New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-17
Brother of Dead Woman's
Secretary Is Asked
to Appear
Means Again Linked in
International Intrigue
Data Show Mrs. Melvin Was
in Daily Touch With Him
for Two Years

The grand jury will begin this morn
ing It's investigation into the affairs
and relations Of Mrs, Maude A. King
snd CASTOR b. Means, her private sec
rotary. who was the only person on the
spot when the wealthy New York widow
was shot and killed at Concord, n. c.,
on August 20.
A trunkful Of valuable documents,
seized at the Park Avenue apartment
of Means, and large number Of wit
nesses to the tangled finances and
eventful career of Mrs. King. will be
brought before the body. Alton Means,
brother Of CASTOR, and Henry
Dietsch, Atoms father-in-law, have
been asked to appear. Both will be
questioned regarding their knowledge
Of unusual happenings leading up to
the shooting of Mrs. King.
Many Called to Testify
Men and women who were brought
in touch with Mrs. King during her
stay in this city, in financial, social or
business relations have been sub
ppnsed, and will also 90 before the
grand jury. Among these, il is under
stood. much Importance IS placed upon
the appearance of the man whom Mrs.
King announced, shortly before her
suspicious death, that she was about
10 marry.
The brown fibre trunk, whose con-
tents will furnish the largest part Of
the fuel for the grand jury'S work,
Yesterday added a few more chapters
10 its revelations of alleged interna-
tional diplomatic intrigue, stock spec
ulations and finding OF long lost wills.
CASTOR Means's connection with Ger
man propaganda in this country, and
mis- intimate relations with Captain
Boy-Ed, Naval Attache of Germany, eX-
PEELED from this country, have been es-
tablished. say Department Of Justice
officials and Assistant District Attorney
John T. Dooling, in charge Of the In
vestigation.
Mexico, whose name has been brought
into German intrigue on the Western
Hemisphere more than once, appeared
yesterday for the first time in Means's
documents bearing on his German
propaganda activities.
1--WE have found papers showing that
Means had an interest in, if not con-
nection with. Mexican matters, as re-
CARDS German propaganda" said As
sistant District Attorney DoOling last
night. eve have also discovered in
dications that he was intensely inter
ested in Cuban affairs about the time
there was trouble brewing in that
country"
Mr.. Dooling would give no further
details of Means's alleged interest, say
ing that the matters would all have to
be sifted by the Federal authorities, 70
whom It might be Of considerable value.
Another unexplained phase Of
Means's activities in connection with
the war is the interest evidenced by
his documents in the manufacture and
delivery Of munitions.
ain one memorandum | have said
Nr. Dooiing, "he shows extreme anX-
ETY. to know whether some one at 60
Broadway had contracts for ammuni.
ton, and whether it was being turned
cat according to these contracts
Mrs. Melvin Brought Into Case
The name Of Mrs. Maize Melvin, sis
ter Of Mrs. King, appeared yesterday
for the first time among the docu-
ments being examined. Evidence show
ing that Mrs. Melvin kept in constant
communication with Means is consId-
cred of vital Importance by Mr.. DOol-
ing in the preparation of the case.
This evidence is contained in the form
of memoranda book Of all telephone
calls to the Means apartment within
the last two years.
The telephone record shows that
from 1915 TO 1917 Mrs. Melvin kept in
h. daily touch with Means during the
N periods they were in the city. What
interest they had in common which
" would necessitate such constant com
munication is an interesting phase to
be cleared up at the investigations
here and in North Carolina.
Mrs Melvin's name was signed as a
witness 70 the second Will of James c.
King, millionaire lumberman, which was
discovered" by Means, and she would
now be the chief beneficiary if the
document, the authenticity of which is
now gravely doubted. the authorities
say is admitted to probate
Planned to File viii on Coast
Mr. Dooling Yesterday found evil
dence indicating that Means was plan
ming to present this will for probate
IN California. after finding that it was
irvalidated by the Illinois laws. Last
July a photograph Of the will, then
the original was presented in Chicago,
together with the opinion Of a hand
writing expert that it was genuine.
means spent two years Of prepare
ton for the presentation Of the will"
said Mr.. Dooling. zone reason for
the plan TO file il in California is the
fact that Mrs. King had property
worth almost 100000 there. Means
consulted three or four lawyers in New
York about the will, besides attorneys
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