New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-16
Aided Boyd and Knew
of Tapped Wires, Say
Swann's Aids
Boosted of His Work,
Prosecutor Learns
Data Show Mrs. King
Signed Papers That Left
Ter at Mercy of Others

King. had intimate knowledge of wire
tapping" IN connection with pro-@er'
man activities in this country, was
disclosed yesterday by the District Al
torney's investigation o. Mrs. King
death. Means was the only person
present when the wealthy New York
woman, whose estate Of 100000 IS
now known to have been looted. was
shot and killed at Concord, n. C., on
August %.
Allegations Of Ncars's connection
with Captain Boy-Ed, naval attache OF
Germany, sent out Of the country for
propaganda work, are substantiated ny
The latest find Of District Attorney
Swann's Investigators. These revela-
tons. os international Importance IN
Connection with sly activities here. are
the result of further examination Of
the contents Of q brown fbre trunk
seized in the apartments Of Means, at
1855 Park Avenue.
Evidence Found by Dooling
Assistant District Attorney John T.
Dooling. in charge Of the local investi-
CATION Of Mrs. Kings death. announced
last night after a day spent in assort-
ing and classifying the cenhscsted doc
uments:
Castor Bullock Means. We are led
10 believe from memoranda in our pos
session, mad intimate and reliable
sources Of information regarding wires
that had been tapped in this city and
elsewhere, in connection with the Ger
man propaganda system.
The evidence we now have in this
matter will be OF extreme interest to
the Department Of Justice Such ma
terial as We have will be turned over
to it probably within a short time, to-
gother with mass of other matter we
found bearing on other phases of pro-
German activity in the United States"
Mr.. Doolng would rot state whether
the wires Means had known to be
tapped had been interfered with by
this government or by the agents OF
European power, working here II
is understood that the District Attor-
ncy's office is IN possession Of a list
Of the names Of persons whose wires
were tapped" according TO memo
Iandum said 10 be in Means's writing.
Mr.. Dooilng refused TO allow these
names or nationalities TO be made pub
lie, on the ground that such publicity
would interfere with his investigation
and that of the Federal authorities.
Under Federal Scrutiny
Nr. DoOling and the Federal authori-
ties declare that they have additional
proof Of Neaus's connection with the
German governments work here. An
important Federal official here said
yesterday:
I'VE investigated him before Boyd
was expelled from the country. Since
this countrys declaration of war, how
ever, his name has not come within the
field of our investigation of enemy &C
tivities"
Mr.. Doolinc said he had written
statement from a reputable business
man IN New York. a friend OF Mrs
King, 10 the effect that At one time
Means boosted Of having received
100000 from the German government
for services rendered IT,
As late as month ago. according 10
another witness examined by the Dis
trIct Attorney. Means aired his alleged
: connection with German propaganda
N here. Means at that time is said TO
have displayed great roll Of bills to
. sub>tautlatc his statement that he had
made 100000 within the last wear, the
money coming from the German gov
c,rment. Means, the witness said, had
ia fin = =,
roll while AZ a Broadway hotel. IS most
o. the bills were in denominations of
$500 and $1,000.
Find Portrait Of Kaiser
Detectives Jones and CuunifTe. of the
District Attorneys Office, yesterday en-
tered and searched a storcroom in the
cellar Of the Park Avenue apartment
which was used by Means. A large por-
trait in oils of the Kaiser, given to
Means by Captain Boyd. was found.
The tangled financial affairs of Mrs.
King. the main object of the investiGa-
tion being conducted here, have an in
terestiug light thrown on them by a
large number Of papers seized in Gas
ton Mears's apartment. OF vital inter
est 20 Mr.. Doolng was the discovery
yesterday of large batch Of irrevoc-
able powers Of attorney for transfers
Of stock
By using these blanks, any person
could sell, manipulate or transfer any
securities possessed by Mrs. King.
The blanks were already signed by
Mrs. King, and Furthermore, had the
names Of witnesses attached, Mr.. Dool-
ing says. All that would have 10 be
done would be 10 fill in the name and
amount of the stock 20 be transferred.
The blanks were dated December, 1916,
AID had the name of a person formerly
iu the employ Of Mrs. King as one Of
the witnesses.
Left Her Affairs to Others
The finding Of these blanks confirms
the statement made by Paul Gross, of
S02 Broadway, Mrs. Kings former at
torney, that the wealthy widow never
personally irterferred in her financial
affairs. leaving them entirely 10 the
judgment and control of her advisers.
He said she was IN the habit of signing
blank checks and legal documents,
never even examining them after they
had been filed in and negotiated.
The authorities are making prepara-
lions 10 have opened a safety deposit
box in a vault near the Waldorf Astoria
which was owned BY Mrs. King Mr..
pooling has received information that
the last time Mrs. King visited the box
she was accompanied by n man whose
FcStription resembles that of Means.
The contents Of the box are expected TO
be Of the greatest value in gnravslllng
Mrs Kings affairs.
Among the other papers examined
Yesterday was found q lote for $1,000.
e;o,rad nv Katherine Foraker. the