New-York tribune., 1906-09-23
PATRICK CASE AGAIN.
to the GOUernor by Brother
in-Lazc of Condemned Man.

Albany. Sept. experimenting the petition
Of more than 800 physicians which Governor
Higgins received this week in behalf Of Albert
T Patrick the New York lawyer under sentence
Of death for the murder Of William Marsh Rice
In 1860. is a letter written 10 the Governor by
John T. Mnken. OF ST Louis, a brother-in-law
Of Patrick. ana the man believed to be the
financial hacker Of the condemned lawyer in his
remarkable fight for life The letter was made
public tonight and the writer attempts to
show that Patrick did not have fair and inn
partial trial. lie writes. in part:
There are some facts In the Patrick case that
throw dscreiit upon his conviction which l
think your eNcellency should know. Mr.. Rice
died on the evening Of September 23, l!11 Two
days later an autopsy was held at which moth
ing suspicious was revealed.
Neither Patrick nor Jones was disturbed or
arrested until about ten days later. and then
upon a charge Of forgery. Upon that charge
they were arraigned before p committing magis-
trate, who held them I'm default OF $1,000 bail
each. In February, 1891. there was deposited
$1,000 cash bail for the release OF Patrick, who
was Immediately rearrested upon an affidavit
sworn 70 by Jones. charging that Patrick had
with his own hands administered 20 Mr.. Rice
mercury and other deadly poisons unknown u
Jones, from the effects OF which Mr. Rice died.
n April 1901, Patrick had preliminary ex-
animation for murder, and then Jones swore
that he himself killed Rice by administering
chlorOf0rm 20 him at Patrick's suggestion and
instigatOn. At the examination DTs. DOnlin and
Williams. who performed the autopsy for Coro-
inhalation Of an irritant gas, and that chloro-
form was irritant gas. They took the lungs.
which at the time Of the autopsy did not
veal the cause Of death. a basis 10 corrObo-
rate Jones. and in a shameless manner swore
the case through, regardless Of the fact that at
the autopsy six months previous they could
not see any evidence by carefully examining
the lungs Of the cause Of the death Of Mr.. Rice.
Ia order % convict Patrick IL was absolutely
necessary that these men as they did.
After going over the further facts IN the case
and referring TO the untrustworthiness Of expert
testimony, the letter declares that no crime
was committed except by the prosecution. IN
umates that through the Of money and the
promise OF immunity Jones was induced 10 swear
away PatTiCkS life. charges that the CorOuers
physicians were Influenced 20 swear the way they
oid and alleges that one Of them has given up
the practice Of medicine. has lived in a state
OF aiiuence ever since he appeared In the Patrick
case, and concludes with the following appeal 10
the Governor.
believe that when the history Of this case is
written i VIII 80 down one Of the most
attempted In the United States. / do not want
TO See anything but justice meted out 10 Patrick
II he is guilty beyond a doubt he should surfer
me penalty. But IL there Is any doubt Of his
innocence Ee should have the benefit OF that
uouni. know that your fair mind VIII agree
WIN me upon these two propositions Nothing
can better establish the fact that the ,,eli,.al
lesuhpC Introduced by the people with The T,,,r
t'V % tnLiffnins Joness confession is unscleD
- - mo ialse man a commission OF unbiased
~" uipIeJuulced high-gTade phgsIcfans