They had now the means to effect gradual death, but as mercury leaves traces discernible at an autopsy, it was decided that the body must be cremated promptly.  Hence the cremation letter.  It was hoped that Rice might drop off at any moment, owing to his weakened condition, and in anticipation of death Patrick discontinued his visits to the apartment in order to establish a satisfactory alibi.  Jones also frequently absented himself from the apartment in the evenings after the old man had fallen asleep.

[Illustration:  The famous letter forged by Patrick, which requests the cremation of the remains of the supposed writer, old Mr. Rice.]

On September 16th Rice had an attack of acute indigestion, which might have resulted seriously had it not been for the mercurial pills which promptly relieved him.  The reader should observe that practically all of this testimony comes from Jones.  There is no extraneous evidence that Patrick induced the giving of the mercury.  Patrick, however, spread false rumors as to Rice’s general health and also as to his financial condition and intentions, namely, that Rice was only worth seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and that those who expected he was going to leave his money to the Institute were doomed to disappointment.  But neither his statements about Rice’s condition nor his remarks as to the disposition and extent of his property are inconsistent with a mere hope that he would die and thus leave Patrick free to enjoy the fruits of his forgeries.

There now occurred, however, an event which may well have played a part in inducing Patrick to supplement forgery by murder.  On Sunday, September 16th, the plant of the Merchants’ and Planters’ Oil Company of Houston, Texas, of which Rice owned seventy-five per cent. of the capital stock, was destroyed by fire.  The company being without funds to rebuild, its directors telegraphed to Rice requesting him to advance the money.  The amount needed was two hundred and fifty thousand dollars—­and if Rice consented, all the available funds on deposit in the New York banks, upon which the conspirators relied to accomplish their object, would be exhausted.  Jones endeavored to dissuade the old man from advancing the money, but without effect, and Rice sent a letter to Houston agreeing to supply one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and more in instalments of twenty-five thousand dollars each.  This was on September 18th, after he had wired to the same effect on September 17th.  Patrick and Jones suppressed a telegram that Rice would advance two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and on September 19th the old man received word that the first draft in conformity with his telegram of September 17th had been drawn and would arrive in New York on the 22d.  Jones says that on showing this to Patrick the latter announced that Rice must be put out of the way as soon as possible.  Accordingly, on September 20th and 21st, Jones administered larger