New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-05
Meteoric Market Career of
CASTOR Means Described
by His Father-in-Law
Shared Profits,
But Not Losses
Witness Testihes to Copy
ing Will and Papers
in Chicago
TS.af Correspondence

CaCO and New orleans was plC'uFeu
wildly to-day. when William r. Patter-
son. fathcr-in-law and financial dunn
my" Of the accused man, testified in
his trial for the murder Of Mrs. Maude
A. King.
Patterson. suave and smiling. was I'M
able. despite the constant prodding Of
John r. Doolinc. Assistant District At
torucy Of New York. 20 remember de-
tails. He recalled that Mrs. King had
advanced $4,000 with which he, d.
rcctcd by Means. had bought cotton on
margin. lie was equally sure that with
the big break of February the ac-
count was wiped out.
THE storm broke" suggested Mr..
Dooline.
cit sure did replied Mr.. Patterson.
"And you got away" said Dooling.
81 beat it," laughingly answered the
witness.
Fifty years old. rotund, bald-headed
clean shoycn and well tailored, Patter-
son described himself as a farmer
Hc took on more Of the aspect Of an
extremely tired business man" as
Dooling. delving into his seemingly in
cxhaustible bag, drew forth document
after document which Patterson hest
tatncly identified as being in either
bis handwriting or that Of Means.
Employed by Means
ON direct examination the witness
had told Of his employment by Means
after tho wedding Of his daughter Julie
and the accused man in 1914. lie had
found his son-in-law 20 be the soul Of
honor. His management Of Mrs. Kings
affairs was efficient and scrupulous.
"That man married your flesh and
blood. didn't hc?"asked Mr.. Doolins on
cpcrirr his cross examination. Patter-
son admitted the relationship.
"Ic's on trial for his life2" per
sisted Dooling, and the witness agreed.
You're going 20 do all you can to
save him 30 was the question.
"Au can said Patterson.
we understand each other" said
Doolinc, and the hardest legf tussle
i1' the case 20 date was on. Patter-
SON remembered nothing until he was
handed correspondence in his hand
writing. which forced him 20 answer.
Doolinc rcsortcd 70 quiet sarcasm and
noisy accusation, Patterson to d poor
memory and every legal assistance in
the VIZ OF objection the defence could
raise.
Pattcrson's principal admissions,
summarized. were: That while he
farmed for q living his Mississippi cot
ton plantation had earned for him only
from $1,000 10 1900 lu the last two
ycars. tha. he had accepted employ
rrcnt with Means az 500 month and
travelling expenses; that he had visit
od Duluth and other places IN an at
tcmut 20 find hotel registers bearing
the signature Of the late .Jamcs g..
King. and that he had speculated as
dummy for Mrs. King and Means ana
lad lost 100000
II was IN February, 1914. Patterson
said. that Means sent him to Duluth
with Instructions 20 find Nr. Stone,
who had been great friend OF Mr..
King
"Nas b. Waldo 2. Stonc?' asked
N dfdrt know his first name" an
fwcrCd Patterson.
round stone Was Dead
.,You went an the way 10 Duluth look
iuc FOR "a man whose full name yoa
didn't know ~
eyes"
.pidnt YOU know stone was dead? ~
"No. but } found !, out when ] got
there" said Patterson.
"Didrt you 20 20 hnd out where ana
,yhcr he died. what his signature
looked like. what kind of typewriter
and raror he used o" Numbered Dooling.
ono. no." protested Patterson.
Tho state. despite this answer. eN-
MOOT, 20 show that Means employed
PATTERSON 20 obtain the signatures or
Kir. and stone In order that they
r.rht be- forged 20 the second VIII
Of Che millionaire lumberman, which
was subsequently, discovered by
Means.
Patterson admitted seeking the old
ycri-tcrs Of the Spauldinc Hotel con
ta.nirc Kings signature. lie learned
thoy had been destroyed and so report
rl tc Means. Then he went 70 Chicago
and copied Che King viii and others of
the dead mans papers on file m the
Co0' County Court.
Pressed go say who directed him in
Chose proceedings. Patterson declared
fhat Mrs King had given The orders.
although he had rendered lengthy re-
ports go Means The statement that
Mrs. iKrc had told him Mr.. Stone, of
l'ulu'h' had been her husbands init
n.'. friend rouscd Dooling's ire.
"lol mean 20 tell us tnat?" he
hog'cd. You know Means told you,
toHt yout'
The witness calmly admitted this TO
to true.
DO you want 60 attribute everything
n tac dead woman. who cannot answer
ior hcrsc.f2' asked his Iuestioner.
Careful About WATERWAYS
Advice contained in q letter from
Patterson no Chicago 20 deans in New
N0rf that he "be careful about water
maras' in connection with papers re-
lating 90 The King will provoked an
other clash between the witness and
Doolng.
what did YOU mean by that?" was
asked after The reference had been read
90 The jury.
"I. ju.t came into my head" said
Patterson 81 didn't mean anything"
The witness finally admitted that he
cautioned Means 90 bc careful about
watcrmarks, as the papers could be-
traced through them
Further explanation was avoided by
fto success OF the dcfcncc's objection