fortune.
In just what manner Patrick began to be
a frequent caller at the Rice home is not
clear, but he formed a strong friendship
for Jones, the valet. who was described as