Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-23
'AUTHORIT|ESPR(BE
WARDS PLOT TALE
Blackmail Story Accepted by
Officials Pending Develop
ments Of Investig ration
FAIL TO FIND SUSPECTS

Spectdt DSputcH 70 HbeHsHO f."Vuo bouUe'
White Plains, N. Y, May 23.-"We
are accepting his story. but we are in
vestisating. This statement, made
today my Sheriff Werner, Of West
chester County, explains the attitude
Of the county authorities today toward
the confession Of Walter g. Ward, son
of the head Of the Ward Baking Com
pany, that he killed Clarence Peters to
end for all time the grasp black
mailing ring had on his pocketbook.
Sheriff Werner as well as District
Attorney Weeks asserted today that
they were as much in the dark as any
one else concerning the activities Of
the blackmailers who. Ward says.
fleeced him out Of $4,000. Wards
confession did not include an outline
of'the club the band held over his head.
1--WE have developed nothing that
would cause us to question Mr.. Wards
confession said Sheriff Werner HE
Is reputable man and undoubtedly was
the victim of blackmailers. He has
told us only a fragmentary story and
undoubtedly is reserving most Of the
details Of the case for his defense in
the event he is brought to trial.
Seek Conferedates in Vain
Search for two men known only as
Ross and Jack" alleged by Ward
to have been present when he killed
Peters the night Of May 15, was con
tinued by Westchester County officials
today.
Ward went to New York last night
with a number of officers and conducted
a search of resorts where he declared the
men wanted might be found. It was an
unsuccessful quest, and the party re.
turned to this city today.
While the Sheriff would moi describe
the men, he said that Ross was ICON.
fidence man of the highest caliber, !"
while Jack, the only name the other
Of the trio is known by, was more Of
the type Of a chauffeur. He added
that Ross was the best dressed Of the
gang and, according to the descrip.
tion he had, would be about twenty
six years old.
When Elwood NJ. Rabenold, counsel
for Ward, was asked II there was. a
threats were aimed at his family"
Allen r. Campbell, another Of the
lawyers, was asked If the blackmail
plot involved a woman, and answered !:
II don't think should answer that
question
track?"
II think 1t did" -
"Did it involve Wards war record? ?"
II can assure you that 1t did not" D"
answered Mr.. Campbell.
Wife Was Not Aware
Mrs, Ward said that she had not
known Of the plot for very long and
added: "I'm with my husband and I
want to do everything I can for him:
am sorry that I cannot answer any
further questions.
| Much surprise is displayed in New
Rochelle that Ward waited for almost
week before surrendering himself.
especially as he was known as a strict
disciplinarian in his position as chair
man of the Police Commission. Ward
! has lived in New Rochelle since 1911
when he came from Pittsburgh. He was
appointed head of the Police Commits
sion in 1919 and only two weeks ago
was re elected at the reorganization of
the board.
Ward lives at 8s Decatur road, sut.
ton Manor, New Rochelle, and is vice
president Of the Ward Baking Com
pany.
his vile WAS tOrIueTly MlSS IeTyl
Curtis. She is the daughter Of Mrs.
nue., Brooklyn. They have two infant
children.
Peters lived In Haverhill. Mass. He
served in the navy after the armistice,
and at the time of the alleged black
mailing was thought by his family to
have enlisted In the Marines at Paris
Island. s. c.
Story Of Shooting
According to the Sheriff and Ward's
lawyer, the following is the prisoner e
version Of what happened on the night
of the shooting: .
The three men who had been extort
ing money from him under threats OF
death, determined upon the night Of
Monday, May IS, as the time for q
Cleanup and getaway" as Ward's
counsel termed 1t. They demanded that
the road between Port Chester and
ervoir, with $4,000 to hand over t.
them in cash.
Ward drove to the appointed place II
his automobile. He was alone. H,
says his intention was to "temporize
with the men and put them off Will
whatever excuse they would accept fo
the non payment Of SO large a sum O
money at that time.
1t was almost 4 o'clock on Tuesda,
morning when they met. Peters, know
to him as "Pete," was in q red road
ster with Charley Ross and Jack. TIL
last named man was driving.
Peters jumped out of the roadster an,
ran over to the left side Of Wards car