North Carolina Newspapers

The Concord Tri BUNE VOLUME XVIII. j tnmn f i rmiT sad ruaiishu CONCORD, N. C, THURS DAY, DECEMBER 6, 1917. Price Five Cents. NO. 71. MLT .1,1 STAND IN HIS OWN Tells of First Meeting With Mrs. King in May, 1914, And of His Connection With Burns Agency. WORK FOR GERMAN GOVERNMENT Discovered a Plot By Ger man Sympathizers Which Involved Huerta. Tells of Financial Transactions. The trial of Gaston B. Means for the murder of lira. Maude A. King began Its tenth day this morning at 9:30 o'clock, with Aftoo Mean, brother of the defendant "till on the wltneaa atand on hi re-dlrectvexamlnatlon. At yesterday's session, on direct and cross examination, the witness was on the stand for about three hours. The witness said that after the body of Mrs. King had been brought to the Concord Hospital, he was met in the middle of the street by Chief of Police Robinson, who asked him if he would make a statement about the affair. The witness then told the officer that they had been out at the spring, and that Mrs. King had accidentally shot herself. After the tragedy at the spring, af ter Mrs. King's body had been put into the automobile, Capt Bingham had picked up her hat, and put it in the machine. Witness had not seen the hat slace. Afton Means said he went to work for Gaston about January, 1910, at a salary of $25 per week and expenses. The checks deposited by the witness In the Corn Exchange Bank were paid out by him aa salaries to the force in the office of Gaston Meant, for office rent, etc. At the time the witness went to New York in September, there was a balance in tbla bank to hla credit am ousting to a little more -than $500. Letter to Aftoo Means from Gaston, dated January 9, 1917, relative to Af tou's having opened telegram for Mr. King, and Instructing him to forward to him all mall for Mrs. King, Mrs. Melvln and. others, -was read to the witness, and be was asked the contents f the telegram he opened. He said as he recalled, the message was with reforeaee to a proposd visit from a rel ative f Mrs. King's. In the absence of Gaston and Afton Means from New York, the Park Ave nue apartments of the former were in charge of Henry Deltch. The evening that the witness reached New York on September 11, he carried his suit case to the apartments. The suit case was ot opened, to the knowledge of the witness, by Mr. Doollng or his assist ants. , . On the re-cross examination, - Mr. Doollag presented a telegram receiv ed at the district attorney's office, and asked the witness if it had not been shown to him In New York. The de fense objected and the court sustained the objection. J. V. Goodman. J. F. ' Goodman, brother-in-law of the defendant, told of his trip to New York eat September 11, and on his ar rival at the Park avenue apartments he found Mr. Doollng and some of his assistants. The former was looking ver Gaston Means' papers. In a few minutes Afton came into the room with a telephone directory, saying he could not find the name of the lawyer he was looking for. Mr. Doollng told the witness that it would not do any good to get lawyers, as he had search and aelanre warrants and was going to get the papers relatives to . Mrs. King's affairs. Mr. Doollng told Af ton he could have copies of such pa pers aa be : wished, and would get a receipt for such as the district attor ney took. Afton was not allowed to leave the apartments. ; . , "' Ernest Eury. i ., nest Eury, negro chauffeur of the car the night of the tragedy, was the next witness called. He had been driving the car for about a week be fore the trip to Blackwelder Spring. He told of various rides on which he The Greatest Snob .in America was what the newspapers called the millionaire girl of Phila delphia . . ENID BENNETT Bat ahe was really starving for 'friends. . .:- . . . ' At college she la snubbed by - everyone who has read of her.' But the little girl who brings the laundry Introduces het to a boy who take, in washing to earn bis way. - These Three Form the Soap. Hilda Trust and The Triumvir ate at - v - - : "HAPPIN" ; A Triangle Feature : THEATOIUUM . TODAY DEFEH3ETHISMQRNING had taken various nartlM na ih of the night ot the tragedy, when he cauea lor uaston Kuans oa the tele- iiuune ana was torn to bring the oato moblle to the Means noma. Ha thn drove with Gaston Means to the home or capt Bingham, and shortly after- wara ine utter came out and got Into ine automobile.. They then went to tne Meant home. There the party got uro um automooue. and thev nroceeA ed down Union street and out the Mr. tr leasant road. At ape forks of the .1 mil .i . . i i