Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-06
MEANS Barred PLOTS.
TO U. s, HE AvOWS.
Revealed Huerta's Connection
With Germany, Witness De-
cIares, in Taking Stand.
SAYS He SAW Mr.. DANIELS

ton Bullock Means took the stand in
his own defense today and to tell his
story of the death of Mrs. Maude A.
King.
He described in some detail his work
for the Burns detective agency.
| After severing his connection with
the Burns agency, the witness saids~he
discovered plot on the part OF Ger
man sympathizers and interests In the
United States and reported IT TO Burns
having previously agreed that What-
ever evidence he discovered which
would be of value to the American gov
eminent he would turn it over to the
government at Washington. Wheh me
discovered the plot he made 1ull report
and filed with w. j. Burns. to be de-
livered to President Wilson's represent
alive.
Huerta Plotted With Germans.
This report was read by the witness.
1t told of a conference at Barcelona
between former President Huerta and
German interests.
Huerta agreed to follow the are C.
ton of the German interests. 1t was
agreed that q peace movement should
be started in Mexico and peace con-
ference should be held in southern
city. An expedition was to be sent INTO
the United States. headed by Huerta.
the Mexicans would say the United
States had made war upon Mexico. The
purpose of the whole movement was
to bring about war between the United
number Of prominent Mexican leaders
who were involved in the alleged plot
Report Made in 1915.
Burns had told him. he said. that he
wanted his written report for submits
sion to the President, and later told
him that it had been turned over to
Secretary Tumulty. This report was
dated March s, 1915.
Answering a question, he said he was
acquainted with Capt. Boy-Ed and had
done some work in which the latter
was interested. Soon after the plot
report was submitted to Tumulty he
saw Boy-Ed and the latter told him
that a detailed report of the Huerta
plot had been made to the American
government and only five living men
could have reported it.
Boyd then said the witness must
have made the report.
81 told him did, that I had agreed to
furnish to the United States govern
ment any information detrimental to 1t
which I discovered. He told me to go
down and see my German clients and
did and was discharged"
He had said that he had been en-
ployed by some German commercial in
early in 1915.
Would Offer Services.
A letter from the witness to Alton
Means, dated February II, 1917, was
identified. and one paragraph read. which
stated that the writer understood the
Pinkerton Detective Agency was looking
United States and Germany became so
great; that he was not worried. if the
break came he would offer his services to
the American government.
He told Of going to Washington and
laying before Secretary Daniels the de-
tails of plots to cause explosions in mu-
nitions manufacturing plants and the
Huerta plot. and disclosed the methods to
be employed.
The witness pointed out that the
Huerta plot was partly carried out,
that Gen. Huerta left New York, went
to Mexico. organized the expedition and
it was about to cross the border when
he was arrested.
Told Mr.. Daniels of Plot.
Means said he told Secretary Daniels
that the munitions plant destruction
plot involved men who were willing, be-
cause of their loyalty to Germany, to
walk into and blow up plants. giving
their lives in the act, and numbers of
explosions had thus occurred. The
witness said he told Secretary Daniels
of the plot to burn the capital at OF
tawa, four weeks before it occurred
and told him just how 1t was to be
done. 1t was done as he had forecast,
the witness declared.
Means said he severed his relation
with the German commercial interests
In October, 1916, because he knew the
relations between Germany and Amer
lea were becoming more strained every
day and the break was inevitable. Since
he had had no connection with any
ton with them. He denied that he had
told John r. TODD of Chicago, states
witness. that he was a German secret
agent or anything about Capt. Boy-Ed.