Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-07
DETECTIVES CHECK
MRS. WARDS STORY
Authorities Follow Up Facts Re-
IuctantIy Given by Wife
at Hearing
FORCED TO ANSWER QUERIES

White Plains. n. T.. June DE
tectivcs for District Attorney Weeks
were busy today investigating the state
mcnts made before the Grand Jury yes.
terdny by Mrs. Beryl Ward, wife OF
Walter 8. Ward. confessed slayer OF
Clarence Peters. She was a reluctant
witness.
Not until after she had been brought
before Supreme Court Justice Nor
schauscr in chambers did the young
woman reveal even little OF what
passed in her home on the evening be-
fore and the morning Of the shooting.
Point in Wards Favor
Mrs. Wnrd finally fixed the arrival
home Of her husband on the morning
Of the shooting at about 4 80. This
is a point in Wards favor, as he said
the fight which resulted in the death
Of Peters started on the kcnsico Res.
went home Immediately after the battle.
Both the maid and the nurse In the
Ward home also gave the time Of
Wards arrival there as 4 30 a. NJ.
Through the bank books and checks
of Ward. Mr.. Weeks hopes to trace the
payments Ward says he made OF
S3O, 900 to blackmailers before they de.
manded the additional $4,000 which
resulted In the death battle with Peters.
Mr.. Weeks refused to say II George
s. Ward. father Of young Ward, would
he called tomorrow when the Grand
Jury rcconvenes.
Cunningham Minus Bail
Counsel for James J. Cunningham.
whose story Of a battle in the Ward
home and the death Of Peters and the
wounding Of another man there caused
his arrest rs a material witness. has
been unable to raise the 5000 bail
fixed for his release.
Cunningham seems to desire to re.
tain his cell In the jail here and is not
over anxious to get his freedom since
1t was reported that he had been threat.
ened in notes sent him since his arrest
Mrs. Ward readily answered the
routine questions as to her name. the
name Of her husband and their address.
Then District Attorney Weeks, 1t was
learned. asked her:
"Do you remember what occurred on
the night of May 1872"
Il refuse to answer on the advice OF
counsel" objected Mrs. Ward in the
cool even tones with which she had
answered the other questions.
4 few more questions were asked.
such as "Was Clarence Peters ever in
your home?" and "Do you know any.
thing Of the plot to blackmail your
husband?" Mrs. Ward answered each
of these, it was asccrtained. with the
reply formulated by the War lawyers.
Then came the conference with Jus
ticc Morschauser. But even his ruling
did not greatly add to the sum of the
information gained from the witness.
Supports Husbands Statement
Her statement that Ward came home
Mt 1 30 4. NJ. comedies with her hus.
bands story. and this was corroborated
by the two servants. The nurse and
maid both denied knowledge of the
! identity of any of the persons who
are understood to have played cards IN
the Ward home on the night Of the
shooting. and no light was thrown on
this social affair by Mrs. Ward.
| that the grand jurors desire to question
Mrs. Ward further. and, although they
do not meet today. she probably will
be asked to appear before them again
tomorrow. The inquiry probably viii
last, it was said by well Informed per.
Sosn. until next week.
When Mrs. Ward left the courthoust
at White Plains shortly before 3 O'Clock
she was escorted by Mr.. Campbell
She was smiling. quite at her ease. Sh'
posed for photographers and then step
ped into an automobile and started bacl
TO New Rochelle and her children.
The other witnesses who testified be
fore the grand jurors yesterday di'
little else than recite the fact neces
sary to establish the corpus delici. Th
interesting witnesses are to come. an
they will include George S. Ward. tn
father Of Walter. This was state'
with assurance last night by one of tn
county officials.