The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-07-21

IEwRYTHwG
THqHE BHOnGS
TO m DRU6hyER
LIZZIE"
kota Dan" 10 members OF the Rous-
seau family. and there was. Of course.
a battle" Of handwriting experts.
each contradicting the other. And
Dakota Dan" brought witnesses 20
show that the letters were ~forgeries,
and that tho addresses had been writ
ten on the envelopes after the post
ONCE cancellation marks had been
stamped thereon.
To these letters were added an APP
pMcauon form for membership in the
Woodmen OF the World. This con.
tanned the family history Of Rousseau
and said hat he had three brothers
and two sisters living and that an
other brother had been killed in a
railroad accident All OF which was
apparently true. Dakota Dams" eK-
perts asserted that the answer had not
ben written by him. but had been
Allied in by OTHERS az a later period.
his handwriting having been initiated.
Thereupon the Russell lawyers showed
that the paper had remained in the
archives Of the woodmen OF the
World until the court ordered its pro
duction.
The trial dragged on for several
months and as Il was nearing the end
a second Daniel Blake Russell. who
was 20 De called Fresno Dan" came
out from his fruit ranch IN Fresno.
Cal Out there he was known ~
Henry Johnson. but In Meirose. the
home OF the Russells. he was rccog-
mixed as the missing Dan" by the re
spunslble citizens He seemed to be
we'll informed as 90 the details Of Dan
tells early life in Melrose. but Dakota
Dan" declared that his rival had been
brought on 10 cheat him out o. his
rights. Judge Lawton. before whom
the tedious case was tried. finally de-
cided ia favor OF Fresno Dan. and
that night the Judge was burned Ia
cTgy by an angry crowd Of Dakota
Dams" supporters. n the case is car
ried 90 a higher court little may be
left OF the estate. for the litigation has
already cost a huge sum
In the many efforts OF Albert T. Pat.
rick TO free himself from a life e m
tonco for the murder OF William
Marsh Rice. an aged recluse, people
have almost forgotten that Patrick
was FIRST charged with forgery in o
ncction with the old mans will. Pat.
rick. n lawyer. had learned OF Marsh's
wealth aud his weak state OF mind
through a suit IN a Texas court and
he gaincd the confidence Of Charles
= Jones. valet 90 the r~ccluse. Jones
becoming the lawyers tool
Rice. IN fact never knew Patrick
although the latter posed as the mil.
lionairc's attorney, always working
through Jones. who confessed that he
Killed hts master NJ The lawyers IN
stigation liotiyo for the murder was
held { @ be desire on the part OF Pat
rick 10 obtain control % Rice's for
tune By means OF "a forged win. and
the murder wAs accomplished by
Jones at Patrlck'a command. chloro.
form being the death medium. Jones
WAS allowed 20 90 frye, while Patrick
was sentenced 10 death This was
IN 1909. Governor Higgins commutci
the sentence 20 lifo imprisonment. and
since that time Patrick has made %
unsuccessful attempts 70 regain his
freedom.
Photographic records OF testimony
IN a win case were aiken "a Boston
for use az another trial. n permitted
by tho court This unusual procedure
was the result OF the Illness OF one
OF the principal witnesses, who WAS
Obliged 20 undergo a surgical opera.
ton Immediately after giving evi.
dence. should Il be necessary TO IN.
troduee these records. the attitude OF
the court toward them will be Of In.
terest 90 the legal profession gener.
ally. for Il might serve to create a
precedent
Nuncupativo or oral Wills. the right
TO make which lies only with sailors
az sea or soldiers IN the field. are
somewhat rare, but one was admitted
10 probate in Kings county last De
cembor by Surrogate Ketchham. This
viii was made by George o'Connor,
chief engineer OF the steamship Dor.
othy, while the vessel was Ia mid.
ocean. All that he said was: Every.
thing that I have belongs 10 my daugh.
ter, iiEzie,' and the win was proved
with tho aid Of two Witnessed, the cap.
tain and first omeer OF the Dorothy.