New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-15
Papers Seized Show
German Activities
Documents of Importance
to u. S. Authorities
Are Found

yesterday az HOO 1ath aNthuo !" W"
apartment Of CASTOR h. Means, the
personal representative of Mrs. Maude
A. King, who was killed near Concord,
n. c.. on August %.
This detectaphone. Assistant DIS
trict Attorney Bowling said, had been
connected to the apartment of Mrs
King and her sister, Mary c. Melvin
and there was evidence that Means
had frequently listened in while the
two women discussed certain matters.
The same raid on the Means apart
ment gave authorities papers showing
evidence of pro-German activity.
Besides these discoveries, two letters
written BY persons in Concord imme-
diately before and after the shooting
and indicating the feeling of the mem
hers Of Mrs. Kings party at the time,
have come into the possession Of the
District Attorneys office.
Eyewitness Describes Death
The following passages were made
public from a letter which, the District
Attorney said, was written at Concord
after the tragedy by a person who had
been in the party when Mrs. King met
her death, the letter being to friend
in this city:
"The day before we were all out tar
cet.shootinc. She (meaning Mrs.
King, according 10 Mr.. Swami fell,
twisted a weak ankle as she took up
that - MIR. Swami said the dash
evidently stood for revolver No cry
or suffering. The people we were
fighting made the newspaper stuff, and
it's not correct Give no information.
The way looks long and dark. &.
Save clippings. Whatever you hear, stop
it. No cause to worry. There is
no blame on any one"
The second letter, according TO AS
sistsnt District Attorney John T. Dool-
ing, who is in charge of the investiga-
tion here, was written in Concord four
DAYS before the shooting by a person
who is still there. Mr.. Dooling init
mated that the letter was important
because il showed that the atmosphere
was not clear at Concord few days be-
fore Mrs. Kings death. He declined TO
say whether a man or a woman was
the writer.
The pith of the letter follows:
ANY mail will be guarded and pro-
tected. Must impress upon you
don't hang yourself and get in this.
We are not going to get into trouble
This affair of ours is coming TO crisis
shortly. / know more about thi:
than / can tell you. Only follow anC
stick to my advice. Naturally there
are enemies, but nothing can affect OF
harm us. Destroy"
The District Attorneys Office has the
names of the writers and the recipients
Of both letters, ard seems to believe
the two communications Will play big
part in the solution of the mystery.
New Raid on Apartment
The second raid on the apartment
of Means, which resulted in the find
ing of the detectaphone, was made by
William Jones and John Cuniff. of the
District Attorneys office, and an agent
for the Department of Justice.
Also, a .38 calibre target pistol and
seven boxes of cartridges. according Ia
Mr.. Dooling, were found in Means's
apartment. Means. il was pointed out
has q hobby for target practice and
trap shooting. Among the cartridges
which were taken to the District At
torneys Office were some of 80 and "A
cslibre and 80 automatic soft-point
bullets.
Regarding the new papers seized yes.
terday from the room which Means
used as his Office, Mr.. Dooling said
Documents which will prove to be OF
considerable interest TO the Federal au-
thorities were taken and will be turned
over to them. In the papers were ref
erences TO large manufacturing estab-
lshments and to instruments used by
the warning nations. also to contracts
for war supplies and 10 the tapping OF
wires. Special reference is made "a
certain plants in Connecticut, and the
names of some distinguished Germans
appear in them. 1t looks, moreover, as
though Mr.. Means has not abandoned
his interest in these things"
Mr.. Dooling said further last night
that Harry Dietsch, the trusted agent
OF Mr. Means, had called for the de-
tectsphone, brought it to Means's
apartment before the party went to
Chicago, and remembers when 1t was
tested out. Mr.. Dooling said he had
been informed that when Mrs. King
and her sister desired TO talk witSou,
being overheard they had 20 60 into
the maids room TO obtain privacy, be-
cause, Mr.. Dooling said he had been
told, Mr.. Means frequently would in
terrupt the two women shortly after
his name would be mentioned. Mr.
Means's apartment is on the same floor
as the late Mrs. Kings, it is said.
Secret Cabinet Sought
Detectives from the District Attor-
ney's Office, IL was announced. will visit
the Means residence again to-day in
search of a supposed secret cabinet
which is believed to contain papers
which may be relevant to- the investi-
CATION of the conditions surrounding
the life of Mrs. King. The detecta-
phone was found in box in the closet
among other boxes. but the District
Attorney believes il was originally at
tached to furniture.
The other most important point OF yes
terday's developments WAS the turning
IN of the original of the alleged second
will of the late James G. King, the
dead woman's husband. Carl l.. Schurz
q LAWYER. of As Broadway, who drafted
an agreement whereby CASTOR B.
Means was TO receive S950000 for dis.
coverjng the "will" and getting proof
of its validity, produced the documents
yest.rdsy afternoon snG gave up other
;mportsnt papers TO District Attorney