The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-27
''SHERLOCKH0[MES'
MAY FREE PATRICK.
Dr.. Bell, Kings Physician and
Original of Doyles Hero, Is
Interested in Case.

NEW YORK, May 27.-Albert /.
Patrick, the alleged murderer or VIII
liam T. Rice. will be aided IN his next
fight for freedom by Dr. Joseph Bell,
the original OF Sherlock Holmes ana
physician In ordinary TO King Ed
ward. A decision Is expected Friday
from the supreme court on the mo-
ton OF Patrick's lawyers for new
trial, and In the event OF It's Deins
granted sensational developments are
promised in the celebrated case.
DIR. Bell. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
and a number OF the greatest sur
geons and physicians OF Great Britain
have been aroused by the strange de-
tails of the Rice murder and by the
efforts OF DR.. William Smith, profes-
sor OF anatomy aud medical jurlspru.
dence at the American College OF
Osteopathy, Kirkwood, Mo. DR.. smith
has secured monumental petition.
which contains the names or over 3,Ooo
doctors and embalmers. which will be
presented to Coy. Hughes within a
few days, calling for revision OF tho
testimony on which Patrick was con-
victed.
DIR. Smith was q student with Conan
Doyle under Dr. Bell In the Edinburgh
university From the Gay eight years
ego when Patrick was arrested fer the
murder OF the aged millionaire, DR..
Smith took the deepest interest In the
case. and after Patricks conviction
he commenced TO work TO save HIM.
He travelled all over America securing
opinions from various medical ex-
perts and finally went to Europe
where he pledged the facts before MS
famous master. DR.. Bell gave Dr.
Smith letter. in which he said:
Am TO understand that the post
norton examination OF the body, on
which evidence was founded, was
really made after election? As have
40 doubt that the vessels OF the lungs
IAN be injected from the brachiai,
which, indeed. you prove, surely any
results as to the vapor OF chloroform
being detected are quite impossible 10
understand"
AS the principal point of the trial
was rs to whether the lungs OF the
dead man could have been congested
by the embalming fluid. this opinion Is
regarded by the defense as sufficient
IN itself to aeoaaInt Patrick II Is
further indorsed by Sir Henry Little
John, NJ. d., Sir William Turner, NJ. ID,
and Lohn Chiene. NJ. d., F. r. c. s.
three of the foremost medical authori-
ties of Great Britain.
Patrick is at p; esent in Sing Sing.
lie is engaged in making vests and
coats, but eight years OF prison and
impending execution have not broken
his spirit He has exhausted all his
resources in his fight for liberty. but
ne still is confident OF final acquittal.
All his hopes are now pinned on the
decision OF the supreme court. His
wife and a few friends have remained
faithful TO him, as has his lawyer,
William l.. Mcdonald, OF No 40 Wall
ST., who was his schoolmate and life
long friend. Mr.. Mcdonald Is very
optimistic that his long struggle Is
nearly ended.
II believe firmly that the supreme
court will order Mr. Patrick's acquit-
tall" he said "In the face OF the evil
dence il is hard to see how they can
do otherwise, and even II they only
order new trial we shall be salts
fed. II Mr. Patrick is guilty. he
should executed. The governor
had no legal authority To commute his
sentence TO life imprisonment, but II
lie Is innocent New York has seen q
worse case Of jobbing and a grosser
miscarriage OF justice than ever was
known since the days OF the Spanish
Inquisition."