Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-29
MYSTERY WOMAN ENTERS WARD
CASE SOUGHT DEATH WEALTHY
BAKER AT HANDS OF n. Y. WAITER

White Plains, n. Y, May 2S-Re-
ports that a mysterious, stylishly
gowned young woman had attempted
to hir a waiter in a New York res
taurant to shoot ana kill Walter S.
Ward, wealthy baker, who has con-
fessed to killing Clarence Peters for
mer navy men, was the latest and
most sensational development in the
battling case tonight.
This development, combined with
the reputed statement of a friend of
Wards that the baker was not at his
New Rochelle home the night pre-
ceding Peters shooting, contrary to
Wards statement to the authorities,
again has District Attorney Weeks
and the police working on new clues
which may bring them to a solution
or the deepening mystery that has
consistently enveloped the details of
the shooting.
The Manhattan police are seeking
the woman described by the waiter
who told of her attempt to hire him
to assassinate Ward. At the same
time the local authorities are cues
tioning closely friends of Ward sup
posed to have been at his home at a
shooting Of Peters.
Still another mysterious report has
come to the police for probing. This
is to the effect that Peters had two
$500 bill, obtained i'll some unex-
planned transaction, on his person the
day before the shooting But 1882 was
in his pockets when the body was
found. All cards and papers which
might have served as identifying
agents also were missing.
Two mysterious telephone calls also
are the subject of investigation.
The woman sought by the New
York police is alleged to have offered
al waiter in an upper Manhattan res
taurant $500 if he would kill Ward
Ihe attempted assassination was to
rave taken place last night, according
" the waiter, few hours after Ward
had been released from prison on
$4,000 bail.
The waiter told her to return later.
saying he wanted to think it over"
1t was then he reported the occur
renee to the police. An armed guard
was at the Ward home last night and
otnight.
Mrs. Ward and her mother, Mrs.
Curtis, were h stesses at a bridge
party at the Ward hom" the night of
May Is. few hours preceding the
shooting of Peters. The authorities
are tonight investigating the state
ment of the one of the geusts that
Ward, who had declared he did not
leave home until midnight, was not at
his home any time before midnight.
The first seen of him. according to
the report, was at 9 O'Clock the fol :
lowing morning, a few hours after the
shooting.
District Attorney Weeks is looking
Tor man known as James s. Clark,
whose address is unknown, who
knew Peters when he was. a sailor
Clark, who is somewhere in New
1ork City. told newspaper men he
mad met Peters about four months
ago. The two were without funds
A closed car drove up, he said and
Young man alighted.
Here's rich friend of mine from
New Rochelle" Clark declared Pet
ers said to him.
took the two to a restaurant and
purchased them a meal. after which
he drove off with Peters Peters
Clark said returned two days later.
He handed me s.. saying his
friend had sent it to me. and that
he wanted to see me-" Clark said
But I did not go to see him."
Clark. shown newspaper picture
of Ward, declared he was the same
man who had driven up to the park
and taken ePters and him to the
restaurant. District Attorney Weeks
said tonight he was seeking Clark or
the theory that he might throw some
light on the story of alleged black
mai. which Ward declares was the
cause of the shooting.
A woman anonymously teIephoned
the state police here today that she
had seen two motor cars in the vicin-
ity of the Kensico Reservoir. where
Peters was shot, the night of the
tragedy. The authorities are seeking
to trace the call. This information
is in substantiation of Wards state
ment that a car containing two Of
Peters accomplices in the blackmai
plot, followed him from his home
the morning of the shooting.