New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-09
North Carolina Authorities
Act on Murder
Evidence
Find Discrepancies
In Story of Death
Farmer Asserts He Heard
a Second Shot
Fired

SALISBURY, n. c., Sept. 8.-Hayden
Clement, solicitor for the 18th Judicial
District, announced to-day his inten-
ton of reopening the investigation into
the death near Concord, on the even
ing Of August 90, of Mrs. Maude A.
King. wealthy Chicago widow. lie said
his first move probably would be to
recall the coroner's jury, which re-
turned a verdict Of death from an ac-
cidental pistol wound.
Solicitor Clement has notified the
Chicago authorities that it will be nee
essary for him to have certified copy
Of the report on the post-mortem ex-
animation before he can begin the in
yestigation in Concord, and said TO-
dav he also desired to give the Con-
cord authorities every opportunity 10
investigate new evidence which has de-
veloped there.
The evidence referred TO is state
ment said TO have been made TO an at
to-ney by Charles S. Dry and wife,
who live near the scene Of the shoot
ing. The couple are said to have de-
clared they heard two shots, the sec
ond after the party had reentered the
automobile. They saw the fash of the
second shot, they are said to have
stated, and declared it was in the car.
Testimony before the coroner was to
the effect that there was only one shot.
Discrepancies in Stories
Concord was amazed to-day when
word arrived here from Asheville con-
corning an interview given out by Gas
ton Bullock Means. who was Mrs.
KINGS business manager and was with
her at the time of the tragedy. There
ere several points in Means's latest eX-
plaration Of the shooting at variance
with his sworn testimony at the in
quest. In his Asheville talk Means said
The rife and the revolver which were IN
the Automobile on the night the trip
was made to Blackwell Spring were
unloaded; that the Colt automatic PTS
tol was loaded by him after he and Mrs.
King got out of the machine and
started on foot for the place in which
the wealthy woman met her death.
If Means now declares that the rihe
was not loaded it is a declaration that
does not agree with the statement CT
CAPTAIN ". s. Bingham, who il explain
ING the second shot fred near the
spring said he emptied the magazine
Of the rife and then pulled the trigger
TO make sure no shots were left.
There happened to be shot, how
ever, and that was the second shot
heard by Dry, the new witness who has
suddenly injected himself into the case.
When Means gave out his interview IN
Asheville he was not familiar with the
story Of Dry and the subsequent OK
PLANTATION of his friend Bingham.
Concord is expressing great interest
to-day m the explanation Of the kill
ing of Mrs. King as made by Alton
better known as Tony" Means, a
brother Of CASTOR. II was Tony VINO
a few minutes after the bringing OF
the body to the hospital stated that
Mrs. King had been twIrling the re
yolver around her finger when 1t was
discharged. shooting her behind the
left ear. The man to whom Tony told
this story was probably the first per
son 10 whom he spoke after the killing.
The next morning, however, Tony, his
brother and Bingham told different
story.
Castor Means's Account
CASTOR Means has been emphatic IN
stating that Mrs. King was shot while
his back was turned and he was bend
ing over the spring. Many questions
asked at the inquest remain unan-
swered For instance, in his inquest
testimony CASTOR Means declared:
~ was five feet away at the time
she was shot. She was right by the
tree inst where ! had put the pistol.
I was at the spring, standing on the
rock"
The measured distance between the
tree in which Means says he placed
the revolver and the spring at whlch
he saws he was standing at the tune
he heard the pistol shot is thirty feet.
Dry's Story of Shots
There is still a discrepancy between
the testimony of the members OF me
automobile party and Dry concerning
the firing of second shot. Dry was
emphatic in declaring that after the