Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-08
KILLING OF MRS. KING
DEPICTED BY MEANS
Man Accused OF Murder Gives His
Version OF How Chicago Wo.
man Met Death.
WARNED HER AGAINST PISTOL
Hc Placed Weapon In Fork OF Tree
and STOPPED to Get Water-Shot
Fired While He Drunk-Acci-
dental, He Says.
IRy Associated Press. |

tBy Associated PrcBa.I
CONCORD, y. c., December with
elaboration and calmncss. CASTOR Bull
lock Means related in descriptive detail
to tho jury in Cabarrus County Su-
how Mrs. Maude y. King met her
death at Blackwelder Spring. near Con-
cord, on the evening OF August % last.
lilo was testifying in his own defense
during the closing hours Of the eleventh
day of his trial on the charge of tho
murder of Mrs. King. 1t was past 4
o'clock. and he had been under direct
examination nearly five hours to-day,
following about six hours yesterday.
His direct examination closed. and
cross-cxamination began within n few
minutes after he had pictured the
tragedy to the jury.
The target shooting party had ar
rived at Blackweldcr Spring. Ali had
al!ghtcd from the automobiles: the
Chauffeur had taken IL up the road
out of tho way, Captain ". S. BinE-
ham. with shotgun in hand, and Alton
Means. brother OF the defendant. with
rife in hand had gone some distance
IN the calm dusk down the old road
looking for rabbits Only Castor Means
and Mrs. King were left on the hill
Eide that slopes down TO the spring
located In I; horseshoe shaped opening
projecting into the dense forest growth.
according to the evidence. He had her
."o-calibcr automatic Colt pistol in his
hand. She had handed it 10 him but
IL few moments before. and he had
loaded II for her. They walked toward
tho spring. Something was said about
getting a drink Of water. She declined
10 drink because she was afraid there
were bugs in the spring.
LAID PISTOL IN FORK
or 4 SlCANONE TREE
II laid the pistol in the fork Of tho
sycamore tree as | walked down TO tho
spring to get a drink" said the de-
PENDANT. II looked bacl; and saw h--
with the pistol in her hand. said.
'aiaudc, that pistol is loaded Put it
up l wouldn't fool with it, She pu,
it up. I dipped up :. cup OF water. and
struck a match 10 sec that there were
no bugs in 1t. ana was lifting II TO my
mouth when | heard a shot. ] looked
and saw her falling She was about
rushed Right w to her when first
saw her. She was getting nearer the
ground IN a wobbly motion: Just
crumpl!nG up. got to her quickly
and took hold OF her. feeling 10 asccr-
tain where she was wounded
lie called Captain Bingham. and be-
gan bathing her face in water from
The spring.
t,,
told him Mrs. King had shot herself
with her little pistol the witness de-
clared.
Did you know she was dead" asked
L. r Canister. the defendants counsel.
II did not" nc said. positively.
MOTHER DIRECTED HoDY
ne SENT TO CHICAGO
Then he told OF the hurried trip 10
the hospital. where the physician pro-
nounced her dead; Of going with the
body TO Ashev!llc, where he conferred
with her mother, Mrs. Anna L. Robin
son. who decided without suggestion
from the witness that the body should
be taken 10 Chicago. He accompanied
the remains TO Chicago and followed
the mothers instructions tn the letter.
Here the narrative ended, and the wit
ness was turned over 10 the State To-,
cross examination. which had pro-
ceeded little beyond the preliminary
stage when court adjourned for the
day. the questioning being done by
John Il. Dooling. assistant district AT.
torncy OF New York
Earlier in the afternoon the defend
ant had traced his movements from III.
time he and Mrs. Means. Mrs. King.
N
sister OF the deceased W. r. Pattcr-
son and others of their party left Chi-
cago last July for Asheville. y. C..
down to the week of the tragedy.
when Mrs. King had come to Concord
ON visit to the home of his father,
Colonel ". G. Means. upon invitation
of his sisters. Misses Belle and Kat.
Means.
Mrs. King had come here with hin,
from Asheville on August IL During
the following ten days AUTOMOBILE,
drives were frequent. the defendants
brother. Alton Means. usually being n
member Of 'he party. as he was on the
evening Of the tragedy. Usually Mrs.
King was along, and she took great
delight in target shooting. For this
purpose and upon her request he had
purchased an automatic pistol for her.
and she had shown keen interest in
practicinE with it. She il was who
suggested that it was to be taken
along on the automobile drive to the
spring on tho fatal night.
JUDGE CLINE MEMBER
Or ONE AUTO PARTY
Driving out from Charlotte one day
about week before the tragedy, after
he had bought Il new automobile, the
witness said that Judge Cline presid-
ing at the trial, and Judge T. ]. Os-
borne. OF counsel for the defense. were
members of the party. along with Mrs.
King and himself and others.
During the morning the defendant
finished up the story of his transact
tons as Mrs. Kings business agent, and
explained Il number OF letters written
by him and presented in evidence by
the state for the purpose of showing
duplicity tho part of Means tou-ard