uviu niu mail - vmueiQinr was - ma hi about going out that way because' there were more bushes and there would be more likelihood of seelna a rab- dk. xney arove into the old road to tne spring, alter something had been said about a barbecue. At the spring the members of the party got out of the machine and the witness wst told to take the automobile back to V the place be bad stopped In the afternoon. out saw -wnen I saw that graveyard I just kept on driving." He said he took the car to the 'place the old road forks off from the new highway, and stopped there. He was sitting on the running-Doard smoking, when he heard tne report of a pistol. In a few mln utes he heard someone calling, and drove the car back toward the spring. There he met Capt Bingham. He went on to the Spring, and there found what had happened. He was told to help put tne rxxiy in the automobile, which he did. He then drove back. to the Hospital as fart ss was practicable, at tne direction of Gaston Means. On cross-examination bv Solicitor Clement the witness said he had not seen the pistols or rifles at the Means home, or at the spring, and did not know they had any weapons. In reply to questions as to why he nan not told ef looklna for rabb ts. and of helping to put the body In the car when examined at the coroner's In quest, the witness said he said he had not been asked them. Gaston B. Meant. Gaston Means, the defendant took the stand in his own defense shortly before 11 o'clock. He told that be had first met Mrs. King in May 1914, and had not seen her again until in the spring of 1915. At the time of the meeting the defendant was with the Cannon Mills, with which he had been connected for twelve years. For about 0 yean be waa with the New York of fice, and from 1909 to July 1, 1914 be was manager of the Chicago office for Cannon Mills At that time he severed his connection with the company, be cause he was obliged to travel more than he wished to be away from hi' wife. At the time of his resignation his salary amounted $4250 per year, besides commissions which brought his income for the year before he resigned amount to to between $10,000 and $11,- 000. Some of tbla -was for articles written for magizlnes and journals. After leaving the Cannon Mills, the witness said he returned to New York City, where he went to see W. J. Burns on a commercial proposition he had In mind. Burns at that time was the pres ident of the detective agency which bears his name. A contract was even tually made with Burns, and a com mercial department ' was organized, ; with Means at manager, with as many aa 290 men under him at one tune. Af ter being manager for only about 2 or 3 weeks, Mr. Burns -would call Means away on other business, and the commercial department was never ful ly organized as projected. The witness said hla first work was to find out for the Hamburg-American whether or not there were- French or English cruisers or men-of-war off the Ameri can coast receiving supplies from this country. This, in the opinion of the attorney's would be a violation of neu trality in connection wun mis ques tion as to whether or not England was having submarines built in the United 8tates. In ascertaining whether or not supplies such as coal, food, etc. .bad been furnished these cruisers and men- of-war, it was necessary in some cases to trace shipments back for some time and this investigation required the assistance of many assistants. In these Investigations he was busy for five or, six months, and as a result of it there was discovered . that no foundation was in the rumors, and there was- no breach of American neutrality. , . The second Investigation began three to foment a war-against the United the first investigation, and was to fn if the allies were having 'submarines built in this country. So far as the-in-veetlgatlon went, It was found no ib marlnea had ever 'been built In, this country for the allies, but that; , the parts were all being made in this conn. try, and sent to Montreal, Canada, where they were nsed in construction. In this way, there was no violation of the" neutrality laws of -. the United States. This Investigation lastedfour or five months, or possibly longer. - ' While connected with " the Burns agency Means was released temporari ly to give him necessary time to, do some writing and to buy goods . for some foreign Interests. According-to his recollection, the witness resigned from the Burnt agency in the fail of 1915. : , '. ! h He said he did not find any plot on the part of the German government, but did discover a plot by German sym pathisers, and