Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-28
PATRIcK's FIGHT FOR LIBERTY.
Convicted of CompIicity in Rice's Mur-
 dor on VaIet's Testimony.

New York, Nov. 27.-Pardon of AL bert T. Patrick came as good news to many friends in New York who sided with him in his celebrated ten years fight for freedom. Its a triumph" said George Francis O'Neil, one of. the counsel who aided Patrick, but a too long delayed one"
 Mrs. Patrick, the woman who mar. ried the accused murderer in the Tombs, and who has practically all of her time since been seeking his pardon, was advised of the news and, while overjoyed, she dechned to make a statement. As a wtdower with two lit tie children Patrick came to New York in the nineties to practice law, renew ing acquaintance with William Marsh Rice, a helpless old man of millions, who was formerly friend of the Pat rick family in Texas. He lay bedridden in his New York apartments. living alone with the exception of a valet named Charles F. Jones.
 When the millionaire was found dead in bed one morning the coroner decid- ed he had simply succumbed to old age, but suspicious arose. Ten days after wards a check bearing Rices name in favor of Patrick was deposited in one of the latter's banks It was declared to be forgery. Then murder was whispered Valet Jones was arrested. He tried to commit suicide in the Tombs. He alleged that Patrick had influenced him to do so. Suddenly he broke down and confessed that he was the actual murderer of his wealthy master, but at the instigation of Pat rick.
 He told many conflicting stories He hn lyilI h oeto hxy to then that he gave him some gray pills" which Patrick procured, and finally that he saturated a sponge with chloroform and held it over the old mans face until he died. He stuck to this latter story on the stand and pur- chased immunity by his confession Medical experts testified that Rice's lungs showed that he had been killed by chloroform. On the other hand, Patrick called experts who maintained that there was no such evidence, and from that time to this medical men in- terested have been divided for and against Patrick.
 The state maintained that the motive for the murder was found in Rices will There was but one executed. in 1896, in which the old man left all of his fortune to the Rice Institute of Houston, Texas. A will of more recent date left all of the money to Patrick | to be expended in phdlanthropic works at Patrick's direction.
 Patrick denied all the accusations and persistently contended that the old man died a natural death. He led bis own defense, and all of the remarkable attempts since to have the verdict gel aside He was in a death cell at Sing Sing for five years, and the date fol his execution had been set severa | times before the first step toward clemency was taken by Governor Hig- | gins, who ordered the sentence o1 | death commuted to life Imprisonment
 Patrick positively resented such z l favor" He maintained that he want ! ed liberty or death" In 1909 he made i the remarkable plea that he was legal. ] ly dead, one of the days set for hi! ] execution having passed without tn, i sentence being carried out. He claim. ed that the stay which was granted was irregular.
 Through the tireless efforts of his de. | voted wife, numerous petitions wer, sent to Albany for his pardon signed ] by thousands of his supporters. Twt years ago Mrs. Patrick was active il obtaining affidavits in Texas to sup port her contention that Patrick wal i the victim of enemies in that state | She also obtained affidavits from tn, foreman of the grand jury which in dicted Patrick asserting his belief tha there was a miscarriage of justice ant commenting unfavorably on the fac that Valet Jones was allowed to g, scot free" after having confessed tha he actually committed the deed.
 The mystery of Jones' whereabout has continued since he hurried. ava, from here to Texas after being gfantei immunity. It is not known whethe he is dead or alive,