The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-01
AGED MOTHER OF DEAD WOMAN ON
 STAND IN TRIAL Her Appearance, While Very Dramatic, Did Not Add Much Evidence
 Against Means

Concord, N. C., November 3O.--NIrs. Anna L. Robinson, 78 years old, moth CT of Mrs. Maude A. King, testified for the state here late today in the trial of Gaston B. Means, charged with killing Mrs. King near here last Au- gust. The woman, feeble from age and HI health, had to be carried bodily up the stairway to the courtroom md taken In n rolling chair to the stand. 'or m hour and hnlf she gave her testimony sitting in the rolling chair ana attended by negro maid while a storm of legal technicaIities ragged ! around her.
 The appearance of Mrs. Robinson was given much of a dramatic aspect.
 Mfs. Mary C. Melvin, sister of Mrs. King, went from her seat in court to the head of the stairway and made an effort to get to her mother before she was carried through the door, but was not allowed to reach the white-haired and aged woman, nor to speak to her.
 Mrs. Robinsons entrance into the court room was over the protest of Henry Deitch, who had been described in prev ious testimony as Means body guard ; He met the party at the court room door and raised his hands and said:
 Don't take that woman in there'
 Mrs Melvin followed her mother down the aisle and sat as near her as possi- bic during her testimony.
 AFTER SCENE
 After adjournment of court, Mrs Mel win saw her mother in the latters room at local hotel for about five minutes. No person was present at the interview excent the mother and daughter and one attorney representing each, H. $. Williams. of counsel for the state, being present with Mrs. Robinson No others were admitted and what took place could not be learned. Mrs. Robinson left d few minutes later for Salisbury, ac- companied by MT. McDuffie. It was learned, however, that there was disa- greelnept on whatever proposition was under discussion at the close of the in terview.
 OF NO VALUE
 While the appearance of Mrs. Robin son was dramatic, and contained ele- ments of the sensational, it is the con sensus of opinion among those who heard the testimony she gave, that 1t was of no great value and that neither side lost or gained much by her ap- pea trance. She did deny the genuine ness of the signature purporting to be hers signed jointly with Mrs King on paper which had been presented in evidence by the state through A. Leon ard Johnson, secretary of the Merchants Loan and Trust company of Chicago On the authority of this document, John- son testified the trust company re- volzed a trust of $125,000, which had Deen created by Mrs. King year or so earlier by which Mrs. Robinson received $60] month. The paper with the woman s bank by Gaston Means, to whom was delivered the securities represented iii the trust On cross-examination, how ever, her name was presented to her for Identification. She acknowledged that she had received the money for the checks, but said she did not believe the inducements were her signatures.
 OLD WOMAN'S STORY
 Mrs. Robinson said that during thetwo years before her daughters death, Means had been instrumental in keeping Mrs. King away from her. Means never allowed her to see her daughter. she tes- tified, and always interfered and sep arated them if by chance they did hap pen to get together She also testified that on one occasion when she was i'll, Means took her medicine away from her, saying he believed the physician was doping her. On another occasion, Means moved her from the hotel on short notice because he said, according to her statement, that a woman had ar rived who was liable to give them trou- bic. and they must get away. She tes tified also that she was neved advised Of the death of her Laughter until two hours before she saHE the body when 1t was taken to Ashs&dle
 Mrs. Robinson talked very low and It was impossible for Judge Cline. the jury
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