Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-22

NEW YORK, Nov. 21.-Gaston r.
Means is in trouble again.
But he likes it.
For he has become a champion at
it-charged in his time with MUIR
der forgery, conspiracy and fraud.
Freed of all. he now faces another
Indictment. This time as the alleged
principal in gigantic bootlegging
conspiracy.
But he merely shrugs his Shout.
ders and laughs.
Great fun this he says. I'm
going to get a big kick out of it.
For it's the thrill of such adventure
that makes life worth living"
Ten years ago Means was school
teacher down in the Carolina noun
tains. But the dull routine OF school
work palled on him.
when l was a kid he went on,
II always dreamed Of the time when
L would grow up to be a real detec-
tive. 1t was my boyhOod ambition.
When the chance came to give
up my school work I grabbed it. /
wanted to go north and indulge in
the fancy of my childhood dreams"
Becomes Detective
And he did. He soon gave up his
job of being representative for some
cotton mills, and became an invcs
tiSatOr for a private detective
agency. Most of the time he work
ed for William J. Burns, now head
of the United States secret service.
In 1914 he became a special agent
for the German government. He re-
ceived 500 a day for his work.
Il worked for Captain Boy-Ed,
German naval attache,' he says.
eS'and- got mixed up in innumerable
messes. But it was all part Of the
game.
when I foresaw that the Ger.
mans were forcing this country into
the war, | quit their service and
began working for our government.
Following. a tip, [ discovered that
the Germans were making arrange.
m2nts to get Huerta of Mexico into
this country. | exposed the whole
scheme, and Huerta was arrested as
he tried to cross the border.
81 dug deeper into the intriguing
Of the German spy system and dis
covered the plots to blow up the
capitol at Ottawa and the Canadian
bridge. Both schemes were nipped
before their execution, Van Horne,
the German spy, being caught red
handed as he was approaching the
bridge"
Accused of Staying
Meanwhile Means had been acting
as business advisor to Mrs. Maude
A. King, of North Carolina.
While out shooting on day, she
was killed. Means, who was with
her, was indicted for murder in the
first degree.
1t was a sensational trial. Colo.
mel Thomas & Fielder, who has been
kept busy getting Means out of
trouble every time he got in, went
from New York to North Carolina
to defend him.
In short time the jury acquitted
him.
Then came a long line of new
charges and indictments following
the filing of a second will of Mrs.
Kings millionaire husband. Three
million dollars were involved. Means
and others would have benefited
by it. Judge Jesse Baldwin, of Hi
nois, called it a forgery.
An appeal followed, and with it
came long drawn-out litigation
the supreme court of Illinois ruled
to throw out the second will.
When cleared of all charges grow.
ing out of the Mrs. King death and
will contest, Means went back to
his investigating work
More Thrills i'm SIeuthing
standing trial for murder is ex
citing enough" he says, "but it
takes real sleuthing to give a real
thrill"
He became a special agent for the
department of justice investigating
liquor cases.
Il unearthed the society bootleg.
ging conspiracy Means says,
(which resulted in the imprison-
ment Of the La Montague broth
ers'
And he worked on many other
important cases.
But trouble seems to follow him
wherever he goes.
In short time he was indicted in
the gigantic boot1egging conspiracy
He is now out on $4,000 bail
awaiting trial.
But he isn't worrying.