New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-24
Prosecutor to Present Ar.
ray of Experts at Arraign-
ment in Concord
Will Explode Accident
Theory, Says State
Doctors Declare Mrs. King
Couldn't Have Broken An
kle After Being Shot
Ista- Courspon6cuOcl

Concord. y. c.. Sept 23.-That Mrs.
Maude A King, the wealthy New York
widow, was not killed by the acct
dental discharge of a pistol exploded
by fall from a forked tree at Black
welder's Spring. near here. on August
20. but was deliberately murdered and
broke her ankle in attempting TO de-
fend herself. will be the declaration
of Prosecutor Hayden Clement to-mor-
row when CASTOR b. Means is ar
raigned here on the charge Of murder.
The prosecutor tonight announced
that he would produce experts to show
that it would have been physically i'm
possible for Mrs Kings ankle 10 have
been broken by fall after the bullet
entered her brain &ld ended her HE.
Means. in his reenactment of the trag-
edy at the spring yesterday and IN ms
previous testimony. maintained that
Mrs. King was standing erect until the
moment she was shot. Then, he de-
clared. she crumpled up and sank TO
the ground. breaking her ankle.
A bullet entering the brain IL the
manner in which the death dealing
shot entered the brain of Mrs. Ming
would be similar in its effect TO iata!
apoplectic stroke, the prosecutor as
serts. He will produce experts, he says,
who will prove his statement. The eX-
perts the prosecutor will produce VIII
assert that, like an apoplectlc stroke, a
bullet entering the brain in TINS man
ner would have simultaneously par
alvzed every muscle in Mrs. King
body. rendering the muscular system
completely inert and unreslstlng. In
such a condition. the doctors will point
out, no human ankle ever mas been
fractured or ever could be.
States Case Strong
With this as the basis. the prosecu-
ton will build up its theory, which Is
that the revolver never was placed in
the fork of the tree. but that 1t was
retained throughout by tie murderer
and levellcd al its victim as she stood
resting against the tree in the moon
light Mrs. Kings ankle was broken,
the prosecutor Will euGeavOr to show,
before death came to her. and while
she was struggling TO defend herself
A. b. Wellington, the undertaken
who embalmed the body, will TESTIFY
concerning the presence OF blacF
smoky streak across the back of Mrs
Kings left hand. This, the prosecutor
is convinced, was made by the re-
volver as its charge passed her upliftei
hand. raised 20 protect herself
Detectives from New York and Chi
cago believe that their strongest wit
ness in the murder case against Gas
ton B. Means will be Mrs. May Melvin,
the sister OF his alleged victim. She
has been Of little aid 80 far, but her
reticence is believed TO be due TO the
influence which Means seems TO pos
sess over her. With Means in prison
il is believed that Mrs. Melvin will be-
come more communicative. The prose-
cution intends to bring her Invalid
mother. Mrs. Anna l.. Robinson, here
to coax the complete story from Mrs.
Melvin.
The first witness TO be examined
when the hearing begins tomorrow ~
the old Concord courthouse Will be Dr
PR. NcFadget. who examined the BODY
when Means took it to the city HOS
initial on the night of the tragedy. lie
will describe his findings. and be TO-
lowed on the stand by DR.. W. II. Bur
meister. chief Coroncr's physician o.
Chicago. and professor Of pathology at
the University of Illinois. Dr. Bur
could not have been Self-inhicted. HE
testimony is expected TO be sensational
DR.. Otto II. SchultZe, attached to tho
New York District Attorneys Office,
will be another witness for the prose
h cution. Alton Means. Gaston's brother
N and secretary. will be reeNamined a.
. length. and Ernest Fury, the negro
y chauffeur who drove the murder car
on the night Of the shooting will be
subjected 10 grillirg crOss-cXamina-
ton.
Means Called Last
CASTOR Means will be the last to 20
on the stand. lie Will be put through a
similarly severe Crilling. lie spent to-
day in the county Jail comforting with
his lawyers. pacifyiug his wife and re-
ceiving his friends, who called on him
in droves. Everything possible is being
done by the local authorities to make
Lis enforced confinement as pleasant as
possible. The choicest food proCurablc
is supplied him and his friends take
turns in entertaining him. An almost
constant automobile service from his
home 90 the Jail was maintained, until
Fury. the negro chauffeur, ran Means's
rewly purchased seven passenger car
into an embankmcnt this afternoon and
wrecked II.
Means slept until $3.50 this morning
and appeared at breakfast with the re
mark, 81 never felt better in my life"
His father and his brother. Alton. were
his first visitors and discussed his case
m detail. His wife and baby came
later with turkey dinner. which they
had obtained permission TO bring. De
spite the hopes Of the prosecution. Mrs.
Melvin called on the prisoner this even
ing. II was her first visit to him in his
cell. She was in mourning and was ac-
companied by Alton Means.
Professor Clement called on Means
this evening at the latter's request. but
said that they had had no talk. because
none Of NcanE's counsel was present.
j. s. Manning, Attorney General Of
North Carolina, arrived here tonight
TO be present at the hearing The
countryside for miles around Is plan
ming an early start for town to-mor-
row, and the whole county is agog with
excitement over the biggest crime SEN
sa;ion which has grippcd this section
i'm q generation.
Canadian Club Dinner