People of the State of New York vs. Albert T. Patrick: Volume VIII Testimony, March 19-April 4, 1902 [2 folders]
File — Box: 8, Folder: 3-4
Scope and Contents note
From the Series:
These cases are filed chronologically based on each case’s beginning date. Major cases include cases challenging William Marsh Rice’s late wife’s will and William Marsh Rice’s murder trial. Each generally includes correspondence, notes, and legal documents such as testimony, exhibits, trial documents, affidavits, releases, published versions of the trials, and newsclippings.
The first case is that of William Marsh Rice vs. Orren T. Holt, executor of Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin Rice’s estate, 1896-1902, regarding Rice’s challenge to his wife’s will. This trial began while W.M. Rice was living and continued after his death. Mrs. Rice’s will assumed that the couple’s property was divisible equally under Texas’ community property law, and would have given away significant funds and lands, including the land on which Rice University sits today. W.M. Rice and his representatives proved that the couple were actually residents of new York and not Texas, making Mrs. Rice’s will essentially null. The lawyer for Mrs. Rice’s executor, Orren T. Holt, was Albert T. Patrick, who features as the defendant in the Rice murder trial. This case was settled in 1903 for $200,000.
The second case is William Marsh Rice’s murder trial, People of the State of NY vs. Patrick, 1900-1902. The evidence available here includes medical and handwriting experts’ testimony, as well as the original glass plate negatives of Rice’s real and alleged signatures used to prove Patrick’s forgery of the 1900 Wm. M. Rice will, which benefited Patrick greatly and essentially scrapped significant plans for the Rice Institute, thereby proving Patrick’s motive for the murder. Patrick was convicted and went to prison, but only a few years later was pardoned and released.
Adele Baldwin vs. W. M. Rice Jr. & executors of Rice will, 1886-1908, the last large case in this series, relates to Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin Rice’s heirs challenging the executors of W.M. Rice’s estate and is essentially a continuation of William Marsh Rice vs. Orren T. Holt. In November 1905, the case was decided, then appealed. Attorneys included Arthur Turnure of NY, for administrators of estate of E.B. Rice; William B. Hornblower, Atty. for estate of Wm. M. Rice (Hornblower, Byrne, Miller & Potter, of NY); and Oran Holt, Houston representative for E.B. Rice estate, with A.T. Patrick as his NY legal representative (up until the time of his trial and incarceration).
The first case is that of William Marsh Rice vs. Orren T. Holt, executor of Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin Rice’s estate, 1896-1902, regarding Rice’s challenge to his wife’s will. This trial began while W.M. Rice was living and continued after his death. Mrs. Rice’s will assumed that the couple’s property was divisible equally under Texas’ community property law, and would have given away significant funds and lands, including the land on which Rice University sits today. W.M. Rice and his representatives proved that the couple were actually residents of new York and not Texas, making Mrs. Rice’s will essentially null. The lawyer for Mrs. Rice’s executor, Orren T. Holt, was Albert T. Patrick, who features as the defendant in the Rice murder trial. This case was settled in 1903 for $200,000.
The second case is William Marsh Rice’s murder trial, People of the State of NY vs. Patrick, 1900-1902. The evidence available here includes medical and handwriting experts’ testimony, as well as the original glass plate negatives of Rice’s real and alleged signatures used to prove Patrick’s forgery of the 1900 Wm. M. Rice will, which benefited Patrick greatly and essentially scrapped significant plans for the Rice Institute, thereby proving Patrick’s motive for the murder. Patrick was convicted and went to prison, but only a few years later was pardoned and released.
Adele Baldwin vs. W. M. Rice Jr. & executors of Rice will, 1886-1908, the last large case in this series, relates to Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin Rice’s heirs challenging the executors of W.M. Rice’s estate and is essentially a continuation of William Marsh Rice vs. Orren T. Holt. In November 1905, the case was decided, then appealed. Attorneys included Arthur Turnure of NY, for administrators of estate of E.B. Rice; William B. Hornblower, Atty. for estate of Wm. M. Rice (Hornblower, Byrne, Miller & Potter, of NY); and Oran Holt, Houston representative for E.B. Rice estate, with A.T. Patrick as his NY legal representative (up until the time of his trial and incarceration).
Dates
- 1844 - 1941
- Majority of material found within 1880 - 1916
Conditions Governing Access
Boxes 1-18 and 20-117 stored off-site at the Library Service Center. This material requires 24 hrs. for retrieval. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.
Boxes 19a-19b containing glass plates are located onsite at Woodson Research Center.
Boxes 19a-19b containing glass plates are located onsite at Woodson Research Center.
Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 62 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Patrick, Albert T. (Person)
- From the Collection: Baker, James Addison, 1930- (Person)
- From the Collection: Rice, William Marsh, 1816-1900 (Person)
- From the Collection: Rice University (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
woodson@rice.edu
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
woodson@rice.edu