Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-03
MYSTERIOUS PACKAGES
HOLD means EVIDENCE.
District Attorney Dooling Receives
Psrcels Said to Contain Matter
Which Prosecution Will Use.
STATES PROGRAM CHANGED
New York and Chicago Witnesses, to
Testify To-Day Before Jury, Is
Given Documents Filed Thursday.
Prosecution VIII Require Time.
raw A.aociated Press.J


- CONCORD. n. c., December John
IT. Dooling, assistant district attorney
OF New York, who Is assisting Solicitor
Hayden Clement IN the trial Of CASTOR
B. Means. charged with the murder OF
Mrs. MRude A. King, received by par
Gsl post to-day four packages, the con-
tents Of which he said were to be used
by the State in the prosecution or Ns
case. The contents OF the packages,
three of which were said to be about
the size OF hat box and the other
smaller. were not disclosed. One of
them, however. was marked fragile
Since the middle OF last week Mt.
Dooling has been active in the trial of
the case, appearing as attorney for the
State in the examination especially OF
witnesses used for the identification OF
numerous letters and other documents
which were filed in court to be read and
explained TO the jury later---at least
such of them as may be admitted by
the court as evidence. 1t is said that
many OF these documents were taken
from Meanss New York apartment fol-
lowing the death of Mrs. King near
here on August 90 last. Many of them
represent various transactions which
the defendant us alleged TO have had
in connection with Mrs. Kings estate
while he was her business agent.
A slight change in the States pro-
gram was indicated to-day, when 1t
wRs ga lid that q number OF persons here
from New York and Chicago to testify
for the state would be put on the
stand tomorrow prior to the presen-
tation to the jury of the documents
filed in court last Thursday.
DEFENSE DELAYS HEADING
OF PAPERS TO JURY
The state Saturday afternoon an
nounced It's readiness to read these
papers to the jury. but the defense
pleaded that II had not had opportunity
to read them. and asked Judge Cline.
presiding, 10 adjourn court Until Mon
day to give them time for this work.
The State did not object, and court adj
joujrjned two hours earlier than had
been expected. 1t was presumed that
these documents would be presented to
the jury Monday. 1t was explained
that the change in program is for the
purpose of accomno datng witnesses
who are anxious to return home.
Counsel for the prosecution said to-
day that the State had thirteen moro
witnesses to introduce. hut il was not
indicated whether all OF them would
be used before the State rests it's case
or some of them reserved for use in
rebuttal. L. Z. Canister of counsel for
the defense. was quoted as having
stated that the presentation OF the case
for the defense would probably con-
sumo as much time as was consumed
by the State in the presentation OF its
case. Apparently nobody expects the
case 10 go 10 the jury before the end
of the week.
During the last week the state has
presented its evidence TO show that
Mrs. King was murdered. and that the
wound that caused her death could not
have been se!f-inficted. either intcn-
tions!ly or accidentally. and that the
defendant was the only person nrcsen.
when she was shot At Biackwelder
Spring. between : and o'clock in the
evening. This contention having been
established by the evidence introduced.
the State then turned to the task OF
establishing the motive for the crime
by presenting. through testimony OF
Chicago bankers, brokers and others.
rious business transactions. evidence
designed to show that Means had die
posed OF large portion of Mrs Kings
estate while he was her business agent.
for his own benefit and had lost
considerable portion OF it,