New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-11
Instrument Executed In
New York Names Means,
Says Swami
Conspiracy Proof
Is Now Sought
Witnesses Tell Of Efforts to
Save Woman's Wealth
in 1914

District Attorney Swami yesterday
started an investigation here into the
case Of Mrs. Msude A. King. who was
shot and killed under suspicious cir
oumstances at Concord, \. c., on Au-
gust 90.
The investigation. in which District
Attorney Swami was aided by Assistant
District Attorney John p Dooiing' was
10 determine whether a crime had been
committed in this jurisdiction IN con-
nection with the case.
The scrutiny Of the District Attor-
news office, it was declared. would be
directed toward discovering whether
there had been a criminal loss of Mrs
Kings estate. or whether there had
been a conspiracy to murder Matched
here.
A number Of witnesses were exam
ined by District Attorney Swami and
his assistant last night The attention
OF the District Attorneys Office had
been directed TO the case several dsys
aro. but il was declared then that
there would have to be more concrete
revelations before action would be
taken.
Mr.. DoolinG, after being closeted sew
oral hours with persons he had sum-
moned to his Office, said last night that
he had found an important link in the
inquiry.
Third Will Is Found
This. he said, was the existence OF
still another will, In which provision
was made for CASTOR Bullock Means
Mrs. Kings private secretary and gen
oral manager, who was the sole per-
son at the immediate scene OF the
shooting. This is the third and latest
will TO be discovered The document
according 70 Mr.. Dooling. was drawn
IN about a year and half ago.
Grand Jury presentments will follow
+be investigation, according to Mr:
Pooling, if reports which have reached
the District Attorneys office are SUD-
stSntiated. VI al.
zion will be gone into by the suthorl-
Ties Last night Mr.. Dooling for sew
crsI hours questioned DR.. Richard r.
Burke. Of 799 Lexington Avenue, VINO
was Mrs. Kings physician. 1t was DIT
Burke who rendered an opinion OF MIS-
EiDc's fceble-mindednes 10 aid her
re~-T'y in Getting her from the hands
o. group OF alleged international
svindlers in 1914.
Swami Questions Witnesses
Mr.. Swami personally cross-eXam-
med two Of the witnesses last evening,
demonstrating the Importance placed
\ by his Office on the inquiry. Startling
N dcyeIonments are expected soon.
" Mrs. King left two other Wills, ac-
cordiag 10 BENEDICT VI. Holden, law
Yer. OF 12O Broadway. retained by Mrs.
King relatives in 1914.
The first will. Mr. Holden said yes
tcrdav. was made before 1914. Then
Mrs. King, in company with man
named Marsh. is alleged to have gone
West. her whereabouts being unknown
TO her relatives.
Fearing that her wealth would van
ish under the cajoling influence OF ad-
vpnturers, steps were taken TO br'ng
Mrs King back through court pro-
cfculnESs
ried out, however. Mrs. King appeared
Of her own volition, without Marsh,
Holden declared.
DR.. Burke had rendered an opinion
that Mrs. King had the mind OF
;welve-year-old girl and was incapable
OF managing her own affairs. On the
strength Of this opinion. Mrs. Kings
mother. Mrs. Robinson; her sister, Mrs.
lIaizic Melvin. end Mr. Holden had her
estate placed in trust with the Wood
luF Trust Company, Of Joliet. ILL.,
Three months after this, according
20 Mr. Holden, Mrs. King made a
second will--thc document which was
filed for probate in Chicago Yesterday
II was a trust will and was an arrange
ment TO which the tcstatriX's relatives
agreed. BY it the bulk of the estate
was left to Mrs Melvin after a life
income from S25O.0OO for Mrs. Robin
son had been sUbtTacted, according TO
Holden.
Whether the later Will was made un-
der family supervision TO obvlate OBJ
iectionablc clauses Of The first tesla
mcnt could not be answered yesterday
occausc the earlier document had not
cacn made public.
Mrs. Hing a Trustful Woman
Possible motive for crime was sup
r'ied yesterday by a physician and an
attorney who knew Mrs. King They
said that Mrs. King was one Of the
kiadest and most trustful women in the
world. and that for that very reason
she could not understand and was quick
20 resent underhand dealings in fnaH-
Cial affairs.
They added that Mrs. King only re-
Gently might have discovered the con-
clifton Of her estate, which, it is re-
ported, had dwindled to little more
-han half million dollars, and had
threatened TO expose those who had
nreced her. A thorough investigation
Of the dead woman's estate is being
carried on in Chicago.
With Federal authorities here con-
Quoting an investigation into a special
phase Of the case, il was learned yes
terday that a private detective agency
also had been engaged to make an in
curry. The head of the agency, who
was retained in 1914 by Mrs. Kings
relatives to help loosen the grip of
.1-.I...,1o,. .. g.