Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-22

White Plains. n. Y, Sept. 21.-The
climax Of day of surprises in the
trial of Walter S. Ward, charged
with the murder of Clarence Peters.
came when charges OF black,naIl
plot against George $. Ward.
wealthy baker, father of the defend
ant. were suddenly introduced as
evidence by Deputy Attorney Gen
eral O'Neill.
The charges were in the chape
of complaint signed by james j.
Cunningham, who was reported TO
have told Sheriff Werner he Knew
story. Threats OF moral disyr; &C
were made against the elder Ward
by the DlacknaIl gang anu Waiter
5. Ward transmitted the threats to
his father, VINO did not act on them.
the complaint sand. The charges
came after Sheriff Werner had testi-
fled the Wards had made no COM
plant of blackmail to him.
Much OF the days testimony CEN
tered about the revolver, said by
Ward to have been in Peters EdhI
when he was shot The state APP
parently attempted to show that me
pistol, in reality was one which had
been given to Ward by Chief of Po-
lice Cody OF -<ew Rochelle IS Il
Christmas present.
Wards story OF the shooting as
told to Sheriff Werner was rcrited
on the witness sand ny the sheriff,
hn W'nr1 IL n,d
him he had pad $4,000 in pack
mail to the ga iy.
At one point n Gcday's proceed
ings. defense counsel Campbell
strenuously objected to the methods
of the state in examining witnesses
and claimed the defense was not
getting a fair trial.
Mr.. Campbell interjected his PRO-
test while Mr.. O'Neill was exlmin-
ing Raymond Vail of Thompsunvllle,
a close friend of Ward, who testi-
fed that shortly after the staying.
Ward told him he was fortunate to
be alive, that he had tired at Peters
in self-defense, shooting hurriedly
with his left hand and that he he
lieved he had dropped" two men.
When Vail said he didn't femem-
Der whether Ward told him bulle:
shattered the windshield of his car,
Mr.. O'Neill exclaimed. You don't
remember; do you remember YOU
told the grand jury that Ward mad
told you a bullet shattered'the wind
shield?"
The witness said he did remember
on being reminded and at this point
Mr. Campbell jumped to his ,eet.
II think 1t is about time that your
I,~. fu1, hn
al" he said. I'VE are not getting
fair trial"
All attorneys leaped to their feet
and Justice Wagner had to rap loud
~ to restore order.
After the defense counsers motoa
that Wallis testimony be stricken
from the record was denied, Mr..
Campbell obtained an admission
from the witness that he had been
.lectured for more than three hours
in a back room of the court house.
They told me they had a state
ment from my father that / had dis
cussed the shooting with Ward,
Vail said. Il told them I knew
nothing about the Ward case. Two
DAYS ago they took me to the same
room and questioned me for twenty
minutes. trying to make me remem-
Der what I had said Ward told me.
| read so much about the case in
the newspapers that my memory of
what he did tell me is very much
confused
Several witnesses introduced by
the state testified they had seen
Wards coupe with broken rear
window.
Before adjournment to Monday.
defense counsel Campbell asked the
state to indicate when the first de-
Tense witness could be called but
Mr.. O'Neil refused to answer.