Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-11
FATAL BULLET
OF 81 CALDER
CASTOR Means Says 1t Was rs
Automatic That Killed
Mrs. King.
DISCOVERY MADE IN CHICAGO
Two Pistols and Rifle Purchased
by Means Two Days Be-
fore Tragedy.
DISCOVERY MADE IN CHICAGO

CONCORD, y. c.. September 1O.-In-
formation from Chicago that the bull
let found in the head of Mrs. Maude A.
King was probably from n 80 rather
than a .25-caliber gun caused much ex-
citement here tonight.
CASTOR r. Means has declared from
the first that Mrs. King was killed
with stcel-jacketed bullet from a
% caliber automatic pistol. The
.32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver
which was in the party. he declared.
had not been used.
William c.. Means. father of CASTOR.
and the latters counsel. declared en-
phaticaily tonight that the informa-
tion from Chicago was erroneous. He
said
1T was not a .32-caliber bullet. On
that point ] am sure. | have ask cd
my son several times. and he is posi-
tive that Mrs. King was killed by the
little .25-caliber automatic
WIRES CORONER HOFFMAN
FOR WEIGHT OF BULLET
Hayden Clement. solicitor for this
district. said over the telephone from
Salisbury that he had wired Coroner
Peter Hoffman. of Chicago, asking that
the bullet he weighed to determine
definitely the caliber.
G. l.. Spears. coroner. admitted to-
night that he was not sure of the
caliber, as the wound was a Jagged
one. and might have been made by a
bullet of either size. He said that he
regretted that no postmortem had been
performed at his inquest. but there
seemed no reason for il at the time.
and the coroner's jury did not even go
to the scene of the tragedy. as sew
eral members Informed MIR. Spears
they were acquainted with the locality.
Charles S. Dry. star witness. stated
to-day that his son had found a hand
full of .S2-caliber empty shells the day
following the tragedy. He picked
them up near the scene of the shoot
ing. There were no .25-caliber shells
there.
AT local hardware store it was
stated to-day that CASTOR Means had
bought the two pistols and the rifle
two days before Mrs. King was killed.
lie also purchased several boxes of
bullets for each of the three weapons
Those for the .32-caliber gun were
lead-jackcted. and not steel. as were
those bought for the automatic
IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOOT SELF
AND LEAVE NO POWDER MARK
number of persons. owners of
automatic pistols said to-day it would
be impossible for the woman TO have
shot herself with such "A pistol with
out leaving powder marks 1t is said
that at distance less than five feet,
smokeless powder will leave powder
marks. person holding the pistol
and pulling the trigger could not hold
the weapon at more than two feet
distance.
rumor was renewed to-day to the
effect that there is party which has
not figured publicly in the case so far.
y number Of residents of Concord vouch
Tor the fact that three days before
the tragedy four strange men wore
noticed in Concord. 1t is said one of
these men was shadowing the mem
bers of the Means family and that on
one occasion he flashed a badge. In
small town of 10000 persons such
as Concord. these men. obviously
strangers. attracted considerable at
-
riousy as they came.
Information as to the provisions of
4 second will of James King. husband
"f Mrs. Maude y. King, was withheld
to-day at the Means home. CASTOR
Means refused absolutely to commit
himself on the existence or contents
of such document.
Concord heard to-day from numerous
sources that the case was not to be
investigated. owing to political inilu-
ence of certain persons. District So
licitor Clement denied this emphatiraI-
~. He said:
AS soon as we get the evidence that
there is reason for 1t. we will investi-
gate ;he case. There will be nc poli
ties played"
KNOWS INVESTIGATION WILL,
DE THOROUGH AND IMPARTIAL
A telegram to James S. Manning,
state Encouragement. asking II poll
TICS would figure in any possible IN
vestlgation, brought the following re-
ply:
Under the law it Is the duty OF the
attorney-general of the State to con-
suit with and advise solicitors, who arc
the prosecuting officers of the judiciai
districts, In all matters pertaining 20
the duties Of their office when eases
are referred by them. Further than
this he cannot go.
The matter has been referred to
Mr.. Hayden Clement. solicitor of the
Fifteenth district, and knowing him
as j do. I know the investigation will
he thorough and impartial, and that
politics will not be permitted to enter
into It,"
Later Tonight word was received
from Chicago that the bullet in Mrs.
Kings head had been found to be of
'2o caliber, confirming the contention
of CASTOR p. Means.
FUND OF s1so.ooo
HAS DISAPPEARED
CHICAGO. September 1o.-InvestiSa-
tors discovered to-day that $4,000
belonging to the estate of Mrs Maude
a. King has disappeared. This money
was trust fund for the benefit of
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