New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
But Physician Adds That
Its Publication by Law
yer Is Outrage
u. S. Inquiry Will Be
Opened Here To-day
Department Of Justice to
Investigate History of
CASTOR B. Means

Or. Richard F. Burke, of 100 Lexing-
ton Avenue, physician of Mrs. Maude
A. King, who was shot and killed under
mysterious circumstances at Concord,
n. c., admitted last night he had made
out a certificate of lunscy to free the
wealthy divorce from the leader OF IA
band Of criminals said to have had her
in their power in 1914.
DR.. Burke said the lunscy report had
been rendered privately, and was sup
posed TO have been destroyed shortly
Sfterward. He declared that its publ
cation yesterday was the result Of IAN
outrageous breach of professional
ethics" on the part Of lawyer for
merly in the employ of Mrs. Kings
family.
"This lawyer was engaged by Mrs.
Robinson, Mrs. Kings mother, in 1914,
TO prosecute certain litigation for the
protection of her daughter" he said.
MRS. Robinson, Mrs. Melvin, the sis
ter Of Mrs. King, and the lawyer asked
me TO furnish report of lunacy in
order to save Mrs. King from the
clutches of man named Marsh, one
Of the members of gang Of black
mailers.
This certificate was to be used only
in case Of the direst necessity, to be
presented to the judge who was to
preside at habess corpus proceedings.
Mrs. King WAS at the time under
Marshs influence in San Francisco, and
il was at first thought habeas corpus
would have TO be resorted to in order
TO get her back. But she came back Of
her own accord, and the certificate was
never used.
Should Have Been Destroyed
at was then in the possession Of the
lawyer, who promised that he would
destroy it forthwith. Instead of that,
| understand, he preserved it and has
now sold it for publication to one Of
the newspapers, breaking every canon
of medical and professional ethics.
81 want 10 say, now that the report
has been unwittingly brought to light,
that the condition described as that Of
Mrs. King at the time of the examina-
ton ceased 70 exist a year and half
afterward. When ! last saw Mrs. King
about a year ago, she was in perfect
condition, both physically and mentally.
"Mrs. Kings mental condition at the
time l made the report was the result
Of an operation which often results in
dementia. Judge George L. Ingraham
appointed me examiner in lunacy, and
] suppose he was the only one, outside
Of the lawyer and family, who knew of
my report"
The report declared Mrs. King "of
unsound mind and absolutely incapable
Of taking care of herself to any extent
whatsoever" and as ian undeveloped
mind, equivalent to that Of girl Of
twelve years"
No Mann Act Violation
Investigation Of the charge that this
alleged band Of blackmailers had trans
ported Mrs. King from state to state, in
violation Of the Mann act, was made by
Assistant United States District Attor-
ney Edwin W Stanton in 1914. Mr..
Stanton last night said:
"The Craft Detective Agency and a
, lawyer placed the charges before US.
We were interested in the case because
the Interpretation Of the Mann act in
the Diggs- Caminetti case had not then
been made, and the question Of the ef-
feet Of the law was an interesting one.
There was a great deal Of doubt
about the facts, however. The woman
alleged to be the victim was well along
toward middle age, and 1t appeared to
be stretching the Mann act TO attempt
TO apply it 20 such case, where the
real reason for taking action was not
to suppress vice, but to deliver the
woman from undesirable companions.
FINALLY we found that it was not
contended that a violation of the Mann
act had been committed, but the Craft
Agency, acting for the family, charged
that the law would be violated in San
Francisco. We advised the agency that,
in the event of violation Of the act,
the trial would have to take place in
San Francisco, and that the complaint
should be made to the United States
District Attorney there"
L. S. Did Not Investigate
Reports printed yesterday that the
Department Of Justice had taken a
hand in releasing Mrs. King from tho
clutches of the alleged band of inter
national blackmailers were denied by
officials Of the department.
The Pinkcrton Detective Agency was
mentioned IN the published account as
having investigated the band of crooks.
officials Of the agency yesterday de-
clared tho New York branch had never
even handled the case.
Federal authorities here will begin
an investigation to-day Of the King
case.
The investigation will seek 70 delve
into the history of CASTOR B. Means,
Mrs. Kings private secretary and gen
eral agent, who was the only person
with Mrs. King when she was shot.
According to reports Means exerted the
greatest influence over his patroness
and her sister, Mrs. Mary c. Melvin,
telling them, il is alleged, that he had
n pull" with the Federal authorities
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