Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-23
GAST0N B. MEANS
HELD FOR MURDER
IN CABARRUS JAIL
Charged With Killing Mrs.
Maude A. King, Near Con-
cord, on August 29.
WARRANT ISSUED AFTER
ALL-DAY CONFERENCE
Representatives of New York
District Attorneys Office AS
sist N. c. Authorities.
BELIEVE MOTIVE is FOUND
Coroner's Inquest, Scheduled to Be
Reopened on Monday, Will
Not Be Held.
WARRANT ISSUED AFTER
ALL-DAY CONFERENCE
BELIEVE MOTIVE is FOUND
Coroner's Inquest, Scheduled to Be
Reopened on Monday, Will
Not Be Held.

CONCORD, NJ c.. September 22.-Gas-
ton 3. Means was arrested at his home
here late to-day on warrant charg-
ing him with the murder OF Mrs. ATaude
A. King. wealthy Chicago widow, who
was myster!ously killed near this place
August 30. His preliminary hearing
before a magistrate was set for n.xt
Monday morning.
The arrest Of airs. Kings so-called
business manager followed a long con-
ference to-day between State Solicitor
Hayden Clcment and representatives
from the Office If District ATTORNEY
Swami. of New York, who brough,
here many documents seized in a raid
upon Means's New York apartment sew
eral days ago. IT was said evidence
was brought out to establish what Of
Hctals believe to lie a motive for tho
killing. Means was held at his home
under guard until he could confer with
his attorneys, who include somc of
the leading members Of the North Car
olina bar. Later no was locked up
in the Cabarrus County Jail.
After swearing out the warrant for
Means. Solicitor Clement announced
that the coroner's inquest would not
he reopcncd Monday, as planned, but
that all witnesses summoned for the
inquest would be required TO appear
to give evidence at the preliminary
hearing.
MEANS REFUSES TO COMPLY
WITH SOLICITORS DEMAND
As preliminary move. before hav-
ing the warrant issued for Aieanss ar
rest. Solicitor Clement made a demand
through Coroner Carl l.. Spears that
Meane deliver to the authorities til.
clothes. fire arms, cartridges and other
effects o: Mrs. King when she was
killed. and are said to he in AIcans.s
possession. The accused man refuse Il
to comply with the demand. and the
solicitor said he would no, say what
steps would be taken TO procure them.
During the conference between So
licitor Clement and Assistant District
Attorney Dooling. OF New York sew
eral persons were called in and qucs-
toned. They included Captain w. s.
Bingham. who was a member of the
party with Mrs. King when she was
shot. Later he accompanied The So
licitor and Mr.. Dooling TO tie scene
OF tho killing, and rehearsed the evi-
dence he had given at the coroner's
inquest He also pointed out the po-
sitions of the several members of tho
party when the shot was fired.
Testimony at the coroners inquest
was that Means was with Mrs. King
near Blackwelder Spring. and that tho
other members of the party were un.
able to see them because of the un-
even ground.
FEDERAL AGENT AMONG
THOSE AT CONFERENCE
NJ r. Ritchi, a hardware dealer.
from whom the two pistols and a re-
peating rifle carried by the Means
party were purchased. also was ex-
amined during the conference between
the prosecuting attorneys. Present also
were DR.. Otto Schultz, pathologist at
tached to the New York district at
torneys office; Captain William r
Jones. pistol expert Of the New York
police department; John Cuniff, a New
York detective; C. 5. Ambrose, an
agent of the Department of Justice,
who is on leave of absence, and will
assist In the prosecution, and Attorney
Philip o. McDuftie. of Atlanta. Ga,
counsel for Mrs. Anna l.. Robinson,
Mrs Kings mother.
Persistent rumors that a second au-
tomobila was following the machine
in which the Means party went to
Blackwelder Spring were given official
attention to-day, and the authorities
are working to clear them up. Cap
tain 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 oc-
cupants of this car would be named at
the trial.
Means was upon the street when ne
learned the warrant was out for his
arrest. He went Immediately to the
Office Of his father, Attorney w. G.
Means. There the warrant was served
by Sheriff Caldwell. Following tho
arrest. Solicitor Clement made the fol-
lowing statement:
after an Investigation of law, ]
find that some Of the courts hold that
a second inquest on the same body
may not be held by coroner except
in the event the verdict rendered upon
the first inquest is set aside or quashed.
IF the eoroner and his party were
to hold the defendant at the second
inquest. the defendant would immedf-
ately begin habeas corpus proceedings
and allege that the second inquest was
invalid on this ground
cit is at least a debatable question
as to whether OF rot the coroner has
a right to reopen the matter.
Therefore. in order to avoid all
technicalities and complications, ! have
called off the second inquest Of the
coroner. and have notified him that 1t
would not be necessary for him and
CONTINUED on Second Hagc0 =
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