The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, he killed a man once

I'd like to know if in this passage from the chapter Tree from The great Gatsby the word "once" means "on one occasion" or "formerly":

“Gatsby. Somebody told me——”

The two girls and Jordan leaned together confidentially.

“Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once.”

Thank you.

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Last updated by jill d #170087
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I've always take this to mean "on one occasion," and as the speaker believed he'd murdered a man.