The sun., 1917-09-14
AUTHOR BEING SOUGHT
Manhattan Prosecutor Asks
Specimen of Handwriting
of Capt. w. s. Bingham.
HE WAS IN MOTOR PARTY
Estate of Widow Had Been
Looted and Means Admits
She Had Little Left.

A telegram as mysterious as the TX.
Adams message which eventually re-
vealed DR.. Arthur Warren Waite a. .
murderer, and Of exactly the same i'm
port, started the investigation Of the
manner in which Mrs. Maude A. King OF
New York was killed near Concord, N.
c., on August 20.
On the night Of the shooting, long be-
fore any doubt was publicly cast on Its
reported accidental nature. somebody in
either Concord or Asheville thought 1t
worth while to telegraph somebody in
New York these eleven words:
"Mrs. King. 1la5 Park avenue. died
Concord very peculiar circumstances.
Investigate"
District Attorney Swami has this tele-
gram now. Photographs of II were
shown to reporters last night by Assist
ant District Attorney Dooling. who has
charge Of the inquiry into the affairs Of
Mrs. King and her business agent, Gas
ton B. Means.
Sent to Close Friend.
Before making public the telegram
Mr.. Dooling carefully scissored from the
prints both the name and address OF the
person to whom the message was sent.
the town from which It was despatched
and the signature Of the sender. He
said that these details must be sup
pressed for the present.
The telegram was received here by a
very close friend Of Mrs Kings family
hs added.
He did not answer a question as to
whether this friend Ii In the New York
District Attorneys office The person
whose name was signed to the message
hs does not know. He thinks It prob
able 1t was an assumed name.
He has wired to Concord and Ashe-
VILE for samples Of the handwriting Of
all persons who know Of the shooting at
the time the message was filed, including
cord who was motoring with Mrs. King
and CASTOR and Alton Means on the
evening Of Mrs. Kings death. The tele-
gram was written in q legible, flowing
hand, apparently that Of a man.
Presumably the writer was not well
enough acquainted with Mrs. King TO
know her exact New York address, for
he Cor she) wrote "1135 Park avenue
whereas the right number 10 1155.
Mystery ~ to Author.
The telegram Ia rated az OF great i'm
Dortance in the King case. 1t started
the authorities here OH their cxamina-
ton Of Mrs. Kings business affairs and
surroundings for several years before
her death, and caused them to warn the
North Carolina authorities that there
might be more in the shooting than ap-
peared on the surface. Mr.. Swami and
his assistant are exceedingly anxious to
know who sent it-who 1t was. At time
when the few North Carolinians that
knew Mrs King was dead were accept
ing the theory Of accident without ques-
tion. had Information that an investiga-
tion was desirable.
The TX Adams' whose similar mes
sage from New York suggested to Percy
Peck In Grand Rapids. Mich. that his
father had been murdered In the apart
ment of DR.. Waite early In 1915 turned
out TO be physician. Who the possible
*. Adams" Of the King case will prove
10 be--well, that is what the District
Attorneys Of New York and Cabarrus
county. North Carolina, arc tryisg to
lind out.
Iiiuminafing LetteU Found
AT II o'clock last night Assistant Dis
uict Attorney Doorng said further
search Of the papers taken from CASTOR
Meanss apartment had given him a
patch OF new and Illuminating informa-
ton
In letter written in Chicago on July
10 Means wrote to his brother Alton
directing him to forward ITO me'-these
words being underlined-all letters, tele-
grams and other communications re-
ee'ved at 1l56 Park avenue and ad-
dressed to Mrs. King, her mother, Mrs
tooinson. or her sister, Mrs. Mary Mel
Win.
from Chicago. also in July. Castor
Means wrote his brother:
Every day Is o. X. here, but there
are details for the other side to have to
work out now, and ] do not want then,
70 come In contact with any Of US while
they are doing this"
CASTOR Means was working up a case
IN behalf of the alleged second will oi
James King al the time. Mr.. DoolinE
tanks a he knows who Means meant by
the other side"
wished Secrecy Observed.
Another message from CASTOR Means
arrive at Asheviile. N. c.. on July %
ana told him to keep the whereabouts ol
raston Means. Mrs. King and the other
OF their party secret
another find Of Dooling's was photo
Taphed copy OF the viii of Byron l.
nmitn OF Chicago, with q statement
rom a photogra pher Of its cost. and q
similar copy OF the original will oi
.ah'ea c. King. The tiiotos ai,iis. said
Mr' Doollng. were not taken with the
Sohseht OF the Chicago Probate Court
byron l.. Smiths name appears a. thai
~ " one OF the witnesses of the second
hhg will acclaimed by Castor MsAni
ana several handwriting experts a. gen.
"'ie and by others called forgery.
oiher papers Indicated that Castor
ieahs between July and - OF thii
sear paid money 10 three Handwriting
eaperis, one OF whom got $500. and tha
'" July 20 Means rented bog from ~