The Washington times., 1922-06-02
ER' s
DAD LOOMS
s 7 TR0NGLY
| n PL D 7
Theory Grows Youth Is Pro-
tecting Real Man Who
Slew Peters.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y. June
flames J. Cunningham. race
track hanger-on and former pri-
vate detective, who was arrested
as a material witness after tell
ing a story in which he claimed
to know the details of the killing
of Clarence Peters. ex-sailor, by
Walter S. Ward, millionaire vice
president Of the Ward Baking
Company, was questioned at
length by West LISTER county Of
ficials today. 4E ..-
Throws New Light.
According 10 Cunningham. II was
Wards father who was being black
mailed by Peters and two other men
known as Rogers" and Joe" Jack.
son. Cunningham said he thought It
was over an affair the elder Ward
was alleged to have had with a
woman. Walter S. Ward was acting
as "go-between."
Cunningham said he did not see
the shooting but learned Of Il from
both Rogers and jackson. who ar
rived at his home in an automobile
early in"the morning Of May is, after
Peters had been killed and his BODY
placed in the lonely Kensico reservoir
road.
jackson was suffering from a sert.
Gus wound and wanted treatment
ha
cunningham said he knew of a
sanitarium in Stamford, Conn.
where the wounded man could get
secret treatment, so they drove there.
Ihat was the last Cunningham saw
OF jackson, he said.
Denies Previous Story,
Cunningham has told two stories.
IL was he who revealed to the New
York Evening Journal that the
shooting took place in the library OF
the ward home at New Rochelle, but
upon being questioned by Frederick
Il. weeks, district attorney of West.
chester county; George J. Werner.
sheriff OF Westchester county, and
other officials, he changed his origi-
nal version.
AT first he said he had been pres
ent and witnessed the shooting. but
subsequently, he told the officials
that he got all his information from
jackson and Rogers.
An official working on the case sx-
pressed the belief Ward was not the
real slayer, intimating that Ward
was shielding some one.
The statement that Ward did not
KIN Peters caused a sensation. There
had been rumors to this effect
previously, but today was the first
time that anyone connected with the
investigation has come out openly
and expressed this belief.
One point that stands out strongly
in this officials mind against Wards
claim that he slew Peters is the
amazing coolness of Ward and also
his wife. The informant said he had
not the slightest idea who killed
Peters, but was positive that Peters
was killed miles away from where
the body was found.
Deputy Sheriff Fred Ruscoo In.
timated that the westchester county
authorities already have located the
hospital or sanitarium in Stamford
wntre Cunningham said that Jack.
son had taken refuge. Ituscoo did
not indicate, however, II jackson
were still in the institution.
Ruscoo admitted that he had been
ordered to Stamford to visit a GER
tain hospital. When he left he was
accompanied by Raymond Hill, Coun.
ty fingerprint expert.
"The Rat" Arrested.
Cunningham. alias Jimmy the
Rat" was arrested last night 1T the
McAlpin Hotel after being cross-ex-
amined for three hours ny District
Attorney Weeks and Sheriff wer.
ner.
For three days Cunningham had
been under the constant surveillance
Of Hearst reporters, who have devel-
oped amazing facts from the pris.
oner.
Following a violent scene, In which.
Cunningham tore up papers and
threw them out OF the window, A, g
Dennison. chief detective OF tn. Nc
Alpin's investigating bureau, assisted
by William Dorsey. OF his staff, took
Cunningham in hand and foroed
some remarkable admissions from
him,
Clinnin Rha N. nha~x.a 49,