Evening star., 1917-09-23
Testimony Before Coroner.

Testimony at the coroner's inquest
was that Means was with Mrs. King
near Blackwelder spring and that the
other members of the party were un-
able to see them because of the uneven
terrain.
NJ. F. Ritchie, hardware dealer. from
whom the two pistols and a repeating
rife carried by the Means party were
conference between the prosecuting at
torneyS. Present also were DIR. Otto
Schultz. pathologist attached to the New
York district attorneys office; Capt. Will
liam T. Jones. pistol expert of the New
York police department.: John Cunliff.
New York detective: c. r. Ambrose, an
agent of the Department of Justice, who
is on leave of absence and will assist
in the prosecution. and Attorney Phillip
c. McDuffie of Atlanta. Ga, counsel for
Mrs Anna L. Robinson, Mrs. Kings
mother
Persistent rumors that a second auto
which the Means party went to Black
welder Spring, were given official atten-
ton today and the authorities are work.
ing to clear them up. Capt. Bingham said
tonight he was certain there was a car
following the one in which they were
riding, and intimated that the names of
the occupants of this car would be named
at the trial
Statement by Solicitor.
Solicitor Clements issued this state
ment:
After an investigation of the law !
find some of the courts hold that sec
ond inquest on the same body may not
be held by the coroner without the YER
dict rendered upon the first inquest hay
Ing been set aside quaShed.
IF the coroner and his jury were to
hold the defendant at the second in
quest. the defendant would Immediately
take out habeaS corpus proceedings be-
fore judge. and allege that the second
inquest was invalid on the ground that
the coroner and his jury had already held |
an inquest which had been returned to
the clerk of the court, and which was
standing as the coroners verdict it not
having been quashed or set aside.
"It is at least a debatable question as
to whether or not the coroner has right |
to reopen the matter Therefore in or |
der to avoid all technicalitjes and COM
plications. l have called off the second |
inquest of the coroner. and have notified |
him that it would not be necessary for
him and his jury to attend. but, as |
have sufficient evidence to hold CASTOR |
8. Means for the murder of Mrs. King |
[ have had a warrant issued for Mr. |
Means. returnable before A B. Palmer. |!
police Justice of the city of Concord. on |
Monday morning, September "a. 1917, at |
10 o'clock, at the courthouse, this being
the same time and place the coroner's in /
quest would have been held. The wit
nesses that were subpoenaed to go before
the coroners inquest are not released. but |
required to attend and appear at the pre-
liminary hearing before the said magis-
trate on Monday morning at 10 o'clock
Wanted to Examine Means.
II would have much preferred holding
the second inquest, as it would have given
ne opportunity to examine Mr.. CASTOR
3. Means about certain matters that were 1
both pertinent and relative to the death
IF Mrs. King l also desired to give the
coroner's jury an opportunity to correct
it's former verdict
After the conference the officials made
4 trip to Blackwelder Spring. the secluded
spot about three miles from this city
where the tragedy occurred, and there
vent over the events Of the fatal night
They were accompanied by Capt Bing-
ham, who rehearsed the evidence he had
given at the coroners inquest and pointed
out the positions of the various members
If the automobile party when the shot
was fired that killed Mrs. King
Immediately after the warrant was
served 1t was handed to Sheriff Howard
". Caldwell, who served 1t on Castor
Means The latter Is now in the custody
# the sheriff until the preliminary hear
ng before Police Justice A. B. Palmer ,
morning. The defendant has re- !
aimed some Of the most able counsel In 6
his state, Judge Frank i. Osborne of !
Charlotte, E. T. Cansler of Charlotte and ,
[. T. Hartsell and T. D. Maness of Con-
,ord being among them. Solicitor Hayden !,
Clement Of Salisbury will be the chief !
i