New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Declares Widow Arranged
Party and Took Along
Automatic Pistol
Burns Tries to
Defend Accused
Testimony of Detective Re-
garding German Activities
Is Overruled by Court

the stand to-day and sworc that it was
the wealthy widow who suggested the
target shooting" party at Black
vclders Spring and insisted upon tax
ing the powerful automatic revolver
with which she was killed.
How 10 happened that the first and
only bullet fred found its billet IN the
woman's brain. Alton Means could not
say. Only Castor was with her at the
sprine. he said, when the shot was
fred. Captain W. S. Bingham, the
fourth member Of the party. Alton said'
was cunning for rabbits 400 feet away
from the scene Of the tragedy, and he,
Alton, vas only yard or two from
Bingham. Suddenly they heard shot
at the spring. and then CASTOR excited
~ calling them TO come. They ran
toward him and found him bending
over Mrs Kings PROSTATE form.
"She was lying sidewise UP the hill
beside the old crotched sycamore tree
said Alton. "Gaston's arm was around
her shoulders. Her feet were about two
and a half feet from the tree.
Castor said. Get some water ana
then he got UP and got water from the
spring. / wet my handkerchief and put
il on her forehead Bingham said he d
20 to town and get a doctor, but 'Bud
said we'd take her 10 the hospital IN
the car. Bingham then went TO get the
car. which he had sent back to the
road. Three or four minutes elapsed
before he came back with It.
Difficult TO Move Body
"The body was heavy, and the great
est difficulty was encountered IN get
ting it into the automobile Alton
continued.
Seven or or eight minutes passed
before the task was accomplished and
the car started for the hospital. How
long the machine took TO travel the
six miles TO town. Alton did not know,
but he remembered that there was no
enc at the hospital to receive the body,
and it was left in the car for ffteen
minutes before it was carried IN and
placed on the operating table.
did you know she was dead asked
Mr.. Dooling. -,
MacFayden examined her and told us
So" said the witness.
q
side in the car for fifteen minutes,
although you thought there was still
shark OF life?" was the question.
Bud tried TO get her in was the
reply. 49,,
As soon as the dead woman had been
carried into the hospital, Alton Means
said he telcphoned for the undertaken,
and then went out TO find his father
and other members of the family. lie
located his father, his sister Belle and
Maize Melvin, the dead women's sister,
in a moving picture theatre. lie told
them Of the tragedy. but said nothing
concerning the manner in which II
happened, he testified.
Alton said his sccretarial duties for
Castor consisted principally of add
ing up rows and rows OF figures IN
connection with Mrs Kings estate. lie
described Buds" business as "lnvest-
cation and confidential work" He re-
ccived 500 a month from his brother
and expenses. He admitted he had
done nothing" since August 10 last,
when he returned home from New
York. lie never had bank account
before he became secretary for Bud"
but soon after he had opened an ac-
count in tbc Corn Exchange Bank OF
New York and had deposited in all
S5.499.SS i'm drafts on Bud
The defence argued along in an Ct
fort 20 persuade Judge Cline to admit
TO evidence testimony relating TO the
unlawful seizure" Of Means's papers
from his Park Avenue apartment by
the District Attorney Of New York.
The Jury retired while Alton related
how Mr.. Doohng had confscated his
brothers files over his vigorous pro
test.
Alleges False Position
upon these papers the defendant dc
pends 10 show his honest adminiStra-
tor OF Mrs. Kings afTairs,' pleaded +.
T. Cansler. "He is placed IN false
position before the jury unless II rs
shown that he cannot defend himself
because OF the unlawful actin Of the
New York District Attorney
Judge Cline finally ruled that the
bare statem&t that tho papers had
been taken against Alton Means's pro-
test would be allowed. The prosecu-
ton placed all papers a. the dcfen-
dant's disposal
A more bitter legal battle cusucd
when William j. Burns, Of the Burns
National Detective Agency, endeayorcd
20 testify concerning the loyalty Of
Means 10 the NNlteO states. lie WAS
asked 20 identify letter which Means
is said TO have written informing him
Of the activities Of German agents who
plotted and subsequently effected the
destruction OF the Canadian Houses OF
Parliament in Ottawa.
"Wc want TO show through MIR.
Burns that Means, although employed
by the German government, was work
ing with the express understanding
that he would advise the United States
government Of any breach OF neutral
ity," said Mr.. Cansler. "This letter
contains list Of German activities.
IL was sent 10 Mr.. Burns by Means.
with instructions that II be turned
over 20 the government Mr.. Burns
called the attention Of Mr.. Tumulty,
the Presidents secretary. 20 the list
and u was acted upon. The prosecu-
ton has injected the loyalty issue. We
want 20 clear our client"
Evidence Oycrruled
As all the prosecution attempts to in
troduoe testimony concerning Means's
alleged German activities have been
overruled, Judge Cline held that for
the present the evidence would not be
allowed.
I.L II~uos Daokb