The Washington times., 1922-05-30
"Find the Murder Carl"
Latest Order Given in
Inquiry in Ward Case

. WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, May 80.
Find the murder carr
That was the demand sent out
today by officials sitting the mys-
terious circumstances surrounding
the killing OF Clarence Peters, pau
Information that Wards coupe
was not the murder car" but
had been substituted for another
one of similar make on the night
OF the tragedy reached Sheriff
Werner and District Attorney
Weeks. and as result detectives
were sent scurrying In every di-
rection in an effort to run down |
the new clue.
According to a report reaching
the authorities, Ward left his home
In his own coupe on the night OF
the killing. but at some place not
revealed. changed it for another
car.
If, as the district attorney and
the sheriff believe, Peters was not
killed at the spot where his body |
was found, but was carried there
in the car and thrown out, II 10
probable blood stains would have
been found in the car. But II
substitution of cars took place. the
absence of bloodstains in Wards
car is accounted for.
Auto Dealer May Hold Clue.
In connection with the search
for the murder car" the sheriff
has received a tip" that a certain |
automobile dealer here could shed
much light on this phase OF the
case II ne could be made to talk.
Another theory in the mystery is
that Peters was sent by a woman |
TO blackmail Ward.
This suggestion, although given
Ettle credence, has occupied the at
tention of investigators since II
became known that a woman asked
q New York waiter to go to New
Rochelle and slay Ward at mur'
der price of $500. L
The district attorney announced |
he had received a letter from Sheriff
Davis, of Dutchess County, stating |
that a mysterious prisoner was
being detained in Poughkeepsie who |
might be connected with the Ward
case. He said this man was arrested
some time ago for driving a man !
through three States at the point |
Of a revolver and has since refused
to talk. IL
In the letter Sheriff Davis said
that This man will not talk but
he seemed to be waiting for some. |
thing" Davis asks Mr.. Weeks II
the man is wanted in connec- |
ton with the Ward mystery. The
prisoner has declined to give his
name but the fingerprint records
show he was arrested in New York |
in 1919 for burglary under the name |
Of Edward Leary.
Coroner Fitzgerald announced he |
viii not hold an inquiry into the !
death Of Peters until the exhaustive !
Investigation now being made is
concluded. He said he contemplated |
having the full facts available be- |
fore taking the testimony.
No Word Of ROSS"
At the district attorneys office 1t |
was said no word had been heard |
from William J. Fallon. counsel for |
the Peters family, who had promised |
to produce Charlie Ross" and |
Jack Speeder," alleged by Ward to |
have co-operated with Peters in the |
blackmail plot.
Harry Commons, head Of q private !
detective agency. has arranged an
appointment in Boston today with |
Ross and Jack"
Ross and Jack" have been miss |
ing since the night of the tragedy.
The authorities declare they nave
found the neighbors Of Ward in New |
Rochelle noncommunicative concern |
Ing any knowledge they may have |
of Wards habits.
Whenever one makes an inquiry. |
the answer is likely to be a mega |
tive shrug Of the shoulders or a |
superior smile, accompanied by
words to this effect:
Il know all about II but I will |
not say anything to hurt Ward"
Ward himself continues silent. He |
smiles, but says nothing. In New |
Rochelle the same spirit maintains. |
This reticence is considered strange,
In view Of the fact that of the 100 |
people on the streets of New Rochelle |
Of whom in one day reporters made |
inquiry about Ward, only five ad- |
mitted having known him before the |
IL IL