South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-25
But Declares Aged Man Asked
Him to Buy Poison
to Stay
Self.
TRIES TO BRIDE COLORED
MAID TO HELP HIS TALE
Detective Asserts Alleged
Slayer Wrote Out $1,000
Check to be Paid
Girl.
Associated Press Service:

1
NEW YORK. March 24.-Confes-
sion was made today by DR.. Arthur
Warren Waite, according 70 Dist.
Atty. Swami, that he bought the
poison believed by the authorities TO
have caused the death of his father
in-law, John f. Peck, of Grand Rap
ids, Mich, but he asserted that he
made the purchase at the request OF
the millionaire, who was respondent
| and wished TO commit suicide. An
other sensational development late in
| the day was the statement made to
Mr.. Swami by Raymond SCHNEIDER.
a private detective. that DIT. Waite
had asked him to attempt to bride
| Waite's Negro maid, Dora Hitler,
to corroborate the dentists story.
IF she will say in court that she
I heard MIR. Peck ask me to buy the
arsenic" SCHNEIDER told the district
attorney. Waite said. land that she
saw me give him the package IN
opened. 1 will give her a check for
81, 900"
Gives out Cheek
DR. Waite. according to the detec-
J tive, thereupon signed what purport-
ed to be check Cor 81. 900 to the
order OF the girl. written by Schind-
Ter on a sheet from his note book.
This check" now is in the posses
sion OF Mr.. Swami. SCHNEIDER said
Waite did not know he was de-
tective.
DR.. Waite was taken TO the prison
ward at Bellevue hospital tonight.
Mr. Swami said he wanted the dentist
kept under the closest possible sur
Vigilance, because Waite had express
ed regret that the drugs he took
Wednesday had not killed him and
that he wished he were dead.
When first questioned by Mr.
Swami on Tuesday, Waite is said 10
have laughed heartily and declared.
why this is rich I never pur-
chased arsenic in my life and have
never had any"
In making his statement to the
district attorney today. Waite was
self possessed and spoke with evil
| dent elaboration.
But when he was questioned about
the alleged misuse OF $40 600 en-
trusted 10 him for investment by
Miss Catherine Peck, sister Of John
Z. Peck, and in regard TO a woman
he had previously admitted having
lived with. he apparently became in
dignant saying: That has moth
ing TO do with the subject in hand"
Admits Buying Arsenic.
YES" he said. according to Mr..
Swami, "I bought the