New-York tribune., 1922-06-10
Slayer's Parent Is Drawn
From Strict Seclusion
to Get His Information
as to Blackmail Plot
Messages by Radio
To His Son Sought
Wire Tappers Hamper.
ing Hunt for Peters's
Comrades, Sheriff Says


District Attorney Frederick Weeks.
OF Westches,er County. has issued
subpnnas, IL became known yesterday,
for George s. Ward, head Of the bak-
ing company bearing his name. and
his son, Ralph d.. a vice-presidsnt. and
will examine them In his investigation
OF the death of Clarence Peters. whom
Walter 6. Ward. George s. Wards son,
says he shot in self-defense. Neither
subpoena has yet been served.
The older Ward is 10 be questioned
it is believed. in connection with the
blackmail plot in which Peters is said
by Walter Ward TO have been con-
cerned. The lattcr's counsel have wire
less messages which George S. Ward
sent from the steamship Majestic in
response 10 Walters requests for as
sistance in silencing the blackmailers
and is believed 90 know something OF
the plot
IdtneTA NlOTl WI Ath aNfN
Since his return from Europe he has
maintained strict silence concerning
the case. The authorities believe
however. that Walter Ward must have
called the plot to obtain money from
him 10 his attention several times
and wish 10 know just what he had
learned about II prior TO the discovery
Of Peters's body near kensieo dam
May l6.
Ralph D. Ward has had little 10 say
about the case also. although he has
appeared in it once or twice IN con
neetion with the arrangements for bail
for his brother. II is believed that the
subpoena was issued for him IN the
hone that he can tell something Of the
pecuniary situation OF his brother and
whether he had had 10 raise large sums
Unexpectedly recently, as might have
been the case had he been blaekmailed
for six weeks, as he says.
Although the deputy sherifts who
were sent 10 Syracuse for Charles
Rogers and William Jackson, believed
70 be the "Charlie Ross" and Jack OF
Walter Wards blaekmail story. failed
TO catch them. Sheriff George werner
directed them 70 stay on the JOB yes
( terdav when Deputy Sheriff Miller tele-
nhoned to him for instructions. Later
In the day, however. the deputies gave
I'M the search and started home.
The Sheriff. for the first time inti-
mated that he suspected potent inhu-
ence mad been INVOKED against him m
the case and that his telephone wires
even might have been tapped. When
asked whether Deputy Sheriff Miller
believed there still was hope Of fnding
Rogers and Jackson in the vicinity OF
Syracuse. Sheriff Warner replied that
they had not discussed that subject
for fear that the telephone wire might
be tapped.
Jackson May Explain Plot
81 want this man Jackson" said
Sheriff Werner. "Of course. | want
Rogers. too. have every reason 20
believe that Jackson may be the key
TO the whole alleged plot aeainst Wal
ter S. Ward. | am going 70 get those
two men-I1l get them II have to 60
10 hell 10 do IT,"
James j. Cunningham, whose story
that Peters was shot in an affair In the
Ward home and thar one Of his COM
panions was wounded rapidly is 'dwin-
ding in importance in the minds OF
those investigating the tragedy, sue
ceeded yesterday in having the bail IN
which ne is held as a witness reduced
from $1,000 TO $500. although Su-
irene Court Justice SeeEer, who took
this action. dismissed the writ OF
habeas corpus on which Cunningham
was brought 5efore him.
Another person whom District At
torney Weeks is seeking as q witness
/ in the case is Fiji Ziegler. a maid who
was employed in the Ward home at
the time Peters was shot. She Is said
TO have left that place the day Peters's
| body was found. saying that she had
found employment on an estate IN
| Long Island.
II Mr.. Weeks has any definite notion
Of the kind Of information 20 be OBJ
tained from the girl, he followed his
usual policy OF eoneealing that knowl-
edge. Il is believed that in seeking
her he simply is following the theory
, that eg'ery one connected with the Ward
household should be interrogated con-
cerning his knowledge Of the events CT
the night Of May IS.
Close Watch Kept on Ward
Besides guarding against wire-tap-
pers and other spies, the Westehester
County authorities have their own IN,
telligence system al work IN the ward
fcoaflrufo on paes nun