The Washington times., 1907-07-22
STILL FIGHTS
FOR RABSOLUTEPARDO
BREAKS LONG SIL LENCE
Man Convicted of Rice
Murder Outlines
Plans.
He Has Seen Seventeen
Men Led to Death
While He Waited.

"A
I. Patrick. undergoing life sentence for
the murder OF William Marsh Rice. the
Texas u-millionaire, has broken his
long silence In his cell in Sing Sing for
the first time since his arrest. seven
years ago. Patrick spent FIVE years I'm
solitary confinement in the death house
under sentence of death. During that
time seventeen men were taken from
adjoining cells to be electrOcuted Not
withstanding the ordeal he has endured.
Patrick appears In the very best phys
icai condition, and his mind was as
clear as a bell as he talked about his
case and his plans for the future with
as much seB-confidence as II he were
merely acting as lawyer for another
client
Since no was taken out of the death
house last December. when Governor
Higgins commuted his sentence Of death
to one Of life Imprisonment, the con-
victed attorney has been EMPLOYED I'm
the door and sash department. At first
he, was handling lumber. Now he keeps
BOOKS In the same place. and has htted
up a corner for law library.
What will be your next mover vyas
asked Patrick.
Asserts His Innocence.
Before I answer that ouesti,n .,
said Patrick. II must make clear nv
position here in Sing Sing When I
came to Sing Sing I was under SEN
tence OF death l was kept in confne-
ment In the condemned ceHs-or the
aeath-house' as the place is better
known among outsiders-and while
thus confined l made application TO the
governor for an absolute parion. There
never was a case proved against me,
and no case could thus be proved be-
cause / am .5Eocent of the crime.
Now my application 90 Governor
Higgins was for absolute pardon. Il
stated positively that / did not seek a
Communication. that / would accent only
a pardon. because I was entitled 10 II
as matter Of right This application
Governor Higgins ignored and I was
taken out OF the condemned cells be- !
cause my sentence had been comnuterI 4
hold that l am confined In State /
prison IN an Illegal way. because the /
governor granted me something for I.
Whlch no Application had been made. 4
Under the Constitution OF the United /
states no man can be confined in an I
Illegal way in any penal or other insti- I
tuition. Therefore. ] will apply for a 1
writ OF habeas corpus IN a United 1
states court. and believe viii be dis ]
charged.
Prefers Action by State.
while I feel certain such an appIl- \
cation would terminate successfully in 1
my behalf" continued Patrick. Il would I
prefer 20 have the discharge and res 4
toration TO freedom come about In n /
different way I would prefer that the 4
application now on file in Albany be
acted upon. and that l be granted the
absolute pardon for which l applied"
How 10 you hope that that can be
accomplished was next asked.
Governor Hughes can do all that"
Patrick. He is a frst-cIass
lawyer. and. besides, an honest and up-
right man. All 1 want the governor 10 (
10 is 20 look Tito my case. read the
papers On file ir his office, and I have
~ fear az 10 the final outcome. Thus.
you see. VIC have two ways in which the
freedom / seek can be gained. And that
will gain IL I have no doubt"
Have you any idea where Jones.
Rice's valet, is?" Patrick was asked.
Not the slightest" replied Patrick |
but l am convinced that the district
could tell. Besides 1 think
'es, hnow-that Captain Baker. OF
Tex, has Jones address. But
am afraid that they don't care 10 let
lirl be found. We have It from AT
east forty sources that Jones stated 10
lersons that I had absolutely nothing 70 |
10 with bringing about the death of Mr. /
Rice. Jones Is liar. The trouble with /
ny case Is that ! was prosecuted bv a !
district attorney who acted in an unfair
way. tha. the judge on the bench was 1
'rejudiced against me, and that all IN |
II I could never have had a fair trial.
'he medical evidence which we have
repared clearly shows that Mr. Rice
oul6 never have died in the way testi-
ed 10 by JoscS. and when You take that
ntC consideration. there IS nothing left
T the eatire case as far as the proaecu>
ion is concerned.