Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
FIRST TESTIMONY
THAT LINKS MEANS
WITH HUN AGENTS
Defendant Claims Advance
knowledge of Chancel-
lor's Speech.
CHICAGO BROKER TELLS
OF ALLEGED CONNECTION
Seeks to Open Account as Secret
Commercial Representative
of German Government.
SLOW PROGRESS MADE IN CASE
Detective Burns Seated by Prisoner
During Day and Then Leaves
on Hurried Trip.
IRy Associated Press.l

BY Associated Press.1
CONCORD, y. G.. December AT
tho close tonight of the week for
which tho special term OF Cabarrus
County Court was ordered by Gov
Il. Means for the murder Of Mrs. Maude
y. King, by which time the trial was
expected a week ago to be concluded,
The verdict of the jury apparently is as
far in the distance as 1t appeared TO be
when the court convened last Monday
morning. When court adjourned about
$3.50 o'clock this afternoon until next
Monday morning, few of those taking
part In the case entertained the hope
that tho conclusion of the legal battle
would be reached before the end OF
tho coming week.
Judge Cline had Indicated that he
purposcd putting in full day Satur-
day, but when tho State reached the
point this afternoon that II announced
It's readiness to present and read to
the jury the numerous letters and other
papers which had been flcd with the
court Thursday. in which signatures
and handwriting OF the defendant had
been identified by 4. b. Melville. Chi
caEo lawyer, and former attorney Of
Mrs. King, the defense made the point
that only to-day had IL been able to
secure copies Of these documents, and
that it's counsel had not had time to
read them and acQuaint themselves
with their contents
Solicitor Hayden Clement offered no
roslstonca to the request Of the de-
fensc THAT court adjourn for the day
20 allow Mesnss counsel tho after
noon for perusinS with the defendant
the papers 10 be offered by the State,
and Judge Cline finally ucquicsced.
ADDS TO EVIDENCE
Or MOTIVE FOR CRIME
The State to-day added considerable
to it's structure OF evidence of Il motive
for the crime charged against Means,
through testimony of Chicago bankers
and brokers. who told OF various and
sundry transactions which the de-
fendant had with their institutions
during the last year or two. the pur-
pose OF the State being TO show that
Means had disposed of large portion
Of the fortune of Mrs. King for his
own benefit, aud without her knowl-
edge or consent.
Incidentally. ono of these witnesses.
house, brought OH, the first evidence
thus far presented OF the defendants
alleged connection with The German
government. W,-n he testified that
when Means first approached the
brokerage concern and sought to open
an account, he stated in connection
with his Introduction that he was a
secret commercial agent OF the Ger
10 n--thn r>.hf
according to tho witness, q little book
IN which were some numbers. one Of
which. tho defendant said. was the
private telephone number OF Captain
Karl BoyEd This WAS in January.
l3lI and Means told the witness, so
lic testified. that he had advance in
formation of the contents of the forth
coming speech OF the German Chan
cellrr In the ltcichstag. lie mentioned
the Hamburg American Line as a sort
Of reference. the witness said
BUnNs PLANS HURRIED
"TRIP TO CHICAGO
+ Wiliiam j. Eurns. the New Yorl, de-
tectivc. arrived here to-day and took
seat beside the defendant In .hc
courtroom, which he occupied until
court adjourned, occasionally talking
with Means. The purpose or his pres
cncc WAS not divulgcd. 1T is in cvi-
doucc that tho defendant WAS formerly
employed by the Burns Agency. Burns
engaged transportation tonight for q
hurried trip to Chicago.
Mr.. Todd was followed by Edward
L.. Roche. margin man of another Chi
cago brokerage house, who told Of
transactions Means and Patterson had
with his concern.
Mr.. Roche, who was the last wit
ucss heard before the luncheon recess.
testified that the Means cotton account
with Ills house was closed out on
February I, 1917. tho net result of the
defendants operations being n net loss
OF the $4,000 which he invested and
another $4,000 indebtedness. which tho
brokerage house lost on the Means
account, according TO the witness.
At tho converting of court, the State
introduced Edward j.. Mack, vice
president of the Central Trust Company
of illinois. who testified that on De-
ccmbcr II. 1916. CASTOR r. Means ap-
piled to him for loan of $4,000, Of
ferinE $3s,00O of securities as col->
lateral. The loan was negotiated, and
check for 100000, less interest, was
given to Means. the check being ilcnti-
fed by the witness.
rho securities put up as collateral
fpr The loan were part OF those which
Means had taken few days earlier
from the Merchants Loan and Trust
Company, when, according to previous
evidence, the trust OF S125,000 created
by Mrs. King in favor of Mrs. Robin
son had been revoked.
Continued on Fifteenth Page.)