New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-28

| directed the operation.
Patrick Convicted.
| On the confession of the valet and on
! the testimony of experts that the dead
Iman's lungs showed he had been killed
| by Chloroform, Patrick was tried on Jan
uary 20, 1901 rhe trial lasting nine weeks
| and three days. lie was convicted and
sentenced to die in the electric chair
/ Jones. for his aid 10 the states lawyers
/ was allowed to 90 free although he ad-
mitted having been the actual murderer
/ of Rice.
With Patrick confined in the death
house at Sing Sing and Jones having been
lost 10 view in Texas, Il seemed that the
famous case was complete, except for
Patrick's execution I'm the electric chair.
But the accused lawyer began a fight for
life and liberty which has seldom, if ever.
been equaled i'm the annals Of criminal
cases III this country.
More than eighteen months had been
taken up with preparation and argument.
Patrick, who proved himself q keen law
yer, with an extraordinarily analytical
mind, fought every step and was OF great
help TO his lawyers. Several experts sus-
tanned his contentious as to the condition
Of Rice's lungs and as to the genuineness
OF the check signatures
When Patrick was sentenced in April.
1892, to die he appealed his case lie went
into the Court Of Appeals in person. and
too; advantage OF his personal right to
speak IN his own defence. The wisdom OF
such move by the condemned man was
seriously questioned by legal experts But
Patrick insisted and had his way. His
mother and two little daughters were
present and watched his fight for vindica.
ton.
This appeal was decided against Pat
rick. Four Of the seven presiding Judges
ruled that he had been legally convicted
and the other three held "A dissenting
opinion. arguing that material errors had
been committed at the arst trial and that
it could not be proved mat Rice was alive
when the chloroform was administered.
The many contradictory stories told by
Jones were also discredited. Judge
o Brien, one Of the three dissenting
judges leld that the trial Judge and the
District Attorney were deserving Of CEN
sure for their conduct Of the case
More than 100000 words Of testimony
had been written into the record and 23s
exhibits produced. The cost to both state
and the defence was enormous, yet Pat
rick had only begun his fight for life.
Next Seeks a Pardon.
Patricks next move was to seek par
don from Governor Frank Higgins This
was in January, 1906, after the con-
demned man had succeeded IN consuming
almost three years In appeals. reprieves
and other measures calculated TO defer
his exit through the little green door" at
the death house I'm Sing Sing.
Patrick was at that time condemned N
die in the week beginning January %.
1906. His petition bore hundreds OF names,
asking fer executive clemency, including
the signatures Of ex-President Grover
Cleveland the Rev. Dr. Charles II. Park
hurst and Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton.
the alienst. Another petition bore the
names Of more than eight thousand physi-
clans, who felt that the evidence was in
sufficient to warrant Patrck's conviction.
Months went by with no word from
Governor Higgins as TO what action he
would take In the matter. They were
weary months for Patrick, In his little
cell in the death house, but he never
abandoned hope and kept planning and
scheming. going over every bit OF evil
dence in his case with searching, skilled
mind, always on the alert for any new
move In his battle for life.
A sister of Patrick had married John
T. Miliken, q Buffalo lawyer. Patrick
while still in death CELL married Misc
Francis, and bis wife. having proved
her faith in the innocence OF the con.
yicted murderer, stood by his side and
fought her husbands battle. She soor
became as expert and as painstaking as
he in contesting every step that led tow,
ard his ultimate freedom. To her more
than any other agency perhaps is due the
indomitable spirit and bulldog tenacity
that kept Albert T. Patrick out Of IN,
electric chair.
/ COMMITTED to Life Imprisonment.
Then, on December 20. 1906. Governor
| Higgins committed Patrlck's sentence L
life Imprisonment. The action Of tn,
Governor was regarded by the public a,
Christmas present to The man who hat
been face to face with death for fou
long years. But Patrick did not so re
gard Il. Told of the fact that he woult
not have to die in the electric chair, hi
face clouded and he Kissed between Sc
teeth
II will not accept It. ] shall fight thi
act with every resource and every bit o
power l possess. 1t was done withou
my consent or application. Either an
guilty or I am not guilty. II kille,
Rice deserve TO die"
With the danger of the electric chat
removed from his vision, Patrick set on
to gain his complete freedom. pie con
tnually asserted that nothing les woul,
] satisfy him. 80. .n.-',,.
aaH,, a x.ra..