The New York herald., 1922-06-14
RALPH WARD WON'T
TELL OF BLACKMAL,
DEFIES GRAND JURY
Weeks Will Seek Order to
Compel Testimony, With
Jail Alternative.
WARD SIR. Is OBSTINATE
Father of Confessed Slayer
Refuses to Come From
Pennsylvania.
STATEMENT BY A MARINE
Friend of Slain Man Gives
Evidence That May Lead
to Unraveling Puzzle.
STATEMENT BY A MARINE

Walter S. Ward'S DrOtner, ftdlpH -.
Ward, appeared before the Westches-
ter county Grand Jury in White
Plains yesterday. but refused fatty to
answer any questions regarding
conversation between himself and his
father, George S. Ward, president OF
the Ward Baking Company. concern
ing the alleged blackmail plot which
Walter Ward gave as his reason for
killing Clarence Peters. Ralph Ward
was on the witness stand for only five
minutes, and left by side door. look
ing somewhat ruffied and refusing to
comment on the case.
1t is understood that District Attor-
ney Weeks will ask Justice Morschau-
ser this morning for an order COM
pelling Ralph Ward to answer the
questions of the Grand Jury. II he
follows precedent Justice Morschauser
will grant the order, and then II Ward
still refuses to answer he may be COM
mitted to Jail for contempt Of court.
Ward has been served with sdbp9na
to appear at White Plains this morn
ing at 10 o'clock, when the Grand Jury
will resume its Investigations.
Hope to Get mt Mystery.
The White Plains authorities believe
that the conversation between Ralph
Ward and his father will give them the
v-d
There seems to be slight chance that
they will get any information from the
elder Ward, as he Is now In Williams
port. Pa. on civil law case. Every
effort has been made to get Mr.. Ward
back. but so far these efforts have not
been successful.
Sheriff Werner said last night that
he was amazed to learn that the
ldar Ward had been located in Penn
sylvania, and expressed the opin-
ion that the District Attorneys office
would do everything possible to get
him to come back and testify. The
Sheriff said, however, that he had no
idea how this could be accomplished.
The Grand Jury adjcurne yesterday
after examining five witnesses. In ad-
dition to Ralph Ward. they were Sheriff
Werner, George w. Sutton of New
Rochelle, Irma Ziegler former nurse
and Governess in the Ward home. and
Raymond d. Hill of the sheriff's Of
flee. The investigation probably will not
be completed before Joly, as the District
Attorney is trying to get an indictment
for first degree murder against Ward.
and will present every possible scrap Of
evidence before closing the case.
Trying Every Plan.
Another reason why he Is not rushing
the investigation Is that before the
Grand Jury is dismissed he wishes to ex-
haust every opportunity to find Charley
Ross or Charles Rogers. and Bill Jack
son, or Jack. the missing alleged eye
witnesses of the shooting OF Peters.
They were reported in northern New
York State again yesterday. and Sheriff
Werner is investigating this report as
we'll as others that have been received
The prosecution does not intend to give
the Ward defence a chance to charge
lack OF efforts to locate the two men,
who. outside OF Walter Ward. are sup
posed TO know more ABOUT the Dldckrnau
plot than any one else.
Mr.. Sutton. who was one of the guests
at the poker party In the Ward home
on the night Peters was killed. told tbs
Grand Jury virtually the same story
that he related to the authorities a
week ago. He said that he was i'm
Walter S. Wards house from 1920 to
o'clock. and that nothing unusual hap
pened. Walter Ward did not return
home while he was there. Sutton said.
This BEARS out the statements made by
Ward.
Miss Zlegler said that she was em-
ployed by the Wards as substitute
for Miss Lulu Burrows, nurse fo- the
Ward children. and that she left the
house one or two days after the night
of the shooting. May 16. Her testimony.
II is understood. had to do with bits of
conversation between Ward and Mrs.
Ward, which she overheard at the break
fast table the following morning
Deputy Sheriff Hill. who is the finger
print expert Of the Sheriff's office testi-
fed regarding his visits to Wards home
In search Of clues and his questioning
Of Mrs. Ward and the servants.