The New York herald., 1922-06-01
Death CLEW sought
in WARDS OWNHOME
ON Is DAY OLDCRIME
Westchester Officials Go
Through House on Theory
Peters Died There.
NO EVIDENCE FOUND
PinkertOn Detectives Hired
in Burst of Activity in
Murder Mystery.
POLICEMEN QUESTIONED
All Near House of Their Com
missioner on Night of Killing
Recall Nothing Untoward.

The home of Walter S. Ward in New
Rochelle was searched yesterday be-
cause of a published story that Ward
killed Clarence Peters in his own
library and at the same time wounded
another man who was with Peters.
According to District Attorney Weeks
and Sheriff Werner nothing was
found to substantiate the tale.
Seven rummagers. exploring the
house from cellar to roof, saw no bullet
hole, no stains, no sign of damage or
repair, no mementoes of any kind.
This search. the first made OF the
Ward house in nine days since Ward
surrendered himself and fifteen since
Peters was said to have been killed
on May 1s near the Kensico reservoir.
marked the beginning Of an astonish-
ing burst of activity among the off,
GERS of Westchester county.
They engaged TIE Pinkerton De-
tective Agency. with instructions to
bore into the ward-Peters mystery
regardless of expense.
They rounded up every New Rochelle
policeman who was posted near or
passed the home Of Walter Ward on
tie night Of May Is and tried to get at
the truth of an assertion that two
policemen heard shots and ran into
the house, only TO salute and depart
when they were-told that "The Com
missioner will handle this matter
All the policemen denied knowing
anything about it.
Wards Attorney Protests.
Invasion OF the Ward residence. which
| "a large stone building at SO Decatur
road, on a hilltop. took place over the
protest of Mrs Ward and Of Allan r.
Campbell, one Of the Ward attorneys
Campbell said II was Illegal In the abb
| sence OF a search warrant. Assistant
District Attorney Ferris replied that the
authority of the District Attorney was
good enough for him. Campbell ther
wrote out formal protest and gave II
to Ferris and the raid proceeded.
It has been contcnded right along by
Westchester critics that the authorities
could take a run through the house
whenever they wanted to- Their failure to
do so and to ascertain by subpoena and
under oath from members of the Ward
household just what went on there on
the night OF May Is had been one Of the
grounds of adverse comment
According to the newspaper story that
provoked yesterdays fireworks Ward
and two other young men were sitting in
ri t.A ,fnr 1f
when two other persons. apparently eves-
droppers. appeared. Thereupon Ward
drew his pistol. killed Clarence Peters
with one shot, wounded another man in
| the shoulder and on the scalp and sank a
fourth bullet in the wall. The wounded
man was hustled to a hospital and the
body of Peters was later found beside
the road near Kensico reservoir.
Weeks Promises Action.
: IT don't know what to think" Dis.
trict Attorney Weeks said as soon as te
read this. but the whole thing will be
run right down" At his request Frank
Cody. chief. and John McGowan, lieu
tenant OF the New Rochelle police. hur-
ried to White Plains and had a tall;
with Weeks.
Meanwhile. before Q o'clock. Ward
left home and drove his car toward
New York. presumably bound for the
office of the Ward Baking Company in
The Bronx. Meanwhile also Mayor
Scott of New Rochelle was saying he
took no stock In such yarns" and woul1
attend to my end Of the case when
get ready"
What do you mean by your end OF
the case?" he was asked.
'You know as we'll as I do" he told
the duestioner.
The consultation in District Attorney