New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-17
Waite Gave Mrs. Peck
2 Roses Day She Died
Wife Tells How Slayer,
Murder in His Heart, Took
Mother Riding and Played
Favorite Records.

DR.. Arthur Warren Waite brought
his mother-in-law, Mrs. John Peck. two
roses and played her favorite photograph
records for her on the night she died
from poison which he had, by his own
confession. administered TO her. A
short time before he had written her:
"lf | ever get into any trouble it will
be through some fault of my own
Yesterday Mrs. Clara Peck Waite
told the story of her mothers death
and Of her own short-lived romance
Her feeling for her husband is abso-
lutely dead She smiled as she showed
the picture of herself which he had
carried in his watch since their en-
gagement and which came back TO her
after his arrest. The trials through
which she has passed during the last
few weeks have not crushed her. She
speaks of the tragedy simply, directly,
unfinchingly.
Gave Doomed Mother Roses.
"The Saturday mother died" she
said, Arthur won the metropolitan
tennis championship. Just before he
went to the courts told him mother
would like to 60 for a short ride. He
took her out in his machine for twenty
minutes. When he came home after
the match he brought her two roses.
Il thought you would like these better
than a bouquet he said. You can
hold them in your hand and enjoy
them. Then he played some of her
favorlte photograph records and we
laughed and joked until DR.. Porter
came.
I'VE had had DR.. Porter all through
mothers illness. Although she seemed
TO grow weaker and shorter OF breath
every day, we did not know what was
the trouble. We thought it was her
heart. Each day Arthur would take
her temperature and give her the med
icine-two lquids-Dr. Porter had
prescribed. He seemed worried about
her. The Monday before she died we
went to the opera. Although she was
able to be up, she did not care to go,
but begged US to do so. Some time pe-
fore the end Of the opera we left be-
cause Arthur said he did not like to
leave mother alone so long.
Attentions Never Failed.
"The night OF her death | was so
tired that Arthur sent me to bed, say
ing he would give her the last tablet
which the doctor had prescribed.
went in to kiss her good night and
told her he would sit up TO give her
the medicine. She smiled because she
loved his attention. Her greatest
pleasure was to do something for him.
She did his mending and at Christmas
at home we always have our pres
ents on table-she had special
table for him.
AT 2 o'clock / awoke and went into
mothers room. She was breathing
heavily, but | thought nothing Of 1t.
Arthur told me to come back and not
10 disturb her. In the morning we
found her in the same position she
had been in at o'clock. He told me
She had been gone some time"
From the time Arthur Waite met
Clara Peck, on his return TO Grand
Rapids from South africa, until he had
teen placed in the prison ward ct
Bellevue, he never failed IN his atten-
items to her.
Deceived Family Daily.
There never was a more devoted
sutton than Arthur Waite his wife
said yesterday. when he returned TO
Grand Rapids, after several years alb
sence. | met him. On Christmas Day
a wear ago | gave a party. He was in
vited. and seemed interested in me. A
little later, when mother and | went
to Daytona, Fla, he was waiting for
US when we arrived. He travelled with
rs 10 Nassau, Miami and Palm Beach.
At every hotel people fell under his
charm. They used to laugh with moth
er, and ask her what her daughter ex-
pected because he was so attentive
to US. II was his kindness to mother
that made me care for him.
at is hard to come back to New
York, where | have so many associa-
tions. ! went TO school here, and here,
Just about a year ago, | became en-
gagged Here everything in the world
was taken from me by the man | trust
ed. Now | know there never was a day
he did not deceive me and my family
Even after he was in Bellevue Hospital
he wrote me letter that was as sweet
in sentiment as any love letter ] had
ever received from him.
Gives Wife Atomizer.
after my mothers funeral he came
back to New York. One day he ordered
n plant TO be sent me by Grand Rap
ids florist. With !. came this message:
4. is 8 in the morning, AMI ! am
thinking Of you. | want the florist to
/ help me express to you how much !
love you Soon after this my father
and ! planned TO return to New York.
He wired for US TO postpone our trip
because he had to go to Albany 10 per-
foIm an important operation. Later be