The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-08
Alleged Slayer Mrs. Maude
A. King Occupies Stand
All Day.
LETTERS AND
TELEGRAMS READ
Tells of Employment Hand
writing Experts at Wo-
mans Direction.
BY Associated Press.

Concord, n. c., Dec 7.-Gaston B
Means, on the stand in his own defense
In his trial for the murder of Mrs.
Maude A. King, continued on direct
examination today to explain letters
which he had written to his wife To
Alton Means and others last July, and
which the state had vresented as evil
dence OF duplicity on the defendants
part in dealing with Mrs. King.
These letters We're written soon after
the arrival Of Mrs. King, Mrs. Rob-
inson, her mother and Mrs. Mary C.
Melvin, at Ashevilie, from Chicago.
Means said that passages IN his let
ters and telegrams referring to a par
ty on Chesapeake Bay and "Maude
flying the track" had reference to a
joke which he and Mrs. Means had
with Mrs. King about a certain for
eigner she had seen in New York,
washington and Ashevtile and in
whom she was deeply interested He
explained that his caution against his
wife and baby ridisg in the first car
around Asheviile was based solely on
the ground that it was a car not
adapted to mountain roads and that
the chauffeur had never driven a. car
except in very level country.
Means told this morning of having
at Mrs. Kings direction, employed ex-
pensive handwriting experts and law
yers to endeayor to secure the proba-
tion of the last wiil' of James c.
King, known as the second will"
This evidence was presented, counsei
explained, to account for certain ex-
penditures OF Mrs. Kings money.
Taking up the letters introduced by
the state in which the defendant ex-
pressed anxiety to get in touch with
one Sprague, who had served a term
for forgery. the witness said he had
understood that Sprague could give
some Information that would enable
him to locate Orville w. Green. whom
he was anxious to communicate with
in connection with the King will.
He denied that he sought to learn
the methods of the forger.
Means said he devoted his time
from the summer Of 1915 to the death
OF Mrs. King to the preparation for
probate of the last will" of ]. c.
king.
For this work she was TO advance
to deduct his personal expenses She
was also to pay the salaries of Alton
Means, Destch and other assistants
when he was absent from New York
She was to pay all expenses in the
way OF attorneys fees. This amount
ed to more than $4,000. He ad-
n1itted that he had no written con-
tract with Mrs King. Means explained
how he had disposed OF funds obtained
from the securities which had consti- |
tuted the s125,O00 trust in favor OF
Mrs. Robinson established by Mrs. |
King. Nine monthly payments of |
$1,000 each to Mrs. Robinson were |
included.
Ten thousand dollars was turned |
over to received in Cabarrus county |
following Mrs. Kings death. he said. |
Means was still explaining his fl
nancial relations with Mrs. King when |
court recessed.
Soon after the recess Means nara :
Eve began to lead up to the date and |
scene OF the killing. In answer to a |
question by his counsel, he traced his |
from the time he left |
Chicago for Asheville on July 22, after |
ne made two trips to New York and
two to Concord and on August IS, he !
md Mrs. King came from Ashev!lle to /
Salisbury, making the whole trip on |
he train. which was several hours
ate.