Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-05-31
LA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 81, 1915.
WAITE GUILTY OF MURDER.
New York Dentist VIII BE Sentenced
Thursday, June 1st.

New York, May 27.--Dr. Arthur
w. Waite was to-day found guilty of
the murder Of his father-in-law,
John E. Peck, the Grand Rapids mil
lionaire.
Guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree was the verdict Of the jury,
returned after it had been absent
from the court room one hour and
25 minutes.
Waite was remanded to the Tombs
to await imposition Of sentence OH
June 1st
Waite Ate as Jury DeLibernted.
While the jury was deciding his
fate, Waite was eating hearty din
ner in a room in the court house.
Believing the jury would return
| quick verdict, the spectators remain
| ed in their seats while it was out.
Mrs. Clara Peck Waite, with her
! friends, sat in corner behind the
| jury box while Waite's father and
| brother Frank remained in the court
| room.
! When the jury came in with its
verdict Waite was brought into the
court room, but was not allowed to
take his usual seat. Standing behind
the rail Of the court room, with his
| face pale and showing signs of nerv-
business, he watched the jurymen
| take their places. He stared at the
| jury without making any movement
as the foreman, replying to the ques-
tion of the clerk, said the verdict
was Guilty" w. r. Deuel., Waites
counsel, asked that the jury be poll
ed and the request was granted.
Each juryman replied that he found
the defendant guilty in the first de-
gree.
Waite then gave his pedigree to
the clerk, stating that he was 20
years old, was born in Michigan, CIV
ing his occupation IS a dentist, de-
claring that he was temperate and
had never been convicted of any Of
fense.
Justice Shearn then announced
that the prisoner was remanded until
June 1st for sentence and the jury
was discharged with thanks.
Great Relief, Says Waite.
Waite had expected a prompt YER
diet When the jury retired he said:
'They will be back in fifteen min
| utes."
The trial lasted six days, less than
half as long as that OF Chas. Becker,
and much shorter than most of the
noted murder trials held here in re-
cent years.
AS Waite left the court room on his
way to the Tombs he said to the
deputy sheriff who was leading him:
This is a great relief"
Mrs. Clara Peck Waite said to a
court attendant, Oh hearing the ver-
dict: Gods will be done"
81 Am Satisfied" Says Waite.
! New York, May 2S.-A declaration
that he wishes no appeal in his be-
half was contained in a statement Is
sued from his cell in the Tombs to-
| day by Dr.. Arthur w. Waite, convict
ed Saturday Of the murder of his ia
| ther-in-law, John e. Peck, Of Grand
| Rapids.
81 am satisfied with the verdict"
he said, "and don't want any appeal
made by w. r. Deuel. (Waite's chief
| counseD or any one else. l am will
ing to take the punishment for my
i'll deeds, and the quicker that pun
ishment comes the better"
Waite to-day lost much of the
mask of indifference he has main
tanned since his removal to prison.
He slept fitfully last night and ap-
peared nervous when no arose.
He was one Of those who heard
Rev. J. Callahan preach a sermon on
''The Two Thieves" at the service
conducted in the prison. In the af-
ternoon Waite spent several hours
reading the Bible.
I