Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-19
MEANS DECLARED NOT GUILTY..
Jury Brings Verdict After IL Long
Drawn-Out Trial.


Concord, n. c., Dec. 16.-Gaston
b. Mems was acquitted here to-day
OF the murder Of Mrs. Maude A.
King, wealthy widow Of New York,
whose business affairs he had ham
died. The case went to the jury last
night at 7 O'Clock, and, as Presiding
Judge Cline had ruled that a verdict
might be rendered Oh Sunday the
jurors sent for him to-day and re-
turned the verdict shortly after 10
o'clock.
After the foreman Of the jury had
formally pronounced the verdict Of
mot guilty. counsel for Means ask
ed tho court If 1t had any other
| charges against Means. Judge Cline
replied there was none, and Means
was given his freedom for the first
time since last September, when he
was arrested on warrant charged
| with having shot the woman, who
| met death near here in August.
Means always asserted she shot her
self accidentally.
Reports had becn current here that
| IL Means were acquitted of the mur-
der charges that New York officials,
| who took an active part in aiding the
| prosecution, would seek his arrest on
| other charges, alleged misappropria-
ton in Now York or the woman's for
| tune and allegations Of Means con-
nection with German interests, hav-
ing been aired at the trial.
No Prosecution in New York,
Assistant District Attorney Dool-
ing, OF New York, and a number Of
other officials from that State loft
here last night, taking with them
document seized in Means New
York apartments which were used in
the trial, and Solicitor Clement, pros
ccuting attorney FOR the State, said
| in reply to questions late to-day that
he did not anticipate any prosecution
OF Means in New York. He added,
| however, that he was not in posi-
ton to speak with authority. G. b..
Ambrose. Il Federal agent, also at
tended the trial, presumably on ac-
count OF the alleged connection with
| German agents which Means explain
ed by saying his activities were legal,
and were before the break In rela-
! tions.
After leaving the court house
Means and his wife went to the
home Of Means father. A little later
Means appeared on the streets Of
the town, where scores OF friends
stopped him to extend congratulate
tiOnS.
History Of the Case.
Mrs. King, who was on visit to
Means relatives, met death at Black
wcldcr Spring, lonely spot in tne
country near here, early on the night
OF August 20 last. With Means and
Il party OF his friends she had STOP
ped on an automobile drive, pre-
Sumably that she might practice
shooting with small pistol Means
had bought for her. Means and the
woman were alone at the time, Capt.
W. S. Bigham and Alton Means, a
brother OF CASTOR Means, having
walked down the road to shoot rab-
bits.
A coroner's jury accepted the
statement OF Castor Means that she
shot herself accidentally. After the
woman's body was taken to Chicago
Tor burial, charges Of foul play were
made. There the coroner's physician
declared that the wound in the back
or the woman's head could not have
been self-inflicted. The Investigation
shifted to New York, where Mrs.
King had resided for several years,
and where Means had handled her
! business affairs. Search Of the
apartments there Of Mrs. King and
her sister and Mr.. and Mrs. CASTOR
Means disclosed. according to New
York officials, that Means had misap-
proprtated the woman's money and
also that he was connected with Ger
man agents. Documents seized in
the apartments were cited by New
York police as proof OF these asser-
tions.
Mrs. King Wealthy.
Mrs. King had inherited approxi-
mately $l.000.000 from her second
husband, the late Jas. c. King, Of
Chicago and New York. and Chicago
officials declared nearly all of this
sum had vanished" during the time
Means was connected with the wo-
mans affairs. 1t also was asserted
| Means was preparing to offer for
probate an alleged second will OF
Jas. G. King, which would give an
| additional $2,000,0O0 to Mrs. King.