communicated the plot to Mr. Burns. He had told the German representatives before that time that If he observed any act hostile to theJ United States be would promptly re port It to the proper authorities. Mr. Burnt asked Meant to make a complete report and details of the plot, to it could be reported to the Presi dent, of the United Btates, or hit repre sentative. The report was produced; and identified by the witness as the re port made by him at that time. The report told of a mecetlng la Bareekna. Spain, of OA Huerta and repreaeuta- uvae of the German government, at the first Investigation, and waa to find to torment a war against the United H Urea in order to assist the German government A peace party waa to be formed In Mexico, and waa to arrange a peace conrerence. The report, which waa quite lengthy, gave the name of the parties who were seeking to em broil the United States la war wlta Mexico. It also stated that Hnert.a financial agent then In New York, had about 400 machine guna for Mexico, t oe used at the so-called peace confer ence. The communication waa dated March 8, 1915, and waa dictated br the witness to a stenographer. It waa then handed to Mr. Bums, who had told him to make the written report, and Mr. Burns later told the witness that the report had been delivered by him in Philadelphia to Secretary Tumulty. Up to this time, the witness said he had been doing work in which Capt. Carl Boy-Ed was Interested. Aa a re sult of this report having been made, the witness saw Capt. Boy-Ed who said someone had reported the dets.Ua of the Huerta plot. Capt Boy-Ed sug gested that Means must have made the report, and the latter stated he had done so, and would da so again. Capt Boy-Ed told the witness to to see the clients, and he would be discharged. Means went, and received his dis charge. A letter was handed to the wit ness, who lndentifled it as one having uren written oy mm to Alton Umiii on February 17, 1917. One paragraph reierreu to tne ract mat llnkertnn Agency had been making inquiries into nis (tne witness) relations to German interest but these did not worrv him In case of a break between Germnmr and the United States, the writer said ne would promptly offer his service to his own country. 1-ater tne witness made a trio to Washington to see Josephua Daniels. uerore mm be laid facts about what German Interest were doing. He told about the Huerta plot, and about ex plosions in munitions and manufactur ing plants in this country which would be brought about by the Germans. The Huerta plot was all but carried nut. when Huerta was arrested, and it was broken up. The machine also taken by our government. This was after be had sent hia rmmrf tn the President The munitions plants would be blown up by German sympathisers,-some of whom woijld be willing to perish in the explosion, If they could blow np the plant This was aided by the Ger man propaganda which the witness told to Secretary of the Navy. There were three advertisements in German and Austrian papers for mechanics or laborers. The men would answer the advertisements and would ha - talked. to carefully. The one with minds arped would be taken, and would ne sent to the Du Pont plant or Beth lehem plant. There they would get 1 f . . ... I Into touch with German ministers and would be worked up into the state of mind necessary to sacrifice their lives for Germany. In New York city the witness went to the Federal District Attorney and informed him there -waa a plot by Germans to go to Ottowa, Canada? ex tract chemicals from the lire extin guUhers In the capitol and substitute other chemicals which would cause the fire to burn more rapidly. They then set fire in the! library, and the capital of Canada at Ottowa was burn ed not more than four weeks after his report was made. , After having been discharged bv the German interests, other services were performed for German govern ment up to October, 1016, when the witness voluntarily severed his rela tions, because he was expecting' a break of diplomatic relations between the United States and Grmany. Since that time he has had no dealings with any German interest or any German agent, and has had no letter from any such person. In the office of Ulnoprlo A Co, the witness said he had said nothing about having knowledge of what the German chancellor's speech would be. As for the confidential telephone number of Capt. Boy-Ed, he said that such person had left the United States the first part of that year. He did not give the Cannon Mills as reference, did not state that he was connected with them, but on the contrary