Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-23
Says Killing Was
 Result of BIaCkDlai||

Cleiie NldlIIlS Wan Tie ShOt
 Had Pressed Him for $75.-1
 GOO. ;.
 White Plains. N. r, May 22.-Black-- mail ievies totalling s25,O0o were forced from Walter s. Ward, of New Rochelle, millionaire son of the head of the Ward Baking company, of New York, before he shot and killed Clarence Peters, former sailor of Haverhill, Mass, 1t was de- clared tonight following his confession and arrest today.
 This, with the announcement of Sher- If Werner that he expected to have un- der arrest within 24 hours two alleged accomplices of Peters in the blackmail plot was the newest development to- night in the sensational case The shooting, according to ward. occurred after Peters and his two al- legged accomplices had threatened to kill him. his wife and their two children if he did not pay an additional levy of s75.- 900
 After surrendering himself to Sheriff Werner today, Ward, who is 31 years old, is alleged to have declared that Pet ers whom he had known several years, and two companions known to him only as Charlie Ross" and Jack" ",-had been l blackmailing him for the past six weeks. He said they had forced from him various sums. Sheriff Werner said tonight these totaIled approximately s25, 1000 Last Tuesday Ward is said to have de- clared, he met Peters by appointment, on the Port Chester road. near New Ro- chelle. This followed the receipt of a letter and numerous telephone calls from the trio, demanding 8 final payment of l $75,000.
 Ward. according to the officials agreed to accompany Peters. to a quiet l place, to talk things oyer'' Ward drove Peters in his motor car to spot l near the Kensco reservoir, where they
 were met, he declared, by the two men known to him as Ross and Jack
 An argument arose.. and Peters is said to have shot at Ward, who said he re- turned the fire. The former sailor fell and his companions, according to Ward opened their fire. he told the sheriff, until they fled, leaving Peters body lying ir the grass by the roadside
 After his confession, Ward was taker before District Attorney Weeks and re- leased in $10,000. bail, which he furnished
 
 ment at his home at New Rochelle to. might
 I The authorities are tonight concentrat l ing their efforts on finding the mer
 known as Ross" and Jack" whom Sheriff Werner claims to know by theil real names He also declares to know I their whereabouts and will have then
 in custody some time tomorrow
 Sheriff Werner said tonight that h.
 had seen the letter demanding s75 ,o0i from Ward, and that, while he believed
 the story told by the confessed slayer, h,
 thought he should have come to him fo aid. H. poltcd say they had one
 request rom Ward for aid in riddinl : himself of the men.
 Peters bo<J was identified a few day ago, when it was claimed by an uncI from Haverhill. It had lain unidentih4 for three uays.
 Ward told the authorities he believe Peters to be only wounded and tha when he learned he had died he calle his attorneys and told them his story Peters alighted, Ward said, keeping pistol pointed at him, and ordered hir
 to follow. Ward said that as he did S 7 he grasped the pistol in Peters hand an
 turned the muzzle upward, at the sam time reaching with his left hand into hi i, own pocket and drawing an automati $ gun, Ward said he fired Peters fired 1 r fretUrn, and dropped. In the ensuin : gun fight with Ross and Jack War . escaped unscathed, although his car wa [ punctured by several bullets. r Peters body, found the following da, Hay in the morgue here three days befol = the authorities identified 1t through u y United States marine corps records. WI il only the finger prints as clue, the al l. thorities communicated with the poll, T of Haverhill, who took the case up vii y Peters relatives. Photographic descri
 tions furnished by an uncle finally e = tablished the idnetitv
 e Ward is vice president of his father L. baking concern, and two weeks ago "; n reelected to head the New Rochelle D le lice commission. He was secretary Urea l. urer of the Brooklyn club of the Feder le league.
 ot The story of the b1ackmail plot whi Ia ended in the shooting of Peters m a never be told publicly All who know l. were silent tonight. If indicted by t st West Chester county grand jury a b. forced to go to trial. 1t is believed Wa ct will plead self-defense and will seek in quittal on that ground without maxi II public the details of the plot.
 Eliwood M. Raibenold, one of War n- attorneys, said tonight he understc m that Ward first met the man known in Ross at a race track and that the bla es, llmafling had grown out of dealings W IFS him at that time. Ward was said h. have lost large sums of money thror n. betting on horses recommended by RC
 None of the others concerned, either
 fic:a's. friends or Wards attorne n would diseuss this phase of the sit v. tion further.
 MT. Ralbenold said ard had hoped ots delay negotiations for the paying = the S75,0o0 demanded in lieu of ar lives of his family until his father er home from Europe. but failed. The s al, as for Ward returned ~on the Majestic IT week. Young Ward told his father " 1T had happened as soon as they met, e cording to Mir. Rabenoldl Follow ne a series of consultations Wards at ed Deys notified Sheriff Werner last Sai he day that he would surrender himself IL day, the attorney said
 or-
 -. FIRST "DEADHEAD" PASS FOR