New-York tribune., 1922-05-24
Iodine Taken by Victim
of BlackmaiIers Five
Weeks Ago, Possibly by
Mistake, Doctor Says
Prosecutor Insists
Slayer Reveal All
Unsupported Recital Of
Killing ON Road Won't
Be Accepted; Only One
Pistol, One Shell, Found

! Abort FIVE weeks before Walter s,
Ward, son of the millionaire head of
the Ward Baking Company, shot and
killed Clarence heters he nearly
killed himself by swallowing the con-
tents Of a bottle Of iodone. The fact,
which became known yesterday, is
. regarded as Of unusual interest In
the Light Of the rich young mans
melodramatic story of months of re-
lentless persecution by blackmailers.
1t was revealed as the result Of the
scrutiny to which his entire past is
being SUBJ jectcd by unofficial investi-
gators.
A woman neighbor of the Wards
disclosed the story Of the incident,
and it vas confirmed by DR.. Orvilie
Fl. Schell, Of Sc Meadow Lane, New
Rochelle. Dr.. Schcll said he was
called to the Ward home. Sutton
Manor. about o'clock in the morn
ing and found Walter Ward writh-
ing on the floor He employed heroic
measures and succeeded in saving
his patients life.
Mistake Possible. Doctor Says
Il Will make this statement said
Dr. Schell, after exhibiting some re-
luctance yesterday, MI Ward did tako
iodine, but | am sure il was IN mis-
take for other medicine
The woman neiehbor who was called
to assist in treating the sufferer said
Mrs. Ward heard her husband coma
into the house about two O'Clock in
the morning. A short time later shs
came down stairs INTO the library and
found him eroaning IN chair. She
asked him what had happened and he
mutaly pointed 10 tha empty ,-iadine
! bottle. - i<s3'''
About that same time there WAS 1e-
port IN New Rochelle real estate cir-
cles that Sutton Manor was for sale.
District Attorney Frederick E.
Weeks said yesterday that j Ward IS
10 be cxonerated of killing Peters. the
complete story must be told,
IN the first place only one pistol has
been accounted for That $ the Colt
.3S automatic which Ward used TO XIII
Peters. Even that has not been sur
rendered to the authorities. Ward
says Peters fred Q shot at him bu: 20
weapon was found beside the body, and
neither Ward nor his lawyers profess
TO know what has become of Peters's
weapon, if he did nave one.
Only One Shell Found
Ward also told District Attorney
Weeks and Sheriff George Werner thst
ne had empticd his gun at Charlie
Ross" and Jack, the associates of his
victim. Peters. But if he had done
this there would have been more than
one cartridge shell Oh the ground. be-
cause all makes Of automatic pistols
eject shells as they are discharged.
District Attorney Weeks and Coroner
that they had heard Of but one she'll
being found.
On this point there can be small
doubt. Duncan Rose. drug clerk in
White Plains. discovered the body %
Peters ard Immediately afterward re-
ported his find to Troop X of the state
police. Troopers H. 4. Green and f. 3.
Collins were at the scene of the XIII
ing within hftcer minutes. These men
are trained TO overlook nothing tha:
nigh; later serve 20 bring murderer
TO justice. ;hcy searched carefully
every foot Of the ground near the body
and found only one shell. They DID
not find any indication Of struggle.
They reported that the dead man had
been shot down in his tracks
Similar reports We're given ont for
publication by Sheriff Werner prior 20
the identification of the victim as Ciar-
ence Peters. Since Wards confession,
however. the Sheriff has professed to
be somewhat hazy about certain de-
tails Of the affair
Shot Elsewhere, New Theory
Ore theory of the killing OF Peters
that does not throw doubt on the self
defense plea or tie blackmail features
of Wards story was beginning to be
discussed by some Of the authorities
IN the county last night. These off,
cia,s We're asking if It was possible
tina. Peters had been shot elsewhere
and his body conveyed to the spot
where 1t was found.
Such theory would account for the
lack of evidence to support Wards re-
ctal of the struggle that prec ed the
killing.
Last Thursday telegram signed
Sheriff George Werner" was sent to
the police Of Haverhill. Mass, asking
them to inform Mr. and Mrs. Eidridga
Peters Of the finding of a body be-
iieved 70 be their SON. The Sheriff
denied that day that he had sent any
such telegram. Yesterday another
county official admitted that he had
Instructed the Sheriff 20 send the mes
sage.
Threats Were Typewriter
District Attorney Weeks said yes-
terday that when Ward and the lat
ter's attorneys first came to him with
their story of the shooting thew
showed him two letters. typewritten
and signed with the typewritten ini.
tals &c. R." presumably standing for
Charlie Ross Both of these mes
sages. it was said by Mr.. Weeks. were
substantially as follows: Meet us or
you'll never meet the Majestic" Tho
MAJ estic was the ship which brought
Walter Wards father home to fhe
United States on the day of the kill
ing.
AT that same interview between an.
ttorities Of the county and Ward and
his attorneys Allan Campbell. ons 81
these advisers, who also is personal