The New York herald., 1922-06-16

having been killed early In the morning
of the same day.
The Ward lawyers, soon after Walter
Ward surrendered himself. which he did
on May 20, and told OF the shooting OF
Peters, gave the public to understand
that the blackmailing plot had it's in
ception at the race track. but they
! told no more than that, except that
Ward had paid the gang about $4,000
and that they had demanded $4,000
more.
1t now appears, as the other details
| OF the narrative came to light yester-
day, that Ward said his race track ad-
| ventures began last summer. He had
never gone to the track before. but with
friend and prompted only by curiosity
he went one day to the Empire City
track in Yonkers. The experience inter-
ested him. and thereafter he went again
frequently, alone or with others.
Meets Sure Thing Tipster.
On one of these occasions he met a
tipster who said he had q sure thing
Ward bet and the horse won. He went
again and laid wagers with the same
man. Presently tipsters got into the
habit of calling him on the telephone
with their "red hot Information.
Later-the exact time Is still mys-
tery-a stranger who called himself
Charley Ross appeared at Wards office
with tip on a sure thing that was run
ming that day. He told Ward also that
he had better bet on a certain horse or
certain people would be told that
Ward was frequenting the track and
was losing money. This. 1t Is alleged,
was the beginning of the blackmail
Men whom Ward had taken for ordi-
nary tipsters willing to let him have
what they knew or pretended to know
for the ordinary percentage. were now
extorting money from him under the pre-
text that he was betting IL on horses
they designated. This kept up for
while. and eventually Charley Ross
brought his friend Jack into the game.
Ward has always said that he never
heard Jacks last name.
Ward kept increasing the size of his
bets as the blaclmailers dragged him
in deeper. There came a day when he
told them he could risk no more.
Ward Becomes Defiant.
He said he was through, and they
could go and tell anybody Whatever
they wanted to. Then, seeing that their
first threats had lost their strength
Charley and Jack told Ward that they
knew something about something that
was alleged to have occurred In MS
early married life. They said they would
hold this over him.
Because of this they began demanding
money of him outright, the betting
pretense having been abandoned. Ward
put them off. The blackmailers piled
terror on terror. TheyNsaid they knew
story about a relative Of Wards and the
relatives wife. Ward, not knowing
what to do, played for time. There was
no way of Immediately checking the
story to see whether ii was true, bus
Ward knew the gang had in some
strange way acquired other information
which 1t would not do to have others
know Ward decided that it was UP TO
him to shield this relative. He gave
the blackmailers more money and COLI
tinued to do so as long as he could
stand it.
In the spring. when the New YORK
police suddenly began their roundup Oh
criminals, Charley Ross and Jack got
word to Walter Ward that the neighbor-
hood was getting too hot for them and
they had to have lot Of money in
hurry. The alternative was that they
would tell their stories in the quarters
where the most harm would be done -
Nv this time the worries that were
besetting Ward were showing In MS
appearance and manner. Friends spoke
10 hin, about Il. but he laughed them off
and said nothing was the matter. AZ
the plot reached its climax WARD was
being threatened with exposure both OF
racing losses and personal matters and
the blackmailers were also ceiling MN
they would kill his wife and children.
Cable Is Sent to Father.
At the same time he needed large
sum, between $4,000 and 100000. TO
meet his racing debts and the demands
of the extortioners. 1t was at this stage
that he caused cable or radio message
TO be sent by a member of the family
to George s.. Ward, who was in Europe
or on the homeward voyage. The father
IL is understood, sanctioned the payment
Of the desired sum to Walter
But before 1t could be paid the MEM
ber of the family who had acted before
got word to the senior Ward that ne
! did not know why Walter wanted the
money, but the amount was so large
that he suspected blackmaii. The fatner
thereupon cancelled the authorization
with a message which was In erect
mot one cent for blaclzmail."
The blackmailers were apparently ac-
ouainted with these negotiations and
| during this period they continued 10
repeat their threats OF double exposure
| and OF killing Ward. his wife ana ms
children They also put shadowers on
! the trail Of Walter Ward, so that ne was
followed everywhere. :,
The shadows bobbed up at unexpected
| places. They seemed to make no at
| tempt TO conceal themselves. but made
| n poInt of staring their victim In the
| face until he saw them and realized
| that this was another reminder OF
what he was to expect IL he did not pro-
| duce the $4,000. They badgered him
by telegraph and telephone. They wore
| him down.
Persecution Is Increased.
As the police renewed their combing
| ar New York's underworld. and the
| criminal exodus increased. so increased
| the persecution of Walter Ward. In
Nav the blackmaiiers we're insisting on
| personal interview and a showdown.
| The date set was May IA. Not until
| Yesterday was Il disclosed that there
| was a meeting on that night Ward
| drove out at night to meet them at an
appointed spot not far from Rye, In
! Westchester county. The men he met
were Charley Ross. his pal, JACK, and
| Clarence Peters.
| whether this was his first meeting
with Peters is not yet known. 1t is
known that Peters was discharged from
the Marines at Paris Island, S. c.. on
| Nav l2. and heretofore II has been sup
posed that he did not leave Paris Island
until the thirteenth and could not have
Il L Al. a.