Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-07
MEANS TELLS OF
SECRET TIPS. HE
GAVE OFFICIALS
On Trial for Life He Says He
Warned TumuIty of Huerta
PIot-AISo Told Daniels of
German Intrigue

CONCORD. y. C, Dec. 6.-Gaston B.
Means. beginning the story of his rela-
tons with Mrs. Maude A. King at his
trial for her murder, today recounted
before the jury his activities as an
agent OF German interests before the
entry OF the United States into the
war.
Because he exposed to American Of
hcials German plot TO back Huerta in
IN effort to involve this country in war
with Mexico. Means said ne was dis
charged. Later he said he had told
Secretary Daniels OF other plots he
haG discovered while in German EN-.
ploy to destroy munitions plants and
had told the secretary of the plot 70
wreck the capitol at Ottawa four weeks
before the explosion occurred.
Means had just begun his narrative
covering his business relations with
Mrs. King, which the state contends
furnishes a motive for the killing, when
court took a recess.
His version of occurrences at Black
welder Springs on the night of August
% when Mrs. King met her death was
expected to be related at the afternoon
session.
He began. under questioning by E. T..
Canister. at a point several years ago.
The first phase of his testimony told
of his relation with the Cannon Manu-
featuring company, by which he was
employed for twelve years, for years
in the Cannon mills New York office,
then in charge of the Chicago Office
from 1909 TO 1914, when he severed
his connection by mutual consent be-
cause he haG married and did not want
to be on the road as much as was
required.
His salary was $4,000 a year and GER
tain commissions, totaling an income at
the time he QUIT the Cannon mill Of
about $4,000. including income from
his writings for journals, such as the
Journal of Commerce and Commercial
Bulletin, as to sales, prices, grades,
markets, etc, of textiles. When he left
the Cannon employ he went to New
York, and called on W. j. Burns, the
detective.
The defense insisted that the witness
testimony along this line should be ad-
United. The jury was excused and the
defense counsel explained that it was
desired to have the witness clear up the
prevailing idea that he had been some
thing of German spy.
The court agreed that he should state
that in consequence of the fact that the
Hamburg line was a client of Burns, the
witness might tell what he did as Burns
employe.
Jury Retired
The witness was allowed to tell what
line OF work he actually did, in the abb
sence of the jury.
His work was to ascertain for the
Hamburg-American line whether or not
British war vessels were lowering near
the coast of the United States and
whether they were receiving any fuel or
other supplies from American sources.
The court agreed that the jury should
hear this.
The court ruled out, however, the wit
ness statement that lawyers had ad-
vised Burns and the Hamburg line that
il French or British warships were re-
ceiving such supplies, the neutrality
laws were being violated.
The jury returned and the witness pro.
ceeded. He said he was engaged I'm this
investigation five or six months. the
result being the discovery that reports
were not based on facts and the Ham
burg line was Informed.
1t was established by the investiga-
ton that the neutrality laws were not
being violated ara ne so reported
Next investigation was to ascertain
If submarines were being built in the
United States for the allies. Ii was as
certained that no submarines were be-
ing built in the United States, but that
all the parts were manufactured IN
America, shipped to Montreal and there
put into complete submarines.
81 went in and submitted my idea to
him." said the witness, land made a
contract with Burns by which the wit
ness was made manager OF the CONNER
cial deartment of the Burns agency
Some days he had three men under him
and some days two hundred. This was
new department just created. He did
no work for Burns that he would classi-
fy as detective work. His statement
that Burns had a contract with the
Hamburg American line was ruled out
on the states direction
Reports TO Burns
After severing his connection with the
Burns agency, the witness said he dis
covered a plot on the part of German
sympathizers and interests i'm the
United States, and reported II to Burns
having previously agreed that whatever
evidence he discovered which would be
of value to the American government
he would turn II over to the government
at Washington. When he discovered the
plot he made full report and filed II
with w. J. Burns, to be delivered TO
President Wilson's representative.
This report was read by the witness
It told of a conference at Barcelona be-
tween former President Huerta and
German interests.
Huerta agreed to follow, the direction
of the German interests. 1t was agreed
that a peace movement should be start
ed in Mexico and a peace conference
should be held i'm a southern city. An
expedition was to be sent into the
United States headed by Huerta. and
when attacked by American forces the
Mexicans would say the United States
had made war upon Mexico The pur-
pose of the whole movement was tc
bring about war between the United
states and Mexico. He mentioned a
number of prominent Mexican leaders
who were involved in the alleged plot
The movement was to have the out
side appearance of a peace society.
Burns told him, he said, that he
wanted his written report for submits.
sion TO the president. and later told him
that It had been turned over to Score
tary Tumulty. This report was dated
March s, 1915.