The Washington times., 1922-05-31
PAL At IAl.
RESIDENCE:
IS C0MbED
by POLICE
New York journal Account Of
Shooting Puts Authorities
on Qui Vive.
BS international News Service.

NEW ROCHELLE. N. Y, May
31.-The first search of the pa
latial home of Walter s.. Ward.
baker. that has been
made snce he surrendered to the
police and announced he had killed
Clarence Peters. ex-marine. Gin
self-defense," started at noon to-
day.
The house and grounds was alive
with officials, who prevented news
papermen approaching and refused
to reveal anything regarding the
progress of the search for bullet
holes and bloodstains in the Ward
library.
1t was learned, however, that early
this morning, before the WestchesterJ
officials arrived in haste from White
Plains to check up the New York
Journal story that Peters was killed
and companion wounded by Ward
IN his own library, two New Rochelle
detectives had been active.
These men, Detectives Leary and
Scott, former subordinates of Ward
when he was police commissioner,
had visited the home early this
morning, before Ward raced away in
his car to avoid newspapermen.
They subsequently Joined the
county investigation party. The
searching party, numbering ten or
dozen men, could be seen occasion.
ally in the grounds or on balconies.
Sheriff Werner announced the
search would be thorough and re-
quire much time.
The men had hardly started work
before Allen r. Campbell, Wards
personal counsel, appeared on the
scene.
Proof Not Found.
Sheriff George Werner, following
a two-hour search, announced this
afternoon that he had found not
ing in the home to substantiate q
story published in the Journal.
Are you satisfied in your ovn
mind that the Peters killing do
not take place here?" Werner W
asked
Il did not say that" Werner
piled. II said we found nothing
substantiate the story"
Sheriff Werner returned unexpet
edly, having left the motor load ~
officials at the outskirts of Wni.e
Plains. He had another conferenre
with Weeks and then announced r.
would direct operations from his O.
flee.
we are searching all Westchests~
county hospitals for the second man
described in the story lie said. Il
have got Raymond Hill at the Ward
home, and he is unbeatable as a
finger print expert and criminolog.
list.
Three seconds after 1 read the
report, the machinery was going full
blast"
Chief Cody, Weeks, and Werner
worked with great speed and fre.
quently conferred presumably over
phone reports from various points.
Werner early this afterro1 went
to New Rochelle, accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Frank Cherico, the
murder expert Of his office.
Guards Posted.
"our report will be made to the
District Attorney and we have or.
ders to say nothing" said Werner.
Two detectives were posted on the
Ward estate, this being the first time
such q step has been taken since the
surrender Of Ward.
The sheriff, accompanied by Lieut..
MCGOWAN, head of the local detective
department, left for White Plains,
where District Attorney Weeks and
Chief of Police Cody, of New Ro.
chelle, had remained closeted to.
gether since 10 o'clock.
This second concentration OF the
chief officials Of White Plains and
the leaving of guards on the Ward
estate led to many sensational ru-
mors and predictions upon which
local officials refused to comment.
The Ward mystery, II Is generally
conceded, has made a giant stride
forard. Not since the start Of the
case, hen, on May %. Ward surren-
dered himself. has there been such n
concentration of official activity, and
never before had there been an In
spection OF the Ward house.
As officials were speeding toward
White Plains and the sensation was
spreading through this city, the
young millionaire sped from his
driveway In his car, slipping past
newspaper men. A maid thought he
had gone to his work.
At New Rochelle, Mayor Scott In.
dignantly declared he had not read
the new version OF the killing.
when I get ready" he said, 'I
will attend to my end of this case"
Another sensation In the case Co
day was the announcement that
Chief Of Police Cody, OF New Ro-
chelle, informed District Attorney