The Detroit times., 1908-08-20
POSSE FAILS TO.
FIND WARD IN
The SWAMP
AUTHORITIES BELIEVE MAN sus-
PEcTED OF WIFE MURDER
EITHER KILLED SELF OR WAS
SWALLOWED BY MARSH.

NEWAYGO, Mich. Aug. 20.--After
an exhaustive search OF the accessible
portion Of the swamp land In Beaver
township. the posse OF so which yes
terday started in pursuit of John NJ.
Ward. who is believed TO have stabbed
his wife to death. came to the con-
clusion that the fugitive had either
committed suicide by plunging head
| first into the quagmire, or that the
soggy ground had sucked him in to
his death as he fed
The bloodhounds followed the trail
In the marsh eagerly for while and
then gave up the hunt. AS a precau-
tionary measure in case Ward escaped.
Sheriff Bulliss notified officers In all
nearby cities and towns to watch for
him. Grand Rapids authorities especi-
ally have been requested TO search for
Ward inasmuch as he was there be-
fore he went TO the Conley farm,
Aug. s.
In Wards valise, at the Conley
home, where the woman's body was
found in the kitchen, the sheriff dis
covered additional evidence that Ward
had remarked after he had deserted
his wife, 20 years ago. This evidence
was contained in a letter OF a date
four months later than was the one
previously found in Wards coat
pocket.
The letter was written in pencil
and many of the words were miss
spelled. The material parts OF the
missive follow, given just as 1t Is
written:
Jacksonville. Fla Jan. 10. 1905.
My dear husband
Will try to write you few lines.
Would have written sooner but
have been sick-Xasn.t we'll when
you LEFT left and you you know vn It when
fully. II you had come back then
II would have been all. John. you
know that l always said when you
left me II was for good o This .,n time me
US to live together again and more
than that we wasn't married law
full anyhow. We made ourselves
liable TO be arrested
You can marry or do as you
please as I will not put faith in
Write IL you want TO as will
always be glad to hear from yov-
The first letter which the officers
found in Wards clothes was dated
Jacksonville. Fla. Nov. 8, 1905. It.
too, was signed by Ella War.
| Cry Of a Broken Heart.
at is all over now, john" 1t read.
IT did not think a man lived who
could have treated a good woman as
mean as you have me. John, there Is
Judgment day coming when every
heart will have to answer for the
wrongs done in this world. I hope
you will not make a fool OF another
I woman might better have taken
the money you spent for clothes and
spent It to have come home. John. my
heart is broken and don't care what
becomes OF me. You have lied to me
and deceived me In more ways than
one. II you are taken sick come to
me and | will care for you, but l will
never come one step to you"
Motive for Murder.
| Officers believe that these letters
may furnish the motive for the MUIR
der.
"If Wards first wife had happened
Ito read either of the letters written
by Ella Ward, showing as they do the
mans perfidy, she might have so
aroused his temper that In his anger
he stabbed her." said Sheriff Bulliss.
81 think that some alteration took
place between Ward and the woman
Just before the murder. These letters
may have been the cause OF it.
John Conley, who has been known
here for many years as the dead
woman's husband, will not be held as
n witness as he signified his willing
ness to appear before a jury should
Ward be apprehended.
Ward is said to be powerful
man. He is 6 feet inches tall, and
weighs nearly 200 pounds. He Is So
years old His hair is slightly gray,
as well as his mustache.
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