The Washington times., 1922-06-04

Europe. Here they tried to frame
Cunningham and darned near got
away with 1t. In fact, it's my belief
that sailed fully convinced
Cunningham was dead. This, of
course, was for the reason that he
knew too much.
Cunningham in Hiding.
Getting away from suppositions,
however, the point l want to bring
out is that Cunningham went into
hiding and was broke.
While | was working with Gun
ningham on the matter he pointed
out Ward to me on the track Mind
you, this was two years ago. Ward
was mixing with the gang we were
investigating, the leading member of
which is one of the leading operators
on the turf.
When he pointed out Ward to me,
Cunningham said that he wanted
me TO shadow him. but to be very
careful. Cunningham mentioned
that Wards connection with that
gang mystified him, as he was wcll
I" DO and yet seemed to be in the
confidence Of the crooks and didn't
se,.h ~ De USED for sucker.
Cunningham also told me then
that he was checking up Wards
bets, and every time he bet his
money was smart" This WAS
strange. as these people were wire
tappers as well as blackmailers.
Well, TO make a long story short,
af,er four months Cunningham Sc
cured enough evidence to convince
-
the outfit, whether by design or
compulsion, cannot say. This in
formation was submitted to the
clients two years ago.
After breaking the case, Cunning
! ham called In Government men, but
was called off the prosecution, al
d though the Government participated
in the last ends Of the investigation.
/ After the case l asked Cunning
ham what - object was, as he
seemed to have plenty of money and
| could not see why he would black
mail for financial reasons. Cunning
ham would not tell me then. but
afterward dropped hints that -
was after HIS OWN FATHER.
About two months ago Cunning
ham came back to New York. Etill
broke, and borrowed some money
|
return it as soon as he got judg-
ment against -, wnom he was
suing. He mentioned his attorney
as being -, but further than that
| knew nothing of the suit except
| that the bill OF damages was for a
large amount and part Of the things
| am telling you were mentioned in
substantiation.
Going to Get Ward.
Cunningham told me that he was
married again and was expecting
| his wife to give birth to child soon.
| lie would not tell me where he was
| living, as he seemed to have grown
morbid and suspicious Of everybody.
1t might be we'll to add that he has
three times escaped violent death
and each time was injured.
A month ago he came back again
to see me and told me that his wife
was very i'll and he was desperate.
He asked me IL remembered Ward,
and when / told him l did, he said
that he needed money 80 bad he was
going to get Ward, but 1t would
break Wards fathers heart when
he did it. / asked for particulars,
and Cunningham told me that one
| Of men was a stool-pigeon ana
| had told him that was shaking
| his father down on the pretext that
he himself was being shaken down
by a gang that had information detri-
mental to the father.
Cunningham wanted money enough
| to get a dictaphone and enough for
expenses to convince himself that
| this information was authentic and
not repetition of past affairs. /
loaned Cunningham the money and
he went to work. He told me very
little except that he had a dick" in
the house and was looking for Peters
to arrive as his stool had sent for
him.
Cunningham told me that he had
told his stool that - was tryink
to frame them on a charge, as
IS father had become suspicious
and he was trying to get himself
out. He further said he told them
that the best thing for them to do
was to confront Ward in the house
and tell Ward that they were wise,
and scare him off by telling all
they knew in front OF Ward. and
| Cunningham would substantiate
them. The old game of working
one crook against another.
Well, the night OF the shooting,
or rather, the day, Cunningham
told me that he had found out
Wards father was in Europe, but
he had interested one Of his attor-
neys. who, although skeptical, had
agreed to listen in. drove Gun.
, ningham and the attorney to Mt.
Vernon, where they changed their
clothes and then agreed to takn
coalition that NIGHT with tho rar