The Washington times., 1922-06-05
" | F { D F.
SLAYER To
Be Ql)|zZED
Continued from First Page)

q riotous reception from a group of
about thirty youngsters. Ward
smiled at some of the shouted greet
ings, such as. 20, you Wardie," and
Alta boy, Walter"
The lawyer did not smile.
Rumors are rife that fingerprints
form the basis on the fight to prove
that Peters was shot down in the
confessed slayer's home. not in d
roadside duel as Ward claims.
Mystery Jack" who is recover.
ing from bullet wounds in Phila-
deiphis, has been finger.printed and
the data sent TO White Plains.
These prints are being compared
with those found during a search.
Of, the Ward home.
All In the Dark.
While extreme secrecy surrounds
the comparing of the finger prints
and no announcement concerning
them was made public, 1t was
stated from an apparently authori-
tative source that the comparison
indicater that Jack" was wounded
at the same time Peters was slain
and in Wards home.
Further support to this theory Is
given by the fact that Mystery
Jack" who says his name is John
Cienzo, ID being held without bail
as q possible suspect in connection
with the Staying OF Peters. Pro-
vided Cienzo has recovered from
the wounds. he will be given a hear.
ing before q magistrate on Friday.
The general feeling is that the
authorities will seek an indictment
charging murder in the first de.
gree against Ward. II is expected
that the attitude Of the authorities
will be that 1t is up to Ward to
clear up the mystery.
The authorities have made every
effort to check up his story OF
blackmail and have thus far found
little to substantiate it. 1t Is a
matter OF common knowledge in
White plains that District Attor.
ney Weeks and Sheriff Werner
have made repeated attempts to get
Ward or his attorneys to make
more elaborate statement on the
blackmail plot and they have re-
fused.
Just why the Ward interests have
failed to cooperate better with the
authorities in the running down Of
the blackmailers is not known.
After Ward made one trip to the
white-light district in New York
city with Sheriff Werner to search
the haunts OF the blackmailers, no
further information on the plot has
been volunteered.
None Of the members of the Ward
household. with the exception of
Ward himself, has made any state
ment to the authorities. Officials
feel hopeful, however. that when
they get before the grand jury
their tongues will be loosened and
Nl,AN III Ill L.
about the case, with the possible
exception of Mrs. Ward.
Probe Gambling Rumors.
Intrigue of the race track also is
expected to be an important fac
tor for the investigation. Both
Ward and his father, George 8.
Ward. are well known in racing
circles. 1t is rumored that the al
legged relations of the elder Ward
with Arthur Rothstein. notorious
gambler, will be made a subject Of
inquiry by the grand jury.
James J. Cunningham, who is be-
ing held here as a material wit
ness, is known to have been
habitue OF the race track. He is
expected to give the grand jury
valuable information as to the
younger Wards activities in the
paddock.
1t is understood that ut the open
ing Of the grand jury probe today
District Attorney Weeks will first
call as witnesses the officers who
made the initial investigation OF the
crime. They include Sheriff Wer.
ner, Deputy Sheriff Fred Ruscoe,
Finger Print Expert Raymond Hill.
and officers of the State constabu.
larry.
Following them, several persons
living in the vicinity Of the Kensico
road. where Ward says the shooting
took place, will testify. Whether any
OF these witnesses can tell the grand
jury anything to substantiate the
story OF a desperate encounter be-
tween Ward and a band Of alleged
blackmsilers is a matter Of conjec.
ture.
rumor that Is given much cred
ence in some circles is that Ward
could, IL he wished, put his hand
on Charlie Ross and Jack, named
in his incomplete confession as men
who tried to blackmail him.
AS the motive OF the shooting,
which has run the gamut Of the
blackmail possibilities, II was stated
that a beautiful woman would he re-
veaied as an important figure in the
plot.