The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-13
CLOSING ARGUMENTS N
PROGRESS At CONCORD
Solicitor Clements Declares Means
Slew Client Because He Knew
Accounting Time Had
Come.
MANY ARE STILL TO SPEAK
six Attorneys for Defense and Four
for state Will Garry on Verbal
Warfare -- Judge Osbornc's Flo
quent Plea.

/ Courthouse. Concord, n. C.. Dec.
t12.-Argument in the trial OF Gas
ton r. Means. charged with the muir
der of Mrs Maude A. King. is not
( half finished tonight despite the fact
that the entire day has been devoted
to it.
The opening argument for the state
was made this morning by Solicitor
| ayden Clements. In one hour and
FIVE minutes the solicitor laid before
the jury the contentious Of the state
that the defendant, Means. dissipated
the fortune of Mrs. King and then
murdered her when 1t seemed that an
accounting must come. His argu-
ment was short and concise as he
laid before the jury the contentious
of the state in forceful language but
with no Celebrations. He summed
jup his contentious OF tte motive for
the crime in the expression. "As Mrs.
Kings bank balance diminished the
bank account of Mrs. Means Increas-
ed" In closing the solicitor asked
for a verdist of murder in the first
degree.
Judge Frank /. Osborne chief coun
sci for the defense. consumed three
hours and five minutes in opening the
argument for tho defense, His plea
was an eloquent one. couched in the
tones of a Southern gentleman of the
old school. and indeed it was drama
tic A venerable gentleman whose
voice and strength are failing. Judge
Osborne taxed his strength to the ut
most in his effort 10 upset all the
contentious of the state. Judge ss,
borne did not deal at length upon
the financial transs ctions OF the de-
+ PENDANT hut IN "A rFtfi~
! cism of the expert witnesses of the
. state. H\ bitterly attacked the tes-
tir1ony as offered by DIR. William G.
Burrneister of Chicago, and declared
that il bore no more weight than the
testimony of the six Vocal physicians
who testified for the defense. Switch
irs from the Chicago physician To the
New York expert, DIR. Otto Schuit2e,
:, Judge Osborne criticised severely the
demeanor OF the New York expert
on the witness stand and declared he
had been smart and witty" Then
he directed his attack against Cap
tain William \. Jones, pistol expert,
and declared that Captain Jones
{ knew so much that he did not know
. anything In closing Judge Osborne
delivered a dramatic appeal 20 the
= jury to apply the golden rule and to
/ dea! with his client as they would
: have him deal with them. He trembl-
ed and faltered as he pleaded thai
they should consider the evidence and
= find that there Is reasonable doubt and
acquit the defendant.
Judge Osborne's appeal was fin
ished with the defendant listening at
: tentiveiy with tear-fllied eyes anc
? Mrs CASTOR r. Means by his side
: weeping noticeably.
Judge Cline found it necessary Il
caution Judge Osborne about repeat
/ ing his personal opinions and th'
, Judge replied that II was done only
because of his great emotions.
Transactions Regular"
II. s. Williams was the next at
the defense. He applied his ener
gies to arguing the financial tram.
actions of the defendant were regu
j, lar and that there was no shame ol
: esaEaa t1egrsectsd with them. Willlag1i
continually appealed to the Jury ana
they had no opportunity to cease lis
. ter ing to him because when timed i
was found that he used the expression
gentlemen OF jury once every TWEEN
- ty-three seconds He implied tina
, there was sinister move behind tbs
: prosecution and named the Northern
q Trust Company of Chicago as III
: prosecutor of Means. He was warn
! ell by Judge Cline.
4 Argument will he continued tonlor
] row The defense viii present argu
a rnents by six more attorneys and tn
!. states courseliors, four more, are we
-, ha hnarA f~pnS