DA Feels Woman Was Mastermind Behind Maude King's Murder, 1917

“Daring Woman Directed Looting of King Estate,” from the Monroe Journal, Sept. 18, 1917

District Attorney Feels Sure of This and Wants Mrs. Melvin, Sister of Slain Woman, to Tell of Persons Latter Knew

New York World, Sept. 13^th.

A woman—daring, unscrupulous, determined—was the “master mind” which directed the looting of the $2,000,000 estate of Mrs. Maude A. King, District Attorney Swann said to The World last night. Co-operation with her was the controlled and weaker mind of a man.

Mr. Swann did not name the woman of the “master mind” nor the man who assisted her. Both, the District Attorney asserted, were members of the large group of persons who derived financial gain from their association with Mrs. King.

“The seizure of that trunk full of papers in the apartment of Gaston Means, her confidential agent,” said Mr. Swann, “will prove, in my opinion, the decisive step in bring to punishment those guilty of the minor crime of looting the estate and eventually those responsible for Mrs. King’s death. Most of them are her personal papers, showing with whom she dealt and how she was dealt by. They afford, I believe, evidence of preparation and motive for the greater crime.”

Because Mrs. Melvin lived with her sister for years preceding the latter’s death, Mr. Dooling and his assistants believe that she can throw valuable light upon the various persons who in the last two years became intimate with Mrs. King. They hope that she will come to New York to aid them in finding those who wrought against Mrs. King. With her assistance the District Attorney’s office believes it can make quick progress.

Entrance of a woman as a prime factor in the case came as no surprise to persons who have been intimately in touch with the Kings. But these persons disagree with District Attorney Swann in the opinion that hers was the master mind. They assert the man dominated the woman.

A telegram sent as mysteriously as was the message which resulted in the conviction of Dr. Waite for murder, has been sent in this case, it developed yesterday.

On the night of Mrs. King’s death someone filed this message:

“Mrs. King, 1135 Park Avenue, died Concord; very peculiar circumstances. Investigate.”

Mr. Dooling declined to say last night where this telegram was filed, or who received it.

“It came to a friend of Mrs. King,” is all he would say.

But the world has reason for saying the message was filed in Concord on August 29; was addressed to the District Attorney, New York City and was assigned with a fictitious name. The telegram was in a man’s handwriting.

The New York authorities believe that if they establish the identity of the sender, they will be near an end of the death mystery.