The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1922-06-06
MRS. WARD, BEFORE Jury,
REFUSES TO REPLY TO
QUESTIONS ON HUSBAND
District Attorney Takes Wife
Before Justice MorSchauSer
to Force Her to Tell What
She Knows of Crime.
Slayer'S Bank Accounts Are
to Be Subpoenaed if He
Refuses to Testify About
Blackmail Conspiracy.

Mrs. Beryl Ward refused to an
swer several questions put to her to-
day before the Westchester County
Grand Jury investigating the killing
by her husband. Walter s. Ward, OF
Clarence Peters. May 1s. District
Attorney Weeks at once went before
Justice Morschauser in his chambers
and asked for an order COMPEL ng
Mrs. Ward to answer. He was ac-
conffs5nied by Allen r. Campbell OF
Wards counsel
Those who overheard the discus
sion gathered that Mrs. Ward had re-
fused 10 tell what guests were at her
home on Decatur Road, New Rochelle,
the evening before the body OF Peters
was found near Kensico Reservoir.
She also balked at stating what time
her husband came home that night
and what his actions were after he
got home, and refused to say whether
she recognized the photographs Of
several persons shown to her.
Mr. Weeks. 1t was understood, won
the argument. Justice Morschauser
told Mr.. Campbell Mrs. Ward was
within her rights in refusing to toll
anything said or done which was
known to herself alone, but she must
tell OF anything she had learned
which was common knowledge in the
household and which servants might
have seen or heard.
While Mrs. Ward was on the stand
Allen r. Campbell, of counsel for
Ward, was obviously nervous. He
watched the door of the Grand Jury
room. He showed an unwonted curl
osity regarding rumors which drifted
through the corridors and seemed as
eager for news as the youngest and
most worried Of the newspaper re-
porters
Mrs. Ward was preceded on the
stand by State Troopers Harry Green
and Joseph Collins. who took charge
of the body of Peters when IL was
found on King Street Road. north Of
the Kensico Reservoir. and by Dr..
John Fielding Black, who performed
the autopsy on the body OF Peters for
Coroner Fitzgerald.
When Walter $. Ward is called 10
the witness stand he will be asked
questions regarding the $4,000 he
says he paid to certain associ-
ates of Peters as blaekmail up TO
the time their demand for 375.-
900 more led to the battle which ended
in the death of Peters.
II Is assumed trom the tactics OF
Wards legal advisers that under their
advice he will refuse to give any de-
tails of the Matchmaking transactions.
In that event District Attorney Weeks
Is prepared to issue subpoenas to all
the banks and trust companies with
which Ward has done business and to
Ward himself, requiring the produc-
ton OF his checkbooks, deposit slips
and personal and business accounts
From these 1t Is believed much can be
learned as to expenditures OF any
such sum as $780, 900 during the last
few months. II checks were not made
out to the blackmailers the dates OF
checks on which large sums we're
drawn as cash will be OF pertinent in
terest to the Grand Jury.
In spite Of a general understanding
to the contrary. no subpoena has yet
been issued for George S. Ward.
father of Walter Ward. who, accord
ing 10 the son, had knowledge OF the
blackmaling operations and advised
Walter Ward by radio from across the
Atlantic that he would defy the eXtor-
toners.
I'VE can get George s. Ward when
we want him" is the answer Of the
District Attorneys once to inquiries
as TO why the head OF the Ward Bal
cry Company is not held by SuN
poena within the jurisdiction OF "
court, The assurance Is given
when the Grand Jury testimony