The New York herald., 1922-06-12
Officers Seek Jackson and
Ross Among Adirondack
Rum Runners.
WITNESSES ARE CALLED
Weeks to Ask First Degree
Murder Indictment if Evi-
dence Warrants.

A letter written by Walter s. Ward
under date of May 16, the day Peters
was killed, addressed to Arthur j.
Blute, at Ray street. Jamaica, L. l.,
county authorities.
The communication was found on
Elwood Heffner Of New Rochelle, who
was arrested late Saturday by the po-
lice of that city on charge of forgery.
The letter was postmarked $3.50 P. NJ,
Station r, New York City," and bears
the signature of Ward. According to
the police. Heffner is racetrack fol-
lower Of the touting type.
Among other things the letter says:
Am not interested in any further in
formation of that kind. My letter ad-
dressed to II. B. Byrnes. General De-
livery. Louisville. KY. was returned to
me. Is that the best address you have
for him?"
According to the Westchester authori-
ties Heffner. who was questioned for
four hours yesterday, said the letter
written to Blute by Ward on May 16
was in answer to one he had delivered
to Ward either at New Rochelle or the
Ward Baking Company plant in The
Bronx on May II, two days before the
killing Of Clarence Peters.
The authorities say. according TO their
information, that Heffner acted as go
between for Blute and Ward. The po-
lice would not reveal the contents OF the
letter alleged to have been delivered to
Ward on May IA. but intimated that the
two communications might have an Inn
portant bearing m the case.
Wards story Not Disproved.
Ward in his confession said he had
been the victim Of q blackmail plot as
tho result OF certain race track ele-
ments. So far the authorities have
been unable to disprove this story.
Ward through his attorneys declared
he had already paid the blackmailers
$4,000 and that the gang had de-
manded $4,000 more as hush money.
Ward Is reported to have cabled to
Europe to his father. George S. Ward.
asking for $4,000. The elder Ward
started home on the first steamship and
while on the way sent a wireless mes
sage to his son saying that he would
not pay a cent, but would give 100000
to put that gang into jail" accord
ing to information in possession of Dis
trict Attorney Weeks.
Detectives have been working for the
last two weeks in an endeavor to trace
any blaclmail plot against Ward orig
mating from the race tracks or else
where. Many clews have been followed
up, but without results.
Miller Not Mixing in Case.
The report that Gov. Miller had con-
ference on Saturday with William l..
Ward, Republican leader of Westminster
county, and Sheriff Werner on certain
phases of the Ward murder mystery was
denied last night by Sheriff Werner. The
Walter 8. Ward
II was said that Gov Miller had
stopped at White Plains for the confer
ence while on his way to Albany by
automobile.
1t was learned last night that Mrs.
n. willard Curtis, mother OF Mrs. Ward.
had not as yet been summoned to appear
before the Grand Jury tomorrow MORN
ing. She left Briar Cliff Lodge. in Briar
Cliff Manor, a few hours before the ar
rival of an under Sheriff to serve her
with a subpoena.
District Attorney Weeks announced
last night that he intended to ask the
Grand Jury to indict Ward for murder
in the first degree II the evidence war
rants Should such an indictment be
returned Mr.. Weeks intifnated that the
self-confessed slayer of Peters would
probably be placed on trial at the Sep
tember term of court.
witnesses Are Summoned.
A score or more OF witnesses have
been summoned to appear In White
T,ains tomorrow before the West
chester County's May Grand Jury and
tell what they know about the killing
Of Clarence Peters by Walter s. Ward
and the alleged blackmailing plot that
Ward gave as his excuse for shooting
Peters four weeks ago.
Most important Of these witnesses
will be Wards father and brother.
George s. Ward, president of the Ward
Baking Company. and George ID. Ward.
its vice-president. Subpnnas for their
appearance were Issued Friday and
Ralph Ward has been served. Ward
senior Is returning In his automobile
by easy stages from Bedford Springs,
Pa. where he attended bakers con-
vention.
He has no intention Of lodging the
Grand Jury II Is understood, and Is
expected TO be on hand 20 tell what he
knows Of the blackmail story as well
as Of certain wireless messages said
TO have passed between Walter Ward
and himself when the blackmailers. II
Is said, were trying TO force Ward
Junior to pay them $4,000 In addition
T.. the $4,000 that he says they had
already obtained.
Another member of Wards family
who will be called tomorrow Is his
mother-in-law. Mrs. Anne Willard Cur
tis OF Brooklyn. who is at the Briar-