Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-06
BURNS DEFENDS means
ON GERMAN spy CHARGE
Detective Says Defendant Gave Him
Information Valuable to Amer
lean Government.
Hun COMMERCIAL AGENT ONLY
Accepted Service With Germany
With Understanding That He Was
TO Be Allowed TO Give Washing.
ton Any Valuable Information.
nv Associated pr...l

BS Associated fressl
CONCORD. y. &. December 6.-TeS-
,imony intended to show that CASTOR
Means was a loyal American citiren.
and not German spy or symDRthiEer"
was presented to-day by the defense al
the trial of Means on the charge OF
numbering Mrs. Maude A. King. 1t was
given while the jury was absent. the
state having objected 10 It's admission.
The cour, announced shat Il would rule
later
William, J. Burns. head OF the detec-
tive agency bearing his name testi-
fed tina: Means who was formerly in
his employ. had told him he had ac-
cepted employment with commercial
interests OF the German government
with the understanding that he would
turn owe. TO the American government
al information obtained tina, re
Thought would BE- Q; value 70 the
United States. He said Means told hin,
he had pursued this policy.
\ letter written b. Means 10 Burns.
communicating German information
which he regarded Q: value TO this
country and ASKING that !; be turned
over 20 the Washington: government.
was identified by Burns.
Counsel for the defense announced
that I. desired 10 oGer this testimony
20 disabuse ;hs public mind Q; the
idea pravalen; tina; Means was 6 Ger
man sp" O. sympa:hizer.
I Immediately following Tie dinner
recess. Judge Cline ruled that IKE tes-
,irrony Of Burns concerning Neaas's
German connections was no; adnlis-
sible at present, bu; Nigh; be allowed
20 go 20 the !u-y later.
DID NOT WEAKEN
PATrERsoN'S TESTIMONY
The State concluded within az hour
and q half day rs oross-cxsn.ina-
tion OF ". r. Patterson. ta,ne--!a-law
OF CASTOR 3. Means, without bringing
out anythir. 10 materially weaken hIs
testimony yesterday 70 the effect tina:
the defendants business Transactions
with Mrs. kiuss money were !esi::-
mate. and with her knowledge and ap-
prevail. Most O; the time v,.!e the
witness was or :he stand this morning
was occupied with reading OF letters
written By Ire witness 10 q. E. Means
in July. 1917. jus; after Patterson. Mrs.
N!rs. Mrs. Melvin and other members
ot their party had arrived e: Ashevi;le
from: Chicago. and been installed n
rcsor: hotel. old Seventy Six" Pat
terson wrote 10 Means vas settled
down after fut,erins around q while
like an old hen after scratching up
her nest"
'Naude has trimmed her sails" wrote
the witness. bu, he did no; see much
prospect OF any successful hir;st.one.
Later he wrote tina. "Maud." had
ceased her Hi-ia,ions. IS about all the
men =; the ho:e! -=re married
In one letter ~. Patterson. writing
from Ashevi!ie 20 Means :: Mex York
suggested :ns:s;ea:!y ths: Automobile
drives il ne ~ovE:A.as would keep
Mrs. kias II sooe frame @: -.ad and
Keep hs- from rocking nc beat"
The party vas comfortable in ne re-
SCI: hotel. tu, th= expenses. sH
~eeE a=6 upwards -. .scA rom were
considered excessively high
Re-d.-ec: examination q. ": Pat
verso. vas brief.
REVOLVER COULD HAVE
BEEN FIRED ny JAR
.. :. Rur!baush. mechanical en-
g.ass. ~ -Ast%Y!!!e, q-z..sec Is al e1-
Pc: u firearms, sac. ,es:i..!as .o-
ne defense. declared :ha; from ex-
?e..sace, and obse-2,ion. s;qty re had
learned that Z 2.-ca!!te- Co.t auto
ras:!c 2isto! vas !.zo.e u - e..d a,
an tiTe b. :a-.
lie testified TIA: in his opinion .&r..
King ccu.d have 5e.d 80 pistol in
position - !aA:ct :ae s3.: 9. wound
rune !a her aead. lie d..ao.s.rate6
h.to-. 80 fuzzy Aov (, cog.a have been
co=s. hold!ag IKE weapon "a reverse
'ct..!on and e. arms ..s;h in The
~: .s.e- The D!s;o! 9o!r,!7K In the
erection o: ;he tacH Z: The head. ,s.e
"a. st..g :uEHe. ors- the -irht