New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-29
Witness Says Accused an,
Mrs. Melvin Hurried Avn,
Before Autopsy
Both Anxious
To Get. Train
Hotel Manager Te,tis.,
Mrs. King Told Him 81.
Was a Prisoner
lStaF Correspondence

II
Smith, an Asheville taxicab S,i,..
electrified to-day the drowsy cOurtr,,.
in which Castor B. Means ;s h.
tried for the murder Of Mrs. Maud. \
King. He testified tina. early in 6.
TENDER, following the tragedy at Bls,
welder Spring on August 80. he d,.
Means and Mrs. Mary c. Melyi, u
dead woman's sister, tfty.ave NIL
across the rocky trails OF IN. ~.
Ridge Mountains from Ashey;ll. i
Morgantown. The trip began a, al
night and ended at dawn after NV,
of speeding during which Mean, !,
peatedly changed the route in an ss,-
to "strike the main line to ChicasO.
Throughout the journey Smith 81
Means continually impressed the "a,
for haste. lie talked excitedly NJ
Mrs. Melvin in so low a tone m,
Smith could hear only a little n,
chauffeur swore that after III. ur,
had reached the mountains he dids.,l
Mrs. Melvin cXclaim: I'VE got Outj,g
in time
Overcome with fatigue, Smith ..s,v.,
at Morgantown and refused to proc,,i
although his passengers urged hin o,
Means learned that a train eonnee.i,,
with Western express soon vos
be due. He thereupon paid Smith /, |
the rate of So an hour and dischsrru
him.
This evidence is regarded a, y
most damaging yet addueed again
Means. The prosecution will cont:
that Means fed from Asheyille, wAe
he had returned after accompanied
Mrs. Kings body to Chicago, to ave-
arrest, which he believed would n
low an autopsy on the body
Mrs. King a Prisoner
another star role in the days p.p |
ceedings was taken by Willard d
Rockefeller, managing director Il ID,
Chicago Beach Hotel, who declaredNz
King had been kept virtually imFs
oned' there by Means for ssTn
months. Means's counsel objected 81
the introduction Of conversations vhlt
Rockefeller affirmed he had with Nn
King, whom he had known since 1900,
on the ground that no conversation
other than q dying declaration woaa
be competent. The tilt between ecun
sci grew so acrimonious that tne lu'
was ordered to retire.
Judge Cline decided that Mr. kocls
Teller might describe the actions
Mrs. King and Means and recount COZ
versations at which the accused w,
present. The jury returned to tne y
and the witness resumed MS tesunV.
describing the Means party in tne 10y
as including, besides CASTOR, his w.
child and nurse, Mrs. King, hs'l
Dietsch. whom he described as ae,,s
"watchman for Mrs. King; John ~
terson, his father-in- aw; Mrs. hss
and Mrs. Robinson. the mother /"
dead woman. The monthly DIS .,; y
except Mrs. Melvin and Mrs. he, ~,
he said, were paid regularly oy ~ =
who rendered each month q ehsSs
81 600 drawn on the Northern y"
Company and payable to Mrs hlnF
Mrs. King Feared Means
The party was installed in he y.
when the witness assumed n 10
ment of it in April, and renisl31sso nee =,
until the latter part Of July. I've
ont. he asserted, Mrs. King va
stantly under guard by kas
Dietsch. Her every action ns. .,i
timidity and fear. She was F-L,s
TO SPEAK to no one except tne MOI
Of the party. Old
Despite this surveillance M ~ n,
had succeeded in complying we h
Kings request that he yislt n'i L,,rs
sitting room There he nM 80
from her of her fear Of ana 10y hi,
Inv Means. This conyersau'n
ruled out. the witness eontinas-
"As 7 left Mrs. Kings spsi.ss
was seen coming out by Dle's'v g..
Immediately thereafter Castor :"
came TO my office. 49,, 9TH n
"You've been talking. WIZ ir
King in her room, he SAID AA'
piled that had. .pht
"'How long were you there ~
manded. and | said had seen ~. a.
with her for about forty-tye. r"s -,
"Wbo else was there
Means. | said Mrs. Robinson nj II
present, and then Means sa.o as, 4
to tell you right now ] never "a 40
to 90 10 Mrs. Kings spar'ms", "A
means then went on 70 ss in,n,sf
tinued the witness, that ne un :. -
I knew Mrs. King in California
wears ago. He told me nov " syts5
her now. and then he ssld VI
about surprising the ~ rSs "
government as soon as '"' Il
was arranged 81 ..ka
"Who is Old Seventy-slA'
prosecutor. v;ro. rss
that" said Rockefeller, 70 Wv i
amusement of the defendant .,,s
well. Mrs. King escaped s
didn't she?" exclaimed
risiyely. a.. xlref
"Shc did ao,," replied the
81 can explain that because 'ellossi b
the explanation WAS not ~ E
being held that the witness a;s.>
direct knowledge. Court
with Rockefeller on the s.a" ar, 81
seven witnesses in all w see.,ssss
med to-day. Capt. W. ,. ping PM y
member Of the tsreet-sno.,.aIJs n
which ended in the tragedy, 'oa,s.ts
similar 20 that which he reI vs -
the preliminary hearing n ,s, -
duced one new statement; 70 sits -
that Means had declared, W. ,s,ss
chasing the IS Colt automsu.
which killed Mrs. King, tina. .,ssx
ferred larger weapon hssih
would be less dangerous 70 ~
N. F. Ritchie. the haraN% a. NJ,
who sold the gun. said Mea.sp,e4
n Y2-calibre weapon and se ,.rrs,r 4
% only when told that the an, "
toll could not be obtained : Meant