Was Death of Mrs. King Plotted in New York? 1917

The Monroe Journal, Sept. 14, 1917

Was Death of Mrs. King Plotted in New York? Investigation Is Taking Shape…Had Made a Will Making Means Beneficiary…One Man Hoped Maude King Would Be Avenged

Matters are rapidly shaping themselves for an investigation into the mysterious death of Mrs. Maude A. King near Concord on the night of August 29. Late Wednesday evening Hayden Clement, at Salisbury, solicitor for that district, wired to Chief Justice Walter Clark at Raleigh, askig if the solicitor has the authority to reopen the case through the coroner’s jury. Judge Clark replied that there was no reason why it might not be.

This action on the part of Solicitor Clement came after he had been in consultation with Federal Agent C.B. Ambrose of Chicago and Attorney P.C. McDuffie of Atlanta, who is in Salisbury at the request of Mrs. Annie L. Robinson, at Asheville, mother of Mrs. King.

It is not yet known just when the matter will be reopened, as Mr. Clement is still held up with several murder cases in the superior court at Salisbury.

The Investigation Under Way in New York

The New York World carried the following story of the investigation going on there:

The district attorney’s office began last night an official investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Maude A. King, near Concord, N.C. District Attorney Swann personally examined two witnesses, Assistant District Attorney Dooling questioned several others and was looking for two more from whom he expects to get important information.

“We have begun an investigation of this case,” said Mr. Dooling shortly after 10 o’clock last night, “because it is possible that a crime may have been committed here. There may have been larceny committed here in connection with the estate of Mrs. King or evidence may be discovered to show that a conspiracy to murder the woman originated in New York County. If, as a result of the district attorney’s investigation, evidence of a crime is found the case will be laid before a grand jury.”

Mr. Dooling said that from one witness he had received information to show that Mrs. King had made a will about a year and a half ago; that Gaston B. Means had been cognizant of the preparation of this will and knew its contents.

This witness said he had read the will and that in it Mrs. King named as an executor Means, who for some time prior to her death had acted as her confidential adviser. Mr. Dooling has the name of the attorney who drew this will.

Mr. Dooling shortly before nine o’clock left the criminal courts building and went to the home of Dr. Richard F. Burke, at No. 799 Lexington Avenue. Dr. Burke is the physician who was called upon several years ago by Attorney Benedict M. Holden to give a formal opinion on the question of Mrs. King’s sanity. Mr. Holden was then acting as counsel for Mrs. King’s mother and sister.

The assistant district attorney questioned Dr. Burke at length concerning his knowledge of the affairs of the King family. Dr. Dooling refused to disclose what information his questioning brought him. It is understood, however, that he particularly inquired about Mrs. King’s manner of life in the last year of her stay at her apartment at No. 1155 Park Avenue, of the influence that various relatives and friends exercised over her; of her reported ears that she was constantly being pursued by detectives and of Dr. Burke’s opinion, on which he said:

“I noticed that she was very much disjointed in her mental condition. I learned this condition had been aggravated by her trip abroad.”

Before Mr. Dooling’s visit to Dr. Burke the doctor had discussed the case at length with a reporter for the World. At one point he exclaimed, striking his clenched fists on his desk:

“I hope Maude King is avenged; I hope she is avenged.”

Another witness questioned by Mr. Dooling last night related this incident, which he told the assistant district attorney could be confirmed by others who were present when it occurred. Mrs. King was one of a group discussing the case of Dr. Arthur Warren Waite who was convicted on a charge of murdering both his father-in-law and his mother-in-law. A man in the group, who was a frequent visitor of Mrs. King, interrupted the conversation by exclaiming:

“’That is not the way to commit a murder at all. That is all wrong. Now if I were going to murder anyone, I would plan it this way,’ whereupon he described a murder which, it now develops, tallied in essentials with the circumstances leading up to the death of Mrs. King herself.”

The fact that both Mr. Swann and Mr. Dooling personally examined witnesses is taken to indicate that the district attorney intends to press his investigation. Explaining the activity Mr. Dooling said:

“An indictment for a minor offense brought in this county would not interfere with an indictment for a major offense brought elsewhere. An indictment for a minor offense here might lead to an indictment for a major one elsewhere.

“We hope to get information which may lead to the disclosure of the motive underlying this case. Our objective is to furnish every possible assistance to the North Carolina authorities in their investigation. Much information concerning Mrs. King is evidently obtainable in New York. This information may or may not be of the greatest importance in bringing about a solution of this case.”

He said the district attorney’s office would proceed at the very earliest possible moment to subpoena all available records regarding stocks and other financial operations undertaken by Mrs. King or for her.

“Her stock transactions, it seems to us,” he added, “May prove of the utmost value. In fact, it is possible that when they are investigated they will furnish the motive. All her records will be subpoenaed as quickly as possible.”

B.M. Holden, who acted as counsel for Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Melvin for a time, told a reporter for the World yesterday that he had been informed of the contents of a will made by Mrs. King in 1915 as a part of the agreement with the Woodruff Trust Company, whereby her entire estate was placed in trust.

He said he was told that in this will Mrs. King left the income from $250,000 to her mother, Mrs. Robinson, as long as she lived, and willed the bulk of her estate in fee simple to her sister, Mrs. Melvin. Mr. Holden was positive Means did not go to the Pacific coast for the Burns National Detective Agency searching for Mrs. King, and had nothing to do with finding her.