The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
MEAN GIVES VERSION OF HOW MRS. KING
 MET HER DEATH.
Carolina Man Accused of Murder on Stand Details Tragedy at Road
 side Spring

Concord, N. C., December 7.-Gaston B. Means today told the jury in Cabarrus county court, trying him for murder that he was getting a drink of water at Blackwelder spring when Mrs. Maude A. King was shot with a 25-caliber auto matte pistol, which he had placed in the fork of a sycamore tree nearby before going down to the spring. He had warned her not to fool with the gun, he said, after she had taken it out of the tree. and she had replaced at his direc- ton.
 When he saw Mrs. King put the pistol back in the tree, he went on to the spring. Means declared. He got the dip per- filled it, struck match to see that there were no bugs in the water, and was in the act of raising the dipper to his lips when he heard the shot. 'I looked and saw her falling" said the witness. She was about two and re-half feet from the tree. I rushed right up to her. When I first saw hei she was getting nearer the ground ir a webbing motion-just crumpling up got to her quickly and took hold of her feeling to ascertain where she was wounded"
 1 Means then told of calling to Capt | W. S Bingham and his brother, Aftor Means, who were nearby, and of taking the body in an automobile to hospital when he reached Mrs. King. The state 1 expected to develop this and other point: I it regards material on the cross -exami nation of the witness, which began lat l today by Assistant District Attorney Dooling of New York but which wa. interrupted by adjournment of court.
 When he picked Mrs. King up and pu 1 her in the automobile in which the part. had come to the spring rabbit hunting 1 after supper. he did not know she wa dead, Means told the jury. That was no testablished until the body had been ex amined by physicians at the hospital He arranged for the burial, first send l ing the body to Asheville, where Mrs Kings mother, Mrs. Anna L. Robinson was, and then taking it to Chicago a | Mrs Robinson's request.
 Means testimony today carried hin through the two years that he ha' known Mrs. King, and had acted as he 1 business agent, tO tne lliHe Ol tHe ouil of her body in Chicago. He testifie that about a week before the shooting 1 he had bought new automobile a Charlotte and one of the first rides hi | guests included Judge Cline, Who is pre- siding at the trial.
 TRACED MOVEMENTS
 Earlier in the day the defendan had traced his movements from tn I4., L yi,,c | Mrs Robinson and Mrs. Mary c. Mel win, w. R. Patterson and others Q their party left Chicago last July fc Asheville down to the week of tn 1 shooting, when Mrs. King had come | Concord on a visit to the home of hi father, Col w. G. Means, upon invi tation of his sisters.
 Mrs. King had come with him fror Ashevilie on August 19, the witnes said On the trip they missed trai connections and were forced to spen the night at hotel During the fol flowing 10 days automobile drives wer ! frequent, the defendants brother, Al ton Means, usually being member C the party.
 Mrs. King, the witness said. had be come enthusiastic about target shoot ing and had asked him to purchase
 pistol for her He had sought to bu | a .32-calibre automatic, but could ne secure one and bought the .25-calibl weapon instead. It was Mrs. King, | said, who had suggested that the pi' tol be taken along on the automobi trip the night of August 29.
 Captain Bingham and Alton MeaI also were in the party, the witne! continued. When they neared ts spring they decided to walk. The aut
 mobile was sent up the road, Capta
 Bingham and Alton went down Il
 road with rifle and gun and Meal
 and Mrs King started for the sprin CAUSTIC EXAMINATION
 When Assistant District Attorn,
 Dooling took up the cross-examinati' he and counsel for the defense h. several sharp tilts because the latt
 claimed MT. Dooling was not treatii
 the witness fairly. Once Means star
 ed to suggest to the cross -examin
 that he put his questions in a mo
 gentlemanly manner, but Judge Cli
 interrupted before the sentence w
 completed and admonished both |
 witness and Mir. Dooling that tn
 must observe the rules of the cou
 When court adjourned Hr. Dooli
 had taken the witness over the
 years of his service with the Cam
 Manufacturing company in New Yo
 and to the point where he first beS
 to transact business for Mrs. King.