The Washington times., 1922-05-27
Woman Seen as Key in Ward
Blackmail-Slaying Mystery
Opinion Grows That Wealthy
Prisoner Is Protecting Some
Unknown - Story Replete
With Discrepancies and Con-
tradictions.
BY MARGERY REX.

Find the woman, say the
! cynical French in probing
any mystery.
In this way they acknowl-
edge the part woman plays in
adding complications to life.
Peters Penniless.
Over and aboard the killing of
Clarence Peters, poor discredited
ex-sailor, by Walter S. Ward, a
man Of wealth and position, there
hangs a fog of mystery. 1t is
quite fair to assume, in fact it is
morally certain, that some woman
is concerned, directly or indi-
rectly. .~
Peters Was Shelby.
Peters was shabby, penniless, dis
honored and weak. Ward is rich,
powerful and physically strong. In
vestigation shows he has been a
gambler and frequenter of race
tracks. Yes, even though Peters
were the deadly enemy of the more
prominent man, Ward could have
easily overpowered him in an ordi-
nary alteration. or used his own in,
fluenCe to protect himself from male
factors.
But this was no ordinary feud. 1t
has come to the inevitable ending Of
the extraordinary feud with the
usual uncertain element, woman.
There are several ways in which a
woman might figure in such a case.
The woman might be some good
character whom disclosure would
harm and to protect whom. Peters
had to be killed.
Or. some undesirable connection,
knowledge of which would embar.
rass Ward and his family, and ruin
his married life.
Or the woman might be Mrs Ward
herself. blameless. from whom her
husband would wish TO conceal his
own escapades.
What Did Wife Hear!
Mrs. Ward may have heard the
various rumors which are in cjrcula-
ton about her husbands character.
As a matter of fact, II is said their
married life is none too happy.
Of his weaknesses, and many other
people as well. he may go on for a
long time before the world with un-
blemished reputation. His friends.
fellow-club members, servants may
hear rumors OF misconduct, yet, be-
fore the public ha may be held up
as an exemplary character.
Often character has little to do
with reputation, many people Of
despiCable character have good repu-
tations? and no matter what one
positively knows about such an indi.
vidual he may not tell lest he be
sued for slander. Yet once a wife
hales an erring husband into court,
or anyone else brings legal action,
the facts then can be brought out
with impunity
In almost any case OF scandal,
great numbers OF witnesses appear
in court from all walks OF life TO
testify as to the defendants i'm.
proprieties. Yet before the, legal
action they would not have dared to
speak since they could not have
proven his suspicious.
BIackmail Methods.
Now and then someone quite out.
side the intimate circle of a man or
woman may happen upon proof OF
his or her wrongdoins. Such a find,
ing would mean nothing to an ordi.
nary decent citizen since most peo'
pie practice the "live.and.let.live'
philosophy of minding their own
business. But II the finder should
be INSCRIPTIONS and should happen
to see a way of profit by his find
ings, he probably would become a
blackmailer.
II the man who levies blackmail
is shrewd he finds out just where
the retailing OF information will do
his victim 'he most harm and then
he threatens to divulge 1t in that
quarter unless literally coaxed not
TO do so.
In the Ward mystery case there
may be no woman involved IN an i'm
proper way and yet Peters may have
known something about Ward which
would have ruined Ward and his
home II his wife were told, or II the
world were let into the secret.
II Peters knew Ward was inter
ested in a woman other than hi,
wife he could have caused trouble
by telling Mrs. Ward. But many
men Of wealth are known to take
a lively interest in women to whom,
they are not wed and yet they de
not and will not pay toll to black
mailers.
Ward was afraid Peters would
tell some person about-what?
There are some kinds Of disgrace
that would ALLEVIATE a wife from hei
| husband. And some kinds tha'
would ruin q man before the world
Elimination Process.
It Is almost inconceivable that nc
woman is implicated in the killing
Of Clarence Peters. In almost any
mystery involving Disgrace,
woman is somehow to be found play
ing an important role,
1t should not be difficult for tn,
authorities, by a process OF elirnina
ton. to determine in what way
woman so affected the lives Of Ware
or Peters or both men, that one hac
to kill the other.
Blaokmail IL one Of the mos
| despicable Of crimes, Most Of III
regard any catastrophe that befall'
q blackmaller in much the sam,
frame Of find as we do the killing
OF a snake.
Almost any means taken TO pre-
vent such creatures from carrying
| out thelr sohennes ssems justified