New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-07
Mrs. Kings Relatives
Sure Rich Widow Did
Not Shoot Herself

Not Shoot Herself
While relatives Of Mrs. Maude A..
King in Chicago were preparing to re
open the Investigation into her mys-
FERROUS death, additional facts sur
rounding the shooting Of the wealthy
New York divorcee at Concord, \. c.,
we're brought to light here yesterday.
Mrs. King met her death just outside
Concord late Wednesday week ago
through the discharge OF an automatic
pistol. Within few feet OF her at the
time was CASTOR Bullock Means, her
secretary and confidential agent. A
Coroner's inquest resulted in verdict
of death by accidental discharge OF a
pistol held by Mrs. King.
Letters received yesterday by Con-
cord people employed here disclose the
fact that Alton Means, brother Of
Castor, and W. 6. Bingham, of Con
cord, who completed the party which
started out in an automobile for tar
get practice, were not near CASTOR and
Mrs. King as originally stated, when
the shooting occurred.
Alton Means testified at the inquest,
according TO the letters received here.
that instead of following his brother
and Mrs. King down a woodland path,
leading to a spring, he left the path
and went of in the woods in All oppo-
site direction. Bingham followed him.
it was testified, and the two were a
considerable distance away, their sight
/ obscured by intervening trees, when
the shot was heard.
Inquest May BE ReOpened
Friends of Mrs. King here rejoiccd
Yesterday when they heard that the
inquest would probably be reopcned by
two brothers Of the dead woman. They
were unanimous in their opinion that
the verdict Of accidental shooting had
not considered several strange phases
of the case.
u has never been explained, they
say, how Mrs. King sustained fracture
of an ankle before she was killed, for,
according TO the testimony at the in
vcstigation. one of her ankles was
broken when the body was picked up.
An interesting commentary on the in
fuence of the Means family, two mem
bers of which were included in the
party, is contained in the epistles. Ac-
cUrding TO these letters, the family has
re sided in Concord for scores of years.
and had achieved a position of the
greatest power locally.
Brandon Means a Boss
II was said that the father of the
brothers was judge. But il was a
third brother, Brandon Means, who
was pointed out as the leading figure.
years been the Republican boss Of
IC,L 81 wi oh
cord was the county seat
Mrs. King, whose wealth was con-
seryatively estimated by her friends
at not less than 100000, lived in
expensive apartments at ll55 Park
Avenue. Her sister and Means occu
pied apartments in the same house.
About a year ago, it was learned
yesterday, Alton Means visited his
brother here, and returned home.
Shortly afterwards. it was said. CASTOR
Means invited Mrs. King TO visit his
old home at Concord. The fact that
Mrs. Means, a protegG of Mrs. Kings
sister, was stopping with her child at
a hotel in Asheville. n. c.. gave added
weight to the invitation. and Mrs. King
accepted. The apartments in New York
were merely closed, and have not even
at this time been vacated.
Planned to Wed Again
Another disclosure yesterday was
the announcement, credited to friends
OF Mrs. King, that she was planning to
wed again. The name OF the prospec-
tive bridegroom, said TO be a distant
cousin. was not disclosed. This would
have been her third matrimonial vent
ure.
She first married James A. King,
millionaire lumberman, when she was
twenty-four, he seventy-two. After
his death il was found he had left her
only 100000. she sued, broke the will
and settled for 100000.
From Chicago, where Mrs. King
lived, it was learned yesterday that a
second will, made out by her late hus-
band in her favor, had been discov-
cred. The announcement, credited 20
Jason Newman, an attorney Of that
city. is to the effect that the will was
found by Means among papers in Mrs.
Kings desk, and that il had been pre-
pared by the old millionaire lumber
man shortly before his death.
Means a Beneficiary
The latest will is said to include
Means as a beneficiary, and the docu-
ment was in the latter's hands at the
time Of the shooting. A friend of
Mrs. King in this city, ? physician, as.
serted last night that Means had pre-
dicted the existence Of the will long
before It was found
A year ago, according to the physi-
clan. Means told his employer she
would be d wealthy woman in a short
time. in two weeks, you will have
millions" he rs alleged to have prom
Used. Means is said TO have continued
in that strain until several months ago,
when the unusual document was turned
M by him among Mrs. Kings effects in
the Park Avenue apartment. Accord.
ing 20 the will Mrs. King received the
residue Of the estate, consisting OF
about $500 OOC. 900 held in trust by the
Northern Trust Company