Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1917-12-20
MEANS NOT GUILTY
IS VERDICT OF JURY
TRIAL AT CONCORD LASTED
THREE WEEKS AND ATTRACT
ED NATIONWIDE INTEREST.
G. B. MEANS AGAIN FREE MAN
Judge cIlne's Order Prevents Any
Demonstration Taking PIaee-Means
Spends Day at Fathers Home and
Visiting Boyhood Scenes.

Concord. N. C.-Gaston B. Means,
acquitted OF the charge OF the murder
OF Mrs. Maude A. King. for which he
had been on trial the last three weeks,
spent Sunday free man with his fam
lily at the home of his father, and going
about the streets Of Concord. his boy.
hood home, receiving the greetings and
congratulations Of friends. mot gull
ty' was the verdict rendered by the
jury Sunday morning at 1922 o'clock
before Judge Cline. members Of coun-
sci. the defendant, his wife and father
and other relatives, and a considerable
number OF spectators who had gather
ed in the Cabarrus county courtroom.
The jury. having had the case over
night. sent a message by Sheriff Cald-
we'll to Judge Cline at the hotel at 40
o'clock asking him to come to the
courthouse. The Judge was eating his
breakfast, which he finished. proceed
ing to the courthouse at 10 o'clock. To
the crowd that had gathered. Judge
Cline stated that he did not know
whether or not verdict had been
reached. but in the event that such
was the case, regardless Of its nature
there must not be any demonstration
upon its announcement. He instruct.
ed Sheriff Caldwell to arrest any per.
son violating this instruction. He gave
positive instruction also that the jury
men should not be approached after
the verdict was announced before the
jury was dismissed. Judge Cline's in
structions evidently were effective, for
there was absolutely no demonstra-
ton.
Many Congratulations.
All was quiet and orderly until after
court had adjourned sine die at the
judges order. Then counsel and
friends crowded about Means to con.
gratulate him, he put his arm about
Mrs. Means and the two, with other
relatives and friends proceeded from
the courtroom. On the way to the
rear door, Mrs. Means encountered n
sister of the defendant and the two fell
into each others arms and wept.
When the Jury filed into the court
room. Judge Cline stated that in his
charge Saturday afternoon he had in
advertently referred to the time of
the shooting as evening"" and asked
the jurymen whether or not they had
interpreted his use OF this word as an
expression OF opinion on his part as
to the fact of the time that Mrs. King
was shot. The jurymen. all in accord,
stated that they had not Clerk of
the Court Stonstreet then asked the
formal question as to whether a YER
dict had been reached, and Foreman
j. Frank Goodman answered in the
affirmative. Asked by Clerk Stone.
street whether they found the defend
ant. who had been asked to stan I
and raise his right hand. guilty or not
guilty OF the crime charged.
mot guilty" said Foreman Good
man.
Defendant Released
Judge Frank Osborne. of counsel for
the defense, then asked Solicitor Gle
ment II he had any further charge
against the defendant and the solicitor
answered II have not" Judge Os.
borne then asked that the defendan.
be released from custody. and Judge
Cline said:
The defendant Is released"