The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-30
|WAITE IS SCREENING
| SUSPECTS, IS BELIEF
Amplifses HIS original story
70 Detectives.
KANE GIVES $4,000 oHEcu
John b. Potter, Implicated. Is Ar
rcsted--Said BY Prisoner to Have
Advised Arsenic In Embalming
Fluid.

torney Edward Swami convinced that
the case of DIR. Arthur Warren Waite
10 one of the most important and
far-reachfng that has ever come TO
the attention OF the criminal author
ities. directed every member OF the
staff to assist I'm the investigation to-
day.
Judge Swami is convinced that DR..
Waite took moro persons into his con-
fidence than have been mentioned.
He directed that every accessory be-
fore and after the facts of the muir
ders to which the dentist has con-
fessed, be brought to his Office.
Events moved with rapid succession
today. Following the district attor-
ney's announcement of his intention
to put every attaohe OF his ONCE
on this one case. DIR. Waite amplf-
fed his two confessions.
His mind was less clouded than
ever. There was very little trace of
the after-effects of the opiates he
took. DR.. Waite talked with perfect
candor. so far as his own part in the
murders was concerned, but the more
he talked the more Judge Swami be-
came convinced that he was screening
unsuspecter persons.
DIR. Waite said:
II promised Eugene Oliver Kane,
who en1balmed the body of Mr.. Peck,
the sum OF $4,000 II he would aid
me with perjured testimony at my
murder trial and get other witnesses
to per1ure themselves for me.
The matter Of purchasing testi-
mony from Kane was first suggested
to me by John s. Potter. manager OF
the Plowright undertaking establish
ment on Lexington Avenue.
Gave Kane $1,000 Check.
II actually gave Kane $4,000 II,
cash and check which has never been
presented for payment, and is still In
his possession.
Potter advised me as to how I
could best conceal the purchase OF
the arsenic with which l killed Mr..
Peck. also, as to how I might con-
vince the authorities that the arsenic
found In Mr.. Peck's stomach was a
component part of the embalming
fluid
AT this time. / knew T was sus-
pected of the murder. Potter, indeed,
told me that the district attorney was
anxious to get hold of a sample bottle
o. the embalming fluid. / told Potter
It would be advisable to have the en-
balming fluid contain arsenic He said
1t would cost money, but he would
As q result OF the prisoners charges,
Potter. the undertaken. a slender.
black m oustached man of middle age,
was brought to the district attorneys
ONCE by Detective John Cuniff and
bombarded with questions for many
hours. He denied Waitess charges We
hemently. but will return tomorrow
under subpoena to be questioned about
cer'oin contradictions In his state
ments.
Alarm Out For Kane.
The district attorneys ONCE tonight
sent out q general alarm for Kane,
The embaimer. who has apparently
disappeared from the city. When To-
| Gated, Kane will be arrested. charged
with conspiracy to commit crime.
He 10 supposed to have in his posses
sion the $4,000 in large bills alleged
to have been given him by Waite.
Other big developments today were:
/ J.. Margaret Horton, fhe woman OF
the Plaza studio" declared that II
! necessary she would take legal steps
| to force the district attorney to per-
| NIT her to visit Waite. She slipped
note into the Bellevue Hospital to-
| day assuring Waite of her belief in
his innocence, and said that next to
my husband, I care more for DR..
| Waite than for any man in the
| world"
| 2. Realizing the valuable aid Mrs.
Horton could give Waite as a witness
In his behalf. the authorities have re-
fused her permission to see him.
Peck Family Done With Waite.
3. The four surviving members OF
the Peck family united today in a
statement in which they repudiated
DR.. Waite and stated that under nc
circumstances would the Peck family
furnish any assistance. financial or
otherwise to his defense.
| 4. Waite today supplied further de-
tails OF methods he employed in end
ing the lives of John r. and Hannai,
M. Peck He insisted that he does
not regard himself as murderer, not
alone because he was under the In
fiuence Of the fantastic imam from
Egypt" but because the old peoples
span of life was short anyway.
Il began experimenting on Mr.. and
| Mrs Peck as coon as they arrived IN
the city to visit u.s. declared Waite
to Ray c. SCHNEIDER, detective. IT put
morphine and all sorts of germs n
the food of Mrs. Peck l thought
would try my schemes out on hci
first.
In his talk today with Judge Swami
the prisoner made no reference to
the evil genius from Egypt. The dis
trict attorney saw Waite in the pres.
ence of Frank A. Waite and Walter r.
Deuel., the formers attorney.
Telling the story OF his attempt to
purchase perjured testimony at the
murder trial that he was certain
awaited him, Waite said;
Arsenic Costs Money.
MIR. Potter called upon me Just
after I returned from Grand Rapidr
and said he had discovered that the
district attorney was anxious to get q
sample OF the embalming fluid. T told
Potter 1t would be advisable to have
the fluid contain arsenic.
4 Potter said this would cost money
asked him how much. He said he
didn't know. tina, he would have ia
consult Kane, who did the embalming
and that he would send Kane to nae
Potter said; You cannot epect Kane tc
put himself In this position unless he
is well paid for It.
Then / told Potter that had bought
the arsenic from a certain druggist
Potter told me that the druggist ought
to be given $1,000.
offered Kane 32S 900.
"on Sunday. March 10. the day after
got back from Grand Rapids. wrote
out check for $500. payable to the
order or Kane. This was on account
agreed to pay Kane $4,000 all to-
gether for his work. dated the 50, 400
! check Monday, March 20, and handed