The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-24
DISCREPANCIES In
WARDS STORY OF
PETERS SHOOTING
People in Vicinity of Where
Shooting is Said to Have
Taken Place Heard no Shots
NO PISTOL FOUND NEAR
SCENE OF ALLEGED FIGHT
Prisoner Gets Confused and Re-
fuses to Talk With News
paper Men About Crime
(sy The Asaaslatsd Pressl

WHITE PLAINS, II. Y, May 23.--waI-
ter S. Ward, wealthy bakers son who
yesterday surrendered. himself with the
statement tina tlast week he had shot, in
self defense. Clarence Peters. an ex-mar-
inc whom he charged with black mailing
him. nearly died from poison about six
weeks ago.
This became known today when DR..
Orville H. Schell stated that he had been
summoned to the home Of young Ward
and found him writhing on the floor with
an empty bottle of poison beside him
1T Is personal opinion that the taking
Of the poison was accidental DR.. Scheii
said. Mr.. Ward is subject TO very severe
headaches and it is an easy thing to get
medicines mixed in the dark He had
a narrow escape.
Meanwhile while the authorities spent
the day checking up in detail the story
told by Ward Of a running pistol fight
with three alleged black matters with
whom he had held a rendezvous, the
nature of the hold which they had upon
hini-and which was alleged to have led
a $4,000 payment remained secret.
In this connection 1t was learned that
shortly before the shooting Ward re-
cetved from his father George ST Ward
millionaire head OF the Ward Baking
company, then on the liner Majestic, Il
radio reading; Not one cent for black
mall this message replied to one from
his son telling him OF additional demands
made on him.
The young wife. seen today at her
home in New Rochelle, where her hus
band is police commissioner, professed
stoutly her confidence in him.
II have the utmost confidence in my
husband do not believe any woman
Is mixed up In the black mail scheme"
she declared.
She stated that she did not know until
yesterday of the demands that had been
on her husband. She added that she
did not know of his receiving any more
letters from two Inen known as Ross
and Jack who were alleged to have
been with Peters when he was shot.
Search for the two mon which proved
fruitIess in the tenderloin last night, was
pressed today at the jamaica race track
and other resorts OF turfmen
1t was understood that a check was
being made on a report that Ross
and Jack" representing themselves as
connected with the Quincy stables, had
introduced themselves to young Ward at
the track The owner and the trainer
of the stables said they never had heard
of them and Wards lawyer professed ig
norance of why the track should have
been searched.
The authorities OF West Chester county
admitted that while many facts tailed,
they were at loss to determine what had
become OF the pistol with which Peters.
who hailed from Haverhill, Mass, was
said to have threatened the victim OF his
alleged blackmail plot. Peters was shot
in his tracks, but no gun has come to
light according TO the investigation
John Moscowitz, who was asleep in the
garage Of Clarence w. Eckhardt, before
whose home Peters body was found, to-
nigh told the authorities that he had not
heard any shots Tuesday monring. when
Ward claimed to have had pistol battle
with the three men. Moscowitz slept eigh-
ty yards from the scene of the supposed
battle.
Mr.. Eclshardt's house where ten peo-
pie were asleep is within 200 yards of the
scene. None heard any shots. Eckhardt
declared that he examined the body of
Peters the day 1t was found and saw no
bullet hole in either the coat or vest, but
there was in ohe undershirt. which, with
the flesh was burned. indicating a shot
at close range. No pistol was found near
the scene and there was no glass in the
road although Ward had said a window
in his coupe had been shattered by
bullet.
The authorities also are checking the
details Of Wards alleged payments of
s3O, 900 to the black mailers. declaring
that Peters body was. clad in clothes
patched and worn. He had only sI.s2
in his pockets.
Ward tonight refused TO permit news
rapernen to look at his motor car
Asked is the glass was still shattered
from the bullet which he said had been
fired in the pistol duel he replied that Ii
had been repaired.
.swhen did you have the car repaired?"
he was asked.
.T don't know he replied, 81 don't
want to talk about II. "