EMBALMED FOR CREMATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

EMBALMED FOR CREMATION.

THE MYSTERY OF A. MILLIONAIRE

* MISER'S DEATH. New York, September 27.— reigning sensation in New York is the mystery surrounding the death of Mr. William M. Rice # whose fortune is estimated at £1,600,000.

Notwithstanding his wealth he lived the life of a recluse in three small rooms in Madison Avenue, cooking his meals on a gas stove. His valet was his sole companion. . His chief pleasure was visiting the various banks where his securities were deposited. He would spend hours counting them over and figuring up the interest. He was seventy years of age, and had been iu poor health for two weeks before his death, which occurred on Sunday last. On Monday his lawyer, Mr. A. T. Patrick, cashed cheques signed by Mr. Rice for £45,000, without notifying the banker* of his death. Had he done so, the cheques according to law, would have become waste' paper. When another cheque of the same kind for £5000 was handed in by the lawyer a trifling irregularity was noticed, and the bankers tried to communicate with Mr. Rice about it over the telephone. His valet answered the call, and replied that his employer was very deaf, and could hot hear well over the instrument. A little later he added that Mr. Rice was dead. On hearing this, the bankers advised the coroner that the millionaire's death ought to be investigated. The advice was taken. The coroner took charge ot the body, which had already been prepared for cremation, and an autopsy was performed, but here an. obstacle arose hi the way of further examination. Although the millionaire had requested that his body might not be embalmed, it had been rushed by Mr. Patrick's order to the undertaker, who used embalming fluid so freely that when the internal organs were handed over, by order of the authorities, to the chemists, they declared that it would-be almost impossible to determine whether or not death had been caused by poisoning. Mr. Patrick bears an excellent reputation as an attorney, and claims that his haste in cashing the cheques was for the purpose of protecting the heirs. The police will make no arrest before the report of the chemists is received, and it is generally believed that Mr. Rice's death was not the result of foul play. His funeral, which was held to-day. was attended by his brother and two other relatives, all of whom arrived from Texas. They had been in consultation with Mr. Patrick, against whom they bring no accusaj tion.