New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-15
Prosecutor Criticized for
Escape of Other Men,
bcrs as Brother Success.
fully Defes Jail Threats
lnquisitors May
Appeal to Court
Ex-Marine Mistaken for
Detective Trailing Auto
and Killed,New Theory


Ralph Ward dofcd the Wes'chester
County grand jurors yesterday in their
efforts 20 learn from him the reason
why his brother Walter killed Clarence
Peters. But Ralph did not 20 20 jail
for contempt Of court. despite the
threats on Tuesday of Westchester on
cials. Instead, he left the courthouse.
bland expression on his face, got into
his automobile and drove away.
Not long after no had gone II be-
came known about the courthouse
that the grand jurors were thoroughly
dissatisfied with the progress they arc
making II vas said they had de-
manded tina. District Attorney Fred
erick T. Weeks give them something
besides excuses for his failure TO pro-
duce certain witnesses. and also that
he extract moro information from
those who nre produced. The grand
jurors have the right 10 ask Supreme
Court Justice Morschauscr to appoint
for them a legal adviser other than
the District Attorney.
Father Escapes Jurisdiction
The escape from the jurisdiction Of
tho Wcstchester authorities OF George
Nard, the father Of Walter. and the
failure Of Sheriff George Werner TO
serve Mrs. n. Willard Curtis with a
subpnna while she was at Briarcliff
Manor are said 20 have been particu-
larly bitter pills for the members Of the
grand jury.
After Ralph Ward left the court.
house il was learned that District At
torney Weeks had asked him TO relate
conversations he had had with his
father bearing on the killing Of
Peters. II was said Ralph replied that
none Of these conversations had been
carried on in the hearing Of his
brother. and he had been advised that
as such "hearsay" reports did not con-
stitute legal evidence he was not re.
quircd 10 answer.
Mr.. Weeks then went 20 see Justice
Morschauser in his chambers, and 1t
was learned the justice agreed that
Ralph Ward had been we'll advised and
that nothing could be done 20 compel
him TO answer the questions at issue.
The grand jury adjourned IN the
afternoon until this morning. when II
is 70 resume with Earl Hardy testify
ing. lie Is the uncle OF Clarence
Peters, swho identified the body Of the
youth AT the White Plains morguc.
Hardy is now at Camp Deyens and is
understood TO be a captain in the Ma
tional Guard Of Massachusetts.
One Witness Not Named
Tho witnesses examined yesterday,
besides Ralph Ward. were Alfred
Blutc, race-tfack follower; Palmer +.
Tubbs. "a New Rochelle police commits
eioner and employee Of the Ward Bak-
ing Company. and n fourth person
whose identity was not releavcd.
Blutc testified concerning his alleged
dealings with Ward at race-tracks.
Tubbs is understood TO have testified
that he was with Ward until after 6
O'Clock on the evening Of May -. With
IN eight or ten hours after that Ward
shot and killed Peters.
The narrow margin Of time loft 20
be accounted for IN the movements Of
Ward on that day has given rise 90
n new theory Of the killing that is re-
garded seriously by some Of the in
vestieators. The Pinkerton detectives
learned from Robert S. Keating, Of %
Windhym street. Woodhaven, that he
and nnother rejected marine recruit
beat their way from Philadelphia 20
New York by getting lifts from motor
lists they accosted along the road
Peters. IL is now believed. adopted
dclphia. All rejected recruits Of the
Marine Corps are sent to Philadelphia,
when. as in The case OF Peters, they
sign up in Boston. This is the penalty
Of lying in enlistment papers.
After reaching New York, some Of
the Investigators now believe. Peters
set out 10 "bum" his way home along
the Boston Post Road.
Encounterirg the coupe OF Walter
Ward somewhere on a lonely road
north Of White Plains on the evening
Of Nav IS when there was a poker
party at the Ward home in New Ro-
chelie). Il is suggested that Peters may
have asked for a lift and that the
occupants, possibly a man and n won.
an. mistaking him for a spy, resolved
to dispose Of him at once.
Ono plauSlDIe punt "boHN VII. W..
orv. il was said yesterday, is that IL
would account for Wards surrcndcring
himself 70 the authorities on the fourth
day after the body was found. lie may
have believed then that If Peters was
a private detective the person who had
employed him might talk.
Just as interest was tagging in the
case yesterday afternoon who should
walk into il but a red-haired woman
who said her name was Mrs. Adams.
Her lawyer, she said, was William A.
DeFord. who also is attorney for the
Hearst newspapers. District Attorney
Weeks did not seem especially inter
ssted in her. He said:
"she Is one Of these limiting women.
She hints that She knows Ward and
she hints that she knew Peters. but she
w,uld not make any definite state
ments. My assistant, Mr. Ferris, talked
with her in De Fcrd's Offices several
weeks ago."