The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-09-26

Bullock Means was committed to Jail
to-day on the charge Of Staying Mrs.
Maude A. King. the wealthy widow
whose vanishing fortune he managed.
He 10 held to await the action Of the
Grand Jury, which convenes here on
October 80. As bail cannot be given
for the offence charged, Means will re-
main In q cell in the little concrete Jail
building which abuts the old court
house here.
The commitment Of Means came a. .
climax to day Of intense excitement
IN which gun play twice was narrowly
averted. A bitter encounter took place
between counsel of the opposing forces
and a determined effort was made on
the part Of lawyers for Means and Mrs.
Mary Z. Melvin, sister OF Mrs. King, to
obtain possession Of all the papers the
New York authorities seized In the Park
avenue apartment Of Means.
Those papers, which are important to
tho prosecutions case are just as essen
tial to the defence. They contain data
and memoranda that may bring about
the liberty or confinement Of others
associated with Means through social or
business connections. The commitment
OF Means was accomplished through the
strategy of the New York officials,
though the request for his commitment
was made by one of his counsel. E. T.
Cansler. and not by the prosecution. as
was expected.
Oratory Not Finished.
The summing up for the State was
done by Solicitor Hayden Clement.
whose argument was impressive The
defence through ex-Judge Frank I. Os-
they could out of their case. Six others
Of Means's counsel were to speak and
Attorney General Manning was to close
for the State.
Then came the recess, and happenings
from then on kept everybody on the
tiptoe of excitement. When the smoke
Of battle cleared away all the New York
officials were on their way to Salisbury
and Means was in his cell
After Magistrate Pitts announced Q
recess at noon Sheriff Caldwell. closely
followed by his prisoner. made his way
to the group of New York officials As
he approached Assistant District Attor-
ney John b. Dooling the Sheriff drawled:
''Gentlemen, ] got some papers here
got to serve on you all and would like
to git you all together"
That's right, Sheriff; make a clean
sweep Of IT, said CASTOR Means as he
puffed away on the big black cigar he
had been dry smoking" during the
morning session OF court Thereupon
papers, In reality writs Of replevin. were
served on Mr. Dooiing. DR.. Otto H.
Schultze. Capt. William Jones. revolver
expert Of the New York Police Depart
ment: District Attorneys Detective John
Cunniffe. Detective Sergeant William c.
Jones and c. Bambouse Of the Depart
ment Of Justice. Each was cited to sur
render at once any and all papers be-
longing to CASTOR b. Means which were
seized at his New York home. Tho
plaintiffs In the action were CASTOR b.
Means and Mrs. Mary c. Melvin. sister
Of Mrs. King.
Mrs. Melvin's Interest.
Mrs. Melvin's interest in the papers
consisted OF a clause In the writ which
cited that tho New York authorities
were unlawfully Withholding what Mrs.
Melvin purports to be the last legal will
and testament OF the late James c. King,
In which he left valuable property to
his widow. As Mrs Melvin Is executrix
Of her sisters will and the sole residuary
legatee under that instrument she de-
manded the will. which has been pro-
be forgery. This writ was marked re-
turnable before the clerk Of the Superior
Court Of Cabarrus county At Concord on
October 30 next
Meanwhile the defendants in this ac-
tion were ordered to deliver up the pa
pers forthwith. and when the writ came
up for argument the Superior Court
would rule whether or not they were to
remain in the possession Of the Means
York authorities.
CASTOR Means moved close to Mr.
Dooling In the courtroom and upon at
tempting to engage him in conversation
Mr.. Dooling turned to the Sheriff and in
a sharp tone said: "Take that man
away from here. I will not talk to
him."
As soon as service was accepted the
New York oficials hurried to the ST.,
Cloud Hotel There they were Joined
by Attorney General Manning and So
licitor Hayden Clement. Mr.. Manning
said:
I'VE will fight this to an issue right
here All papers brought here by the
New York officials are In my possession
and arc part of the evidence against
castor Means in this and other actions.
We will keep them. writ or no writ"
Alton Means's Energy.
Alton Means, brother OF the prisoner,
was 90 sure that the service Of the writ
was tantamount to immediate possession
of the much coveted papers that he
rushed on ahead and beat the New York
ofYiciais to the hotel by two Jumps
Rushing up to the hotel desk. behind
which stood Mrs. Horne, wife OF tho
hotel manager. he said In a peremptory
tone: "Gimme the keys to the rooms Of
those New York fellows"
Mrs. Horne naturally refused, and
Alton began TO biuster. He pointed to
the Deputy Sheriff who accompanied
him and said: ITS the strong arm Of
the law that's talking now. want those
keys"
This falling. he ran upstairs to the
door Of the chamber occupied by one Of
tho New York group. Mr.. Dooling and
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