Mr. Todd, with the Mlnoprio Company, had com municated with him at Chicago Beach Hotel. With reference to the conversation he had had with Mr. Rockefeller, man ager of the Chicago Beach Hotel, the witness said - he had rebuked Rock efeller for having gone to the room of Mrs. King, because of its impropriety, and told him to have any further con versation with Mrs. King in the par lor.. He made no threat to take the entire party away from the hotel. and made, no reference to any will. - Henry Deltch came to Chicago for his first time on May 3 or 4. The wit ness said never In his life had he en deavored to estrange or keep apart Mrs. Robinson- and - her daughter. King. On the contrary, Mrs. King and Mrs. Robinson left New York in Oc tober to go to Battle Creek.. No one went with them but the doctor and nurse. They remained in that city until early In December. During that time, the witness said he saw Mrs. King only twice, and that was while passing through Battle Creek, The first business transaction Means had with Mrs. King was In August, 1915. Mrs. King had a mutual trust fund In the Woodruff Trust Company In Jollet, DL Meant was living at the Manhattan Hotel, New York city, in the spring of 1910, and Mrs. King baa xfrom time to time spoken to Mean about her account at the above bank. Means told be he could tell nothing definite about the account un less an auditor'! report waa made out This Mrs, King did, and turned over the auditor's report to the witness. The report was handed to the Witness, who Identified It The report showed the exact condition of her account and the amount she badJtwrowed THE NEGOTIATIONS MEET OBSTACLES Reports From Berlin Today Stated that the Russians Had Refused to Accept Certain of German Terms THEY LAY DOWN COUNTER TERMS Terms the Germans Are In sisting on Given. A Tem porary Truce is Underway On Parts of Front. (By International JJews Service.) Copenhagen. Dee. 6. Germany's negotiations for an extended armis tice on the f astern front as a pre liminarv to a scDarate iwi ;th Russia and Rotimania are meeting with obstacles. Reports from Berlin today stated that the Russians ioaay stated that the Kussians had not only refused to accept certain Qeraan terms but had laid down counter terms which were not accept- auie to ine ucrman ollicials. A temporary truce is already un der wav on parts of the eastern front, flceordin? to an official nnniinnm.nt made by the German war ollice. It is understood that the Grmi3 are m. Kiftinff upon terms which mnv ho grouped in a general wa? as follows: ' Austro-Oerman forces to retain tli?ir present positions lint the Rug ari; lc deliver up a cer:ain i::irt of sji.ns and Roumanians ar.j to retio V behind their defensive lines'' and we to deliver UD a certain nart of their arms. Aua'.ro-Uermaa pris oners in Kussia are to be released but Russian prisoners in Germany are to be allowed to remain as labor ers and are to be given "a reason, able wages." RIGID MEASURE TO PREVENT EXPLOSIVES Coming into Poso casing of Austrian Taken by Attorney General. '(By International News Service.) Washington, Dec! 6. Rigid mea sUtes have been taken bv attorney general Gregory, at the suggestion of Fuel Administrator Garfield, to nrevent e'nI.08lTes coming Into the possession ftr Anntvlnnn amnlnnn1 In 4.1.. I I of Austrians employed in the mining regions. Tne largest groups of Aus trians miners are at work in the coal fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio and they will be able hereafter to obtain explosives only under the greatest re strictions. The law licensing the use of high explosives prohibits their pos session ny any alien enemy and he will not lie permitted to buy them. THE COTTON MARKET. Opened at an Advance of from 27 to ..32 Points in Response to Liverpool Cables. (By The A Pkm) New York, Dec. 6. The cotton mar ket opened steady at an advance of 27 to 32 points In response to firmer Liverpool cables and renewed buying by trade Interests. January sold at 28.74 and March 28.47 on the call mak ing rallies of about 60 to 67 points from the low level of yesterday. Cotton opened steady, December 29.10, January 28.60, March 28.43, May 28.20, July 27.84. You can't always tell unless you are a woman. from the first National Bank of Jollet, giving as collateral the stocks held bythe Woodruff Trust Company. The face or par value of the securities held by the Woodruff Trust Company amounted to $172,352.08. The money borrowed from the First National Bank agaist these securities, amount ed to 14,000 in the form of demand notes. After receiving this report Means told Mrs. King, in