South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-17

Mrs King was killed AT Black
,yeIder Spring. lonely spot in the
country near here Aug. % last.
when. with Means and a party OF
his friends. had stopped on an au-
tomobile drive 20 practice pistol
shooting Means and the woman
were alone at the time.
a coroner's inquest accepted the
statement OF CASTOR Means that she
shot herself accidentally. Il was
not until the wOman's body was
taken 20 Chicago for burial that
charges OF foul play were made
There the coroner's physician de-
cIared that the wound in the back
OF the woman's head could not have
been self-inficted.
The investigation shifted TO New
York. where Mrs King had lived
for several years and where Means
had handled her business affairs.
She had inherited approximately
1000. 600 from her second husband,
James c. King Of Chicago, and dur
ing the trial New York and Chicago
witnesses said nearly all OF this sum
had vanished" during the time
Means was connected with the wom-
ans affairs. II also was asserted
Means was preparing 10 offer for
probate an alleged second will of
James G. King. which would give
an additional 100000 TO Mrs.
King.
North Carolina officials reopened
the investigation and at hearing
here last September Means was
bound over TO the grand jury and
later indicted
At his trial the state contended
that Means had looted the wom-
ANS fortune and killed her to es-
cape an accounting. Means offered
evidence 10 show that Mrs. King ap-
proved his speculatiOns with her
money
The defense contended the wom-
ans death was accidental; that she
stumbled fractured her ankle, fell
aud fired the pistol
Mrs Kings mother. Mrs. Anna l.
Robinson of Asheville and her sis
Ter. Mrs. Mary g. Melvin, took OPP
posite sides in the case, the mother
appearing as a witness for the pros
,cution and the daughter siding
with Means.
The case went TO the jury last
night at o'clock and the presid
ing Judge having ruled that YER
diet might be rendered on Sunday,
the jurors sent word shortly after
% O'Clock this morning that they
were ready.
After the foreman of the jury had
formally pronounced the verdict OF
mot guilty" counsel for Means ask
I'd the court If it had any other
charges against their client Judge
cline replied there was none and
Means was given his freedom for
the first time since last September
when he was arrested on a warrant
.narging him with having shot the
woman. who was killed by a pisto
shot near here i'm August. Mean:
always asserted she shot herself ac-
uidentally.
Small Crowd Present.
small crowd which had beer
attracted by reports that the jury
bad called for Judge Cline was il
rourt when the Judge reached there
Means was surrounded bN IeldllN -
and friends. including his wife. his
father and mother and members o
counsel. Judge cline had an
uounced that whatever verdict wa
rendered that there must he no
demonstration
There was none when the verde
was announced. hut after court ha'
adjourned Means was given an i'm
promptu reception, relatives. friend
and members of his counsel sur
rounding him 10 shake his hand an'
offer congratulations
After 1eaviuE the COURTEOUS
Means and his wife went 10 tn
home of Means father \ litu
later Means appeared on the street
II the town. where friends stoppe,