The New York herald., 1922-06-16
MURDER INDICTMENT
SENDS WARD TO JAIL;
PLOTSTORY TBARED
Westchester Officials Make
Move to Force Ward, ST.,
Back to New York.
CORNERED BY THREATS
Rich Man Feared Death of
Family and Exposure
of Secrets.
EMBOLDENED BY $4,000
Blackmailers in Double Racket
Then Demanded $4,000;
Shooting Followed.
EMB0LDENED BY $4,000

Wditer .. Ward, who killed ClQr-
ence Peters. was indicted yesterday
on charge of first degree murder.
was arrested. held without bail for
pleading this morning and committed
to the Westchester county Jail in
White Plains.
The story behind the shooting of
Peters, the story OF blacknail which
Ward and his counsel have tried so
hard to conceal-though the telling Of
1t might have saved him from indict-
ment--is out. 1t is the story which
will have to be told in detail when
Ward goes to trial. which he must do
unless his attorneys succeed in hay-
ing the indictment dismissed. This
they will try to do to-day.
Ward-this will be the substance
Of the narrative leading UP to the
shooting of Clarence Peters-was be-
ing subjected to double blackmail,
known to the underworld as tho
double racket" First, the gang wrung
money from him by leading him to
lose at the racetrack, and then threat
ening to expose his losses.
Thrent to XIII His Family.
Then when he baked and would go
no further they threatened to expose
family secrets. The gang also threat
ened to kill his family, consisting Of
wife and two children. They said
also they krew something about his
early snarriei life and would reveal It.
That brought more money. Finally they
told him they had compromising facts
relating to. a relative. He didn't know
whether these threats were based on
facts. and he could not find out. but
he took upon his already burdened
shoulders the responsibility OF protect-
ing the relative. and gave UP more
, money.
Early in May. pleading that the New
York police were after them and they
had to make their getaway. they de-
manded $4,000 in lump. He cabled
his father. George S. Ward, who was in
Europe The father cabled back that
he would not pay a cent II 1t was
blackmail The blackmailers met Wal
ter Ward by appointment In a road
near Rye on the night Of May il.
They gave him twenty-four hours in
which to produce the $4,000. AS he
started for his home in his car they
fred two shots as a warning, and broke
window Of his car.
The next night was May Is. Ward
could not raise the money but went
again to meet the blackmailers, as they
demanded. The rest of the story as told
b. %ar1 ~
the shooting of Clarence Peters.
Peters held a gun against Ward DUR
ing the ride to Kensico reservoir.
When they stopped near the upper end
of the reservoir. with Charley Ross and
Jack. the blackmailers. in their red
Stutz ahead of Ward and Clarence
Peters, Peters. at the point of a re-
volver. ordered Ward to get out
. Ward apparently believed that they
were going to kill him then and there.
He grabbed Peters's wrist Peters fired,
and the shot went wild. Ward fired
and killed Peters. Then Ward, crouch
Ing behind the red Stutz. poked an arm
out at the side and shot at Charley
Ross. who was at the wheel of the
stutz Ross slumped down and his com
pa MON, Jack. bounding TO tho wheel.
drove the car and wounded pal away.
Ward feels sure that he wounded Ross.
In Clutch OF Btnckm alters.
In short. the story OF the Ward black
mail and shooting. which is likely 70 be
told under oath at the trial. is round
ing out Of the same story that the pub
lie already knows In outline. II Is tho
story OF man I'm the clutch of tor
mentors from whom he could not extri-
cate himself Legally II cannot Justify
the killing OF Peters. but II explains how
Ward came to be with Peters and how
the situation was brought about that
compelled him to shoot IN self-defense.
It is indicated that Ward can go "a
trial soon II he and his counsel wish it,
possibly within two weeks. From July
/ TO October there is no regular trial
term OF the Supreme Court, but the
Appellate Division can direct Justice
to sit In July. II Is not expected that
Justice Morschauser will hear the Ward
case. Unless Ward Is admitted to bail
he will have TO stay In Jail until the
trial A Justice Of the Supreme Court
can admit prisoner to BAIL even when
the charge is murder. but he rarely
does so.
The Indictment OF Walter Ward on the
fifth day Of the Grand Jury sitting was
not expected. II was part OF double
headed proceeding In White Plains.
While the Grand Jury was In session
District Attorney Weeks went to Su-
preme Court Justice Morschauser with
formal complaint asking the Justice to
sit as magistrate and determine
whether Walter Wards father. George
s. Ward. and others were guilty Of
conspiring 20 defeat the ends OF justice
by withholding essential Information.
Manifcstly this course was taken be-
cause OF the continued absence OF George
s. Ward In Pennsylvania, although a
subpoena calling for his appearance be-
~. nd Tt,, a.
has been awaiting him several days
Last night it was explained that the
elder Ward Is under Federal subpoena
to attend the trial OF civil action In
which his company Is tho complainant