The Washington times., 1922-05-28
$4,000 CASH GIVES
WARD HIS FREEDOM
Wealthy Slayer Released on
Bail as Officials Con-
tinue Inquiry.
CHECK DEFENDANTS STORY
Coroner Plans to Hold Inquest
Tomorrow in Effort to
Clear UP Enigma.
CHECK DEFENDANTS STORY
by Universal Service.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, May
27.-Coincident with the release
late today Of Walter S. Ward,
confessed slayer Of Clarence
Peters, in $4,000 bail, new de-
velopments tended to make the
circumstances surrounding the
alleged blackmail plot more
enigmatc than ever. Latest
features in the case are: ;.
Latest Developments.
1-Statement by William ]. Fa-
Ion, attorney for the family Of the
slain man. that he had defended
Charlie Ross" in o blackmailing
case a year ago. Ward claimed
Charlie Ross" had co-operated with
Peters in blackmailing him
a--Statemenl by District Attorney
Weeks: I'VE are beginning to think
that II the corpse had not been iden'
titled, we would never have heard
from Ward"
aProof that the playing card
found on the lawn Of the Ward
home did not correspond with the
pack of cards taken from Peters
clothing following the Staying.
4-Indications by Corner Fitzgerald
that he would in all probability hold
the inquest Monday.
Doubt Wards Statement.
Supreme Court Justice Seeger at
Newburgh, before granting Wards
release asked whether the defendant
could put up $50, 900 bail in cash or
liberty bonds, and when the reply
was given in the affirmative, the
Court said:
This case is considered a mystery
and the question Of whether Ward
is guilty of a crime or whether II is
a case of murder or granddaughter Is
impossible to determine at this time.
This Is because the only witness IL
the defendant and his testimony is
entitled to be considered with care
before It Is accepted in full. Under
the circumstances the bail should be
In substantial amount. At the time
the bail Of $4,000 was named there
was not much doubt as to the truth
of Wards statement. but now that
some doubt is held by the district at
torney, I think the bail should be
much higher than the nominal
$40, ,Ooo."
Shortly after the courts decision,
Elwood Rabinold. chief counsel for
Ward. appeared at the office Of
Sheriff Warner and announced him.
self as ready to furnish bail. The
sheriff quickly made out the receipt
and accepted forty-nine $1,000 bills
and two $500 bills offered by the at
torney.
Ward. who had been brought
over from the westchester County
Jail, where he spent the night TO
the sheriffs office. was told that
he was at liberty to depart.
Inquest Probable Monday.
A man who was said to be the
slayer's brother, stepped up to
Ward Just as he was leaving the
courthouse. They jumped into an
automobile and sped in the diree.
ton Of New Rochelle, Wards home.
The attention Of the authorities
is now directed to a completion
Of a check Of the story told by
Ward Of the alleged blackmail plot
against him that resulted In the
death Of Peters. The indications are
that the coroner will start his in.
quiry to establish the cause Of
Peters death on Monday.
The playing card which was
found on the lawn of Wards home
yesterday was examined today by
Lieutenant Roberts, Of the State
police and Trooper Green. Green.
who is an expert on cards, said
that It had not come from the
pack which Peters carried. This
Continued on Pare Q, Column ~