The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-31
in WARDS HOME?
New Version of Peters Staying
Given by New York Paper.
Killing TOOK Place in Home of
the Young Millionaire?
POLICE WERE TURNED BACK
Evening Journal Has "Eyewit-
ness" Story in Full.
Not Ward, But Another Victim
of BIackmaiI, Is Charge.

OF BIackmaiI, Is Charge.
New Rochelle. n. Y, May 81
Sheriff George Werner, following a
two-hour search, announced this after
noon that he found nothing in the
home of Walter S. Ward to substanti-
ate the story published in the New
York Evening Journal alleging that
Clarence Peters was Killed and a COM
panion wounded in the Ward home
here.
Are you satisfied in your own mind
that the Peters killing did not take
place here?'' Werner was asked.
Il did not say that" Werner re-
piled. Il said we found nothing to
substantiate the story"
New York. May 31.-A complete
and entirely new version of. the Ward
mystery, in which it is alleged that
Walter s. Ward shot and Killed C1ar-
ehce Peters and shot and seriously
wounded another youth, in the library
of his own home at New Rochelle, is
published by the Evening Journal
here today
The young millionaire baker. ac-
cording to this story. was seated at
about 1880 O'Clock on the evening of
May S, talking with Peters and his
young companion, who is now in
hospital, MANNED. when two other
men entered the house and were pass
ing up the pantry stairs, with the OBJ
ject of listening to the conversation.
seen by a Maid?
These men. one of whom is said to
have been an intimate friend OF Ward,
were seen by a maid.
The maid, according 10 the Journal
story, ran screaming and shouting
robbers bursting into the library to
inform Ward.
wards manner of easy good hui
NOR turned to rage. the Journal ac-
covered the presence of a third party
in his home, it is said, the young mil
lionaire's face went as white as a
sheet.
Pulling a gun from his pocket he
fired a shot at Peters. killing him in
stantly. Two more shots were fired
at Peters companion, one grazing his
scalp and the other inflicting a serious
wound Both men slumped to the
floor, bleeding profusely.
"a fourth shot was fired which
lodged in the wall of the Ward Ii
brary.'
Police Came-and Left
The noise of the shooting. the ac-
count declares. brought two police
men to the house. The friend of the
commissioner Ward will handle
this
The second and younger of the two
very difficult to convince that his
duty did not demand him to report
the fact to headquarters in the usual
routine manner. Finally, the family
friend aiding in the debate, 1t was
decided. according to the Journal,
that the wounded man should be re-
moved in one car and the body of the
ex-marine presumably. later was
taken to the Kansicoe reservoir where
the body was abandoned"
OF the reasons for the call nv Pc
ters and his friend on Ward, the Jour
nal says:
Their purpose. it was said. was to
prove to third party. not that they
We're Matchmaking Ward, but that an
entirely different figure in the case
was being b1ackmailed from a source
least expected"
Further revelations are promised.
white Plains, n. Y, May s1.-The
publication of a detailed description
of the alleged killing of Clarence Pc
ters and the wounding of a companion
by Walter S. Ward in the library of
the Ward home in New Rochelle was
followed today imme diately by con-
ferences among West Chester county
officials.
Chief of Police Frank j. Cody. OF
New Rochelle. and Lieut.. John Nc
Gown. head of his detective bureau,
rushed to White Plains and were
promptly closeted with District Attor-
ney Weeks.
The revelations which completely
overturned the previously built theory
Of the case were published in the
Evening Journal of New York City.
Weeks expressed a belief that a
newspaper would hardly dare publish
such a story unless there was some
thing to it,
Sheriff george werner said: Moth
ing will be left unturned when we
leave"
Sheriff Werner. Assistant District
Attorney Walter E Ferris and County
Finger Print Expert Raymond Hill,
accompanied by Lieutenant MCGOWAN,
left in the sheriff's car TO make a
New Rochelle.
New York. May 31.-The Evening
Journal which published the sensa-
tionally revised version OF the Ward
mystery, today announced receipt of a
letter signed - by a typewriter
knights of the Ku Klux Khan, Inc"
which read:
"You have printed lot about the
Knights of the Ku klux Khan, lot
that was not the truth. Very shortly
you will have a chance to print a lot
more, but this time the truth.
klansman Peters was killed by
Walter S. Ward, a man of great wealth
50 we hear, however wealth or position
in life makes no difference to the Ku
Klux Khan. We have given them, (the
officials) five days more to make good
and tell the truth"
Celebrate Co. Farm Bureau Founding
Leavenworth, Kan, May 31-PIans
are being carried out to make the big
picnic to be held here July Is in GEE
bration of the founding of the county
farm bureau a statewide affair
President Howard of the American
Farm Bureau, and officials or the
state organization have been invited
to address the gathering.