The Washington times., 1922-05-23
MRS, WARD 1900 IRISH
WILL STICK ARE JAILED
by SPOUSE IN ULSTER
Son of Cake King Reticent on
BIackmaiI Plot in Which
He Killed Man.

NEW YORK, May 23.-The
Walter S. Ward, son of the mil
lionaire baker, confessed slayer
of Clarence Peters, alleged black
mailer, along a desolate country
road near White Plains, wa<
probed today by officials in an at
tempt to check up and substan-
tiate or disprove the New
Rochelle police commissioners re-
markable story.
Plot Details Unknown.
New York police. it is believed, will
be asked to throw the full force of
their investigating facilities into the
case TO run to ground the alleged
500, 900 blackmail plot.
No hint as TO the facts in the pos.
session of the three men who collected
$40, 900 hush money" according TO
Wards confession, and manded an
additional $4,000, has been allowed
to become public.
The beautiful young wife Of the
young millionaire, who surrendered
and was admitted to bail on y homi.
eide charge yesterday, exactly week
after the killing, moved stanChly to
his side today.
She admitted she had learned "only
very lately" OF the entanglements in
which her handsome young husband
was involved. but she hastcncd 10 dis.
claim harboring any doubts regard
ing his actions.
81 am with my husband" she said,
"and I want TO do everything ! can
for him.
~ have the utmost confidence in
him"
Believe Wards Story.
WestChester county officials de-
clare they are fully convinced by the
story which Ward told of the killing,
and Of the facts which led up to it,
Their preliminary inquiries they state
lead to the belief that the Charley
Rossnja, who was chief of the gang
OF blackmailers. according to Ward,
is a well.known race track follower,
whose methods of operation Lave
been under suspicion before.
Ward, his attorney, and Sheriff
Werner, of Westchester county came
to New Rork during the night, and
are expected to confer with New
York police officials today.
In Haverhill. Mass, today. Peters,
a former marine, was buried with
military honors.
Wounded, He Claims.
Ward says he was bounded for
six weeks by a blaCkmail gang that
threatened the lives of him&elf and
members Of his family.
hn of IT,, [ li,,c,
was Ward refuses absolutely to dis
close. His lawyers !ntjmatcd that II
was the outcome of his losses at the
races, but they failed 10 explain how
any betting operations could create
a situation in whiCn q plusuible at
tempt at 500, 900 blackmail could be
made.
Ward claimed that Petors and two
others attempted TO extort 5000
from him after, he had paid them
about 1000. But what information
he feared would compromise him If
divulged neither his lawyers Lor the
WestChester authorities would reveal.
Threats Against Family.
Was there woman in me csse?'
Elwood NJ. Rabenold, counsel for the
w a. " NOlllpdHys was hShNA 'iAtl
mors quickly spread with Wards sur.
render in White Plains.
THE threats were aimed at his
family" was all that Mr.. Raberold
would say.
Ward. who was charged with
homicide. was arraigred before Su.
preme Court Justice Seeger and re.
leased In $4,000 bail. At his home
in New Rochelle, where he lives with
his wife and two children, Il daughter
four years old and SON year cid,
all he would say was:
"1 am very sorry, but I am under
instructions from my lawyers not to
say n word"
Besides Mr.. Rabenold, who had as
signed partner, Allen r. Campbell,
Continued on Page 2, Column ~