William Marsh Rice

William Marsh Rice (1816 – September_23, 1900), who made his fortune in Texas by trading cotton, and investing in land and railroads. He left the bulk of his estate to the founding of a free institute in Houston, Texas. This institute opened in 1912 as William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Art, and Science. Today the institute has developed into Rice University.

Related Topics:
1816 - September_23 - 1900 - Texas - Houston, Texas - 1912 - Rice University

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Rice was the victim of one of the earliest sensational crines of the 1900s. On September 23rd 1900, Rice was found dead by his valet, and was presumed to have died in his sleep. Shortly thereafer, a bank teller noticed a suspiciously large check bearing the late Rice's signature and made out to Rice's lawyer, Albert Patrick, but with his name misspelled.

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Soon, Patrick made an announcement that Rice had changed his will right before his death, leaving his fortune to Patrick rather than to his Institute. A subsequent investigation led by the District Attorney of New York resulted in the arrests of Patrick and of Rice's butler/valet Charles Jones, who had been hired to administer chloroform to Rice while he slept. Jones turned state's evidence and Patrick was sent to Sing-Sing until 1912.

Related Topics:
District Attorney - New York - Chloroform - Sing-Sing

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