New-York tribune., 1922-06-02
James ]. Cunningham,
Newspaper Informant,
Arrested at Hotel: His
Stories Said to Conflict
Told of Wounded
Man i'm the Bronx
Pinkertons Also Search
Broadway for Pair Who
Are Blackmaif Suspects

James J. Cunningham. whose home Is
in the Bronx. was arrested last night al
the Hotel MeAlpin and locked up a.
the county jail In White Plains as a
material witness in the investigation
into tho death Of Clarence Peters
whom Walter s. Ward. viec-prcsideni
Of the Ward Baking Company, says he
shot in self-defense when attacked by
a gang Of blaekmailers.
Cunningham Is said 10 have told Dis
triet Attorney Weeks. Of Westehcster
County. that a man wounded by Ward
in the afrray in which Peters was killed
was brought 70 his mothers home in
the Bronx. The District Attorney said
however. that the prisoner had told
two diHcrcn; stories Of the incident
Trailed for Tsrec Days
James J. Cunningham is beng "til
as a material witness" said Mr.. Weeks
"He was dug up by The New York
American az the result Of an anony-
nous letter. He had been trailed FOR
three days.
"He told The American a story, and
when confronted by tine Sheriff and
myself he told another story. lie said
that the man said to have been wound
ed by Ward was brought down to his
mothers home in the Bronx in tour
ing car. and the wounded man was then
driven away
Cunningham is employed at race
track al present and one time. II mol
now. was employed IN the stables Of
Commodore !. K. l.. Ross. the Cana
dian horseman. He said he was
acquainted with Ward. who ia said "a
have passed considerable time al race
tracks and also with the alleged black
mailers. The officials OF Wesichestcr
County we're far from sure last night
however. how far his knowledge goes
Neither the Sheriff nor the District
Attorney protested 70 have detailed
story from Cunningham as 70 his rela-
tions with the supposed blaekmsilers
or with Ward.
Committed on CoronePs Order
This man il only held as a material
witness" said Sheriff Werner. There
is nothing definite about him. He has
talked two different ways. In other
uays we haven't had a real chance TO
talk 70 him. He was committed 10 jail
on the Coroner's order.
such men always have two or three
different stories, and We will lave 10
examine him 20 get the right one. In
fect, we haven't had a chance to talk
10 him. We won't have a chance 10 talk
10 him unit, tomorrow. He just made
admissions enough so that We could
lock him up. He seems 70 know All
about this crime He said he knew
Ward. Peters. Jack and Ross
II was Jack the Specder." the al.
legged partner OF Charley Ross and
Peters in the attemp, 10 blaekmail
Watd. that was brought wounded 20
the home OF Cunningham's mother. ae-
cording 10 the witness. Sheriff Werner
said. He said he and District Attorney
Weeks Rad examined Cunningham foi
an hour AZ the Hotel McAlpin. but had
not obtained a eoheren and convincing
narrative.
Don't bet mueh on it," was the
sheriff's advice. cunningham tells a
storv about the blackmail but don't
know how true II rings. We Old not
want 10 question him before All those
people. When ! talk TO him. want 20
talk TO him alone
Asked whether Cunningham had told
the secret for which the alleged
blackmailers demanded money from
Ward. Sheriff Werner said that ne
mentioned race track business.
"He said that some OF the fellows
we're connected with the race tracks
said the Sheriff.
Wards Status Unchanged
In replv 20 4 question as 70 whether
the arrest Of a material witness IN the
case would make any difference IN the
status Of Ward, Sheriff Werner said ne
would take no further action against
voung Ward unless ordered 70 do so.
Coroner Fitzgerald on whose order
Cunningham was arrested, said tha'
ANYTHING the Sheriff and the District
Attorney said about the witness was
"all right" He was "on official bust
ness he said at the time the arrest
was made.
The activity Of P.lkerton detectives
in the case became marked yesterday
but whether they had anything 70 do
with the trailing OF Cunningham, 70
which Mr.. Weeks referred. the prosecu-
tor declined TO say. Il was said tha.
the Pinkerton men were hunting two
men with police records who are
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