Evening times-Republican., 1920-12-10
Courtin Chicago Disposes
of Estate Valued at
So, 900, 900 or More.
COURT DIVULGES
PLOT OF OUTSIDERS
CASTOR B. Means, Once Tried For
Murder Of Mrs. King, censured by
Judge For Presenting False VIII
After Lapse Of Many Years-Con-
test Brought in Behalf Of Sister Of
Mrs. kina-Widow Spendthrift.
BY Associated Press.


probate an alleged second will OF the
late James c. King. millionaire lum-
herman, who died Nov. 5, 1908, failed
again today when Judge Jesse Bald
win. in circuit court. sustained the
decision OF the probate court that the
last purported will Is q forgery. A
will. probated shortly after Mr.
Kings death and now upheld leaves.
the estate of between $4,000, 900 and
100000 to found q home for aged
men,
The latest attempt to establish the
validity Of the alleged second will was
made in the name Of Mrs. Mary G.
Melvin, sister of Mrs Maude King,
who was shot and killed at Concord,
n. c.. Aug. %. 1917. CASTOR B. Means,
OF New York and Concord, hor busi-
ness manager. at whose home she
vas visiting, was tried aud acquitted
on charge OF murdering her.
Court Censurss Means.
Judge Baldwin in his decision Sc
verify crticizes Means asIociation
with the will case.
"No fair consideration Of this
case" he said, can ignore the fact
that CASTOR B. Means is shown to be
the controlling and dominating spirit
in the attempt to establish this will
Indeed, the conclusion is irresistible
that Mrs. King and Mrs. Melvin
were singularly under his Influence
and were largely dominated by his
strong personality ana inelexihIe
WILL"
Commenting on Means own ex-
PLANTATION OF the delay In Offering the
second wfll-that he wanted to In,
vestigate it-Judge Baldwin said.
III a genuine will were found un-
der the circumstances named, by an
honest man. would It not be the most
natural, legitimate thing for him to
hasten at once to her (Mrs. King)
explain her good fortune and proceed
directly to have the will probated."
Means claimed to have found the
will in August, 1905. altho 1t was not
offered for probate until July II.
1917, about five weeks before Mrs.
King was killed and nearly twelve
years after Mr.. King died.
b d
The Will case had more ramifica-
tions than any action In Cook county
courts In years. Testimony brought
out, among other things, that Means
had worked for Captain Boy Ed as
German agent prior to our entrauce
into the war: that Mrs. King had
paid blackmail In the sums Of $4,000
and $4,000 to two women because
they knew Of events connected with
her divorce from man named Hull,
and that Means had contract with
Mrs. King whereby he was to obtain
at least $1,000. 900 If tho alleged will
was probated.
OF Florence Isabelle Lee, a New
York typist, who claimed she wrote
the alleged will for Mr.. King. Judge
Baldwin said:
Tier testimony is almost unbe-
lievable."
Mrs. Maude A. King married the
aged millionaire-he was 73 at the
time-in 1901. Five days prior to that
event he had made the will which
was probated at his death. Shortly
after his marriage he added a codi-
Gil leaving $4,000 to his wife, while
in an ante nuptial agreement he gave
her 100000 additional. Prior to his
death she also received stocks valued
at $4,000.
When Mr.. King died Mrs. King re-
nounced the will and demanded a
Widows half Of the estate. BY
settlement with the Northern Trust
Company, trustee under the will for
the James C. King home for aged
men, she received 100000 in cash
and the income from a trust fund of
$400, 900, in addition to the $250,00
in stocks given her prior to Mr..
Kings death. At the time Of her
death she had spent practically all
Of this sum.