his opinion, some BtuaeDaker stock Mr. Woodruff had bought in Mrs. King's name and later transferred to his own name, really ueiongea 10 ner. This stock had advanced sharply since the time it was first purchased. The matter was dlscasaeo, and it was decided to go to Chicago. There they met Mr. A. a. Melvuie, Mrs, King a attorney and the auditor who made the report The attention of Mr: Melville was called to the Studebaker stock. Means claiming that Mr. Woodruff ought to pay Mrs. King the difference In the price paid for the stock, and the price at which it waa then selling. Mr. Melville put in a claim for Mrs. King for the difference, amounting to about 121,000. Mr. Woodruff accented a compromise for $11,706.25 which he paid to Mrs. King. Mrs. King said to Means that Mr. Woodruff did not want to handle the trust fund any longer, and had ship- pea the securities to ner at Chicago. The witness said the trust fund had been dissolved and the dissolution pit pers signed by Mrs. King in Jollet, in the absence of Means. t The arrangement between Means and Mrs, King waa that be should receive one-half of all money he saved or re covered for her, after the first i 10,000. Statements were made monthly by Means to Mrs. King, and be received settlement monthly, with the proper receipts, o ' At hub puuii wun uwa a recess un- til 2.30 O'clock. j CITYOFHALIFAX ISIN FLAMESTODAY The Fire Started Following An Explosion in the Har bor This Morning. Build ings Torn to Pieces SEVERAL MEN ARE KILLED Two Vessels, One of Them Loaded with Munitions, In cluding High Explosives, Collided irr Harbor. (By T AaasHataa- Pnu) Amherst. N. 8.. Dee. 6. Scores of people have been killed, hundreds of building destroyed, and a portion of lialltax Bet on firn Kv tho nvnlnn which occurred after the collision of the American ammunition ship and another ship at Rockingham, accord - ing to telephone Timasntraa r.w,u; ..,..1 -- . ... vi. v. v. ..... 1 1. n , v.ll ramus UUU JUUl, TL this mornlnsr- Bingham went to the Blackwelder The explosion was so terrific that spring, where they had all shot at tar it destroy, d the insulation in the K- Onthe trips to 1'harr's MU1 and telesrraph and telephone oflWes fori ,0 the Spring there were several boxes 30 miles around Halifax, while it ot cartridges shot. At the Spring they was heard a'. Truro. 61 miles distant.' "hot at knots, branches and various The concussion cmiw.il the roof of parts of trees, each of the parties the railroad depot at North street to shooting one of the weapons. At the collapse, while all the warehouses on spring Uaston had ordered the chau the water front for a mile and a half ffeur to drive the automohilo .. ..h were damaged. The premises affected ' mi wan j jiihivh i-Hugur are. ine con cussion was so great that freight cars were blown off the track for a stretch of nearly two miles. Messages asking for fire fighting apparatus, doctors, nurses, hospital supplies, etc., were relelved from Halifax at a number of plales. Sperlal trains were made up. Halifax in Flames. St. John, N. S Dec. 6. A large part of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is in flames, following an explosion in the harbor this morning when two vessels, one of them loaded with munitions of war. Including high explosives, col lided. - Many buildings along the water front were torn to pieces and many persons are believed to have been kill ed. Shipping In the harbor suffered se verely and the crews of several ot the vessels are said to have been killed. wire communication between this city and Halifax was interrupted soon arter tue explosion and before more than fragmentary reports have been received. The munition ship blown up was said to have been an American vessel. At the moment of the explosion a fierce storm was sweeping the harbor and it is supposed that the collision of the vessels was due to this. Hundreds Killed and Property Loss Will Run into Billions. Halifax, Nova Scotia, via Havana, Dec. 6. Hundreds of persons were killed and thousands of others in jured and the city of Halifax is m ruins as the results of an explosion of a munition ship In the harbor there today. It is estimated that the prop erty loss will run Into the billions. The city is In flames. Several Transports -in Harbor. St Johns. Dec. 6. It was stated positively there were several trans ports in the harbor when the explo sion occurred! Nothing as to the fate of these was obtainable. Neither is it known whether the transports were filled with troops or occupied only by crews. 