The sun., 1917-12-17
MEANS FREE OF
CHARGE HE SHOT
BENEFACTRESS
Jury After Nights Sleep
Finds Him Not Guilty of
Mrs. Kings Death.
FEW HEAR THE VERDICT
H. Soon Appears on Streets
to Receive Congratulations
Of Ills Friends.


coScoRr. y. C., Dec. 16.-Gaston p.
Means walked out of the Cabarrus
coauty court house to-day a free man.
after having been in jail since the latter
part of September. on the charge OF
numbering Mrs. Maude A. King Of 1855
Park avenue, New York. his employer
and benefactress. The jury which tried
Means returned a verdict after having
his case for fifteen hours and twenty-five
minutes. Part Of that time was spent
eating two meals and about ten hours
Of 1t In sleep.
1t is believed the Jury reached q ver-
dict last night after but two or three
ballots. 1t was 10 o'clock when J. Frank
Goodman who had been elected foreman,
sent for sheriff Caldwell and informed
him that the jurymen were tired and
Intended to go to bed.
Nothing further was heard from the
Jury until after they had been given their
breakfasts at about & o'clock ths morn
ing At a little before 10 o'clock this
morning the sheriff sent for Judge Cline
and said the jury had ag...-u. The sepul-
chral bell in the tcwer of the court house
vas tolled and Concord knew that
"Pua :" judges had agreed. There were
comparatively few persons IN the court
room when the Sheriff led in the de-
:endant and Judge Cline took his seat on
the bench. Means was attended by his
father. Col William g. Means, and by
his wife, who never left his side during
the eighteen days OF the trial.
wife Sobs AudibIy.
The only lawyers at the counsel tablS
OF the defence were Frank /. Osborne
and Lee ]. Crowell Of the eight men who
had served Means. State Solicitor Clement
was alone at the prosecutions table.
The jurors filed in noisily and Means
positively beamed on them. His wife
was sobbing audibly when Judge Cline
instructed the Sheriff to watch closely
for any disorder.
There must be no demonstration Of
approval or disapproval," the court said.
ANY one guilty Of transEressing this
rule will be punished at once for con-
tempt OF court" .
The court clerk asked whether or not
The jurors had selected foreman and
the twelve men chorused: We have. J.
Frank Goodman will be our spokesman"
"Gentlemen. haze you agreed upon q
verdict? droned the clerk.
I'VE have" Goodman responded with
Q deep bass voice.
How say you. Is the defendant guilty
Or not guilty."
Not guilty"
And SO say YOU all?'
Each juror then voted not guilty as
his name was called. Mrs. Means was
sobbing louder than ever as the defend
ant took her in his arms and said TO the
Jury We thank you"
Leaves Court at Once.
Solicitor Clement then informed the
court that there was no other charge
against Means and moved that he be
discharged from custody. Judge Cline
granted the motion. Means first hurried
10 the home of his brother. Brandon W.
Means. where his elderly mother awaited
news OF the verdict. Then he went "a
his home. In a half hour, however. he
was on the street receiving the con-
Eratula,ons of his friends. He main
'ained throughout the xRme remarkable
demeanor which has baMed even his own
lawyers, His only approach to bitter
ness to-day was a sneering remark to a
North Carolina newspale pr reporter who
sought to congratulate him. II hope
loull learn to write the truth here
after Means said to him
There is great deal OF conjecture
~ 70 Means's next move. His friends
assert he will seek reprisais on certain
banking institutions which they allegs
have been prosecuting him to prevent
him from probating what purports to he
ScHoni vii! OF James - King. the dead
Noman's husband. Under the terms o.
his alleged will Mrs King would have
Inherited about s4,0oO.000. Mrs. Mazit
r. Melvin, Mrs Kings sister. Is execu.
'rtx Of her estate under a will made
some months before her death. Mrs
Melvin has been in court every day
sitting close to Means. and has beer
living in his fathers home.
This woman was the target for a
bitter attack by John r, Dooling. Assist
'nt District Attorney OF New York. In
MS summation Of the States case OF
Friday