New-York tribune., 1922-06-09
Letter Found in Auto Saws
"Walt Didn't Arrive I'm
til $780, Although His
Wife Had Expected Him
Mrs. Hook Tells of
Mixed Poker Party
Declares Broken Glass on
Driveway Came From
Car Her Sister Drove


A considerable addition was made
yesterday 20 the list OF witnesses 10
be examined by tho Westchcsier Coun-
~ grand jury that is making an IN
quiry into the killing Of Clarence
Peters by Walter s. Ward. Of New
Rochelle. The officials arc now in pos.
session, purely BY chance. OF the names
Of several women who played cards
with Mrs. Bcryl Curtis Ward in her
home on the night Peters was shot.
II the means by which these names
were made known 70 the prosecuting
officials were employed 20 further dra-
matte action in play It would be ridi-
eulcd as extravagant. Yet this is the
way It happened;
Benjamin Kendall is q truck driver
and earns additional money BY wash
ing automobiles in the jenkins Garage.
on the West Post Road. in White
Plains. Last Monday night a newly
painted maroon Packard runabout was
left there By Mr.. and Mrs. :. Franklin
Burke, who live at Gilmore Court,
Grcenacre. Scarsdalc. 10 be washed.
Finds Letter Between Cushions
Kendall, who is twenty-one years old.
poked his head in the car after they
departed and spied an envelope pro-
truding from between the side and seat
cushions. Perhaps Kendall Is taking a
correspondence school course in detec-
tive work or maybe he ia just humanity
CURIOUS. At any rate. hc opened the
letter and read u with moro Of a thrill
than he is likely TO get soon again
unless Mr.. Burke keeps some Of the
promises he made himself yesterday
with reference 10 Kendall.
The letter, on monogramcd station
cry, bore no stamp, but was sealed and
addressed 10 Mrs. Charles Dubois. Of
Atlantic Highlands. n. j. The con,
plete contents arc not known except
10 the writer and the prosecuting Of
fcials OF Westchcstcr County. but, as
Kendall recalled IL yesterday. II made
references 10 the Ward case and said /:
Fran wns there when il happened
and left after IL happened The glass
not from Waits car at all. n came
from mine. Walt didn't arrive until
$3.50, although Bcryl was waiting for
him"
There also were references in the
letter 20 a dinner az the Army and
Navy Club and a supper and dance at
the Ardsley County Club. Kendall
thought his find was worth money,
81
Offering 81 900 10 any one who will
solve the Ward mystery. but before he
had q chance 20 claim a reward word
that Kendall had such a letter reached
the Office OF Sheriff George Werner.
and soon afterward he surrendered the
missive TO Deputy Sheriff Charles Lent.
Fran" a Neighbor Of the Wards
Mrs. Burke proved to be the sister
of Mrs. Alfred J. Hook. OF - Sutton
Manor, a near neighbor Of the Wards
Mrs. Hook, when asked. identified her
self as the Fran" mentioned IN the
letter. Her first name is Frances. The
"it" referred 20 in the letter, was not
the shooting Of Peters, but merely a
slight accident 10 Mrs. Burke's iivver,
which resulted in the shattering Of the
windshield-and smash went another
treasured clew OF Sheriff Werner.
Kendall's find seemed much moro i'm
portant twcn;y-four hours later, be-
cause when Mrs Bu.ke called FOR her
car and learned that her letter had
been taken she had an attack Of some
thing that the lay mind OF Garage
Manager jenkins diagnosed as hys-
tCrics.
When detectives and reporters began
10 swarm about the Hooks. the Burkes
and the Duboises they received some
new information. also vast amount OF
conflicting details.
Mrs. Hook admitted her sister had
written the letters. and said Il was
merely note Of thanks 10 Mrs. Dubois
whose house guest she had been last
week. and by way OF making 1t inter,
esting she also wrote some frst.hand
details about the affairs Of the Wards.
Does the Fran in the letters refer
to Franklin Burke? >" she was asked.
mo" Mrs. Hook explained. Fran
means me. Ny first name IS Frances.
(conunusd on n,S, psas