300 Dead. Truro, N. S. Dec. 6. Reports reach ing here early this evening stated it was feared that several scores of people lost their lives when the rail road station at Halifax collapsed. rwenty-nve railway workers were killed on tracks near Richmond. Advices from Halifax early this evening gave the number of dead from the explosion at 800. The advices further state that the ship which collided with the munition ship was a Red Cross liner. Nest Baptist Convention to Meet in Ureensboro. (By The Associated Pnu) Durham, Dec. 6. Greensboro today was selected for the next meeting place ol tne southern Baptist Conven tion. The convention today endorsed with enthusiasm to the plan to raise with in the next four years, beginning Janu ary 1, $1,000,000 for equipment and endowment of the Baptist education institutions of the state. Successful men believe in luck, backed up by their own efforts. ChristmasTClub Matures December 13. No payments received after Saturday, December 8. Members can receive their money by presenting book or card on or after the 13th. NEW CLUB OPEN NOW. For white peo pleonly. tCKIZilla Gtizens Bdijzd Trust Cc;riy. irlSONTHE STAND YESTERDAY Was Examined for More Than Three Hours Yester day And Testimony Was Concluded This Morning. UNDERGOES FULL CROSS EXAMINATION Cross-Examination Was at the Hands of District At torney Dooling. Story of Visit to the Spring. At the convening of Court at 2:.1ft On Wpfhlmuliiv .ftji.nm. . u brother of Uaston B. Means, took the stand In defense of his brother, contin- ntiiff Hi. ut,,n, hi. n sociatlons with the defendant since th year 115. 1 On Wednesday afternoon the witness ' km III Hint liu f2UB..n .1 . wait until the called him. The driver took tne machine back beyond the little bridge, near the negro grave yard. The car had also been sent away when the party was at Pharr's Mill, the day before. They returned from the spring about 3 or 4 o'clock that afternoon. In shooting the automatic while at the spring, the cartridges would not come freely from the magazine Into the chamber of the pistol Wednesday evening the witness was at the supper table with the other six persons. During the time they were at the table the telephone bell rang and somone called for Gaston Means. He returned and asked if anyone wanted to go to ride. Mrs. King said she wanted to go, but some of the parties at the tame said they were going to the moving picture shows, Uaston uc- Kested that Capt Bingham would go, and Mrs. King said he was the very fellow. After the party had left the table and gone out on the front porch, after a few minutes the automobile returned with Gaston and Capt Bingham in it The pistols and rifles were brought and put in tne automobile, where Capt ' Kingham had his shot gun. Mrs. King. Gaston, Capt Bingham and the wit ness got into the automobile, the party drove down Union Street and out the Mt. Pleasant road until tney reached the forks of the (ibid Hill road. Here iaston told the driver to go straight on, but the witness told the driver to to out the Gold Hill road, ' because there was more underbrush and they would be more likely to see rabbits that way. They drove on out that road until almost to the spring. Mrs. Mug asked then if that was the place where the recent barbecne had been held. She then expressed a desire to see the place, as she was intending to give a barbecue. They drove In to the old road and up to the spring. Here Capt Bingham started out the road toward Dry's home and the witness followed In a few minutes after he had opened u box of cartridges and loaded the rifle. He then joined Capt Bingham near the little bridge on the old road. He had been there only a few moments. when he heard a shot, and then the voice of Gaston calling to him and Capt. Bingham to come quick. When he arrived in sight of the spring, he saw Guston Means bend ing over the body of Mrs. . Kin;.', who was lying on the ground. The witness went to the spring and dipped his handkerchief into the water, plac ing it on the woman's head. She did not say a word, but made a kind of rattling noise in her throat. Capt. Bingham at the same time had gone to find the driver and the car. In about seven minutes the automobile drove up to the spring. The members of the party at the suggestion of Gaston put the body In the car, with the assistance of the negro chauffeur. They then brought the body to Concord Hospital, driving as fast as they possibly coold. at the hospital Dr. MacFadyen said that the woman was dead. - Af ten then went np the street to find Mrs.' Melvln or some member of the Means family. He finally found his father. Mrs. Melvln and his sister in (Continued on page four.) .: