Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-09
DISCOVERY Of A
NOTE IS LATEST
CLEW IN MURDER
Missive May Lift the Cur
tain of Mystery Surround
ing the Card Party Held
In Home of Ward.

White Plains, June S.-Discoy
cry of a note on the floor of ;
machine taken to garage for
wash served today to lift the cur
tain OF mystery surrounding tn,
card party held in the New Ro
chelle home of Walter S. Ward
the night he shot and killed Clar
ence Peters.
At the same time, the West
chester county grand jury, resum
ing its investigation of the case
after a days recess, went into con
ference with District ATTORNEY
Weeks over newspaper reports Of
its activities and the necessity fol-
greater secrecy during the inquiry
When the jurors adjourned unit
next Tuesday after examining five
New Rochelle policemen, nothins
could be learned regarding the
nature of their testimony. Thu
note the latest clue in the mys.
terry which has been puzzling de-
tectives since May 16--was turned
over to the county authorities by
Benjamin Kendall, an employe in
a White Plains garage. He said
he found the letter, addressed to
Mrs. Charles Dubois of Atlantic
Highlands, n. j. in a car belong
ing to J. Franklin Burke of Scars
dale, connected with a New York
wooden firm.
Not Read in Part.
According to Kendall, tho note
read in part:
Fran was there when 1t hap
pened and left at 1920. The glass
that they found in the driveway
was not from Wards car at all.
1t came from mine. Walt didn't
arrive until $3.50, although Beryl
was waiting"
Communication was established
with Mrs. Alfred H. Hook, who
lives across the street from the
Wards and who is a sister of Mrs.
Burke. Mrs. Hooks first name,
Frances, is abbreviated into Fran"
by her intimates.
Asserting that her sister had told
her of losing the letter, Mrs.
Hook, who said she was one of
those who attended the Ward card
party the night OF the shooting,
said that Mrs. Burke referred by
'it' to the breaking of the glass
In the windshield of her car,
when 1t crashed into another on
the Ward driveway.
Mrs. Dubois, she said, was
close friend, and Mrs. Burke
wished to let her know that the
broken glass on the drive did not
represent the pane which Ward
said had been punctured in his
coupe in pistol battle near the
reservoir with Peters and a band
IF alleged blackmailers.
What Caused the Crash.
According to Mrs. Hook, her
lister had left the Ward home and
lad neglected to take a wheel lock
,ff before starting her car. This
,aused it to crash into another.
She added that neither she nor
Mrs. Burke had considered the ac-
ident important and therefore
lad not reported It.
Then Mrs. Hooh told the story
# the Ward card party:
"On the night of the shooting"
he said, she crossed the street TO
he Ward home to take a walk
With Mrs. Ward. After a brief
however, Mrs. Ward
IeCided to get up a poker party
nd assembled her guests by teie-
hone.
Mr.. Hook was i'll and did not
tend, according to his wife, who
aid she left at 1920 About a
oxen guests were still playing
ards at that time, she said. She
eclined to name the guests before
eing critically questioned, but as
erted that they were our own
et."
No Disturbance Occurred.
No disturbance occurred in the
Yard home while she was there,
he continued, and she heard none
alter.
Ward was not at home and she I
id not see Peters in the house.
District Attorney Weeks declar-
d the explanation of the broken /
lass was the first that he had |
card that an accident had oc-
urred on the Ward driveway the |
light of the shooting.
When he was asked if Mrs. Hook |
r the Burkes had been supboen-
ed, Mr.. Weeks declared there had |
ot been time. Meanwhile Burke,
tho is understood to have met |
FRS. Burke and his sister-in-law
1 New Rochelle today, telephoned |
heriff Werner that he wished to |
ee him and hoped to get down
onight from his home in Scars
ale.
The grand jury was in session
our and a half hours. Cunning |
am, who first was reported tod
ave been called before it, remains
d in Mr.. Weeks office. The reason
or his presence was not explained. |
---e---
The fourteenth century armor |
as so heavy that many young SOL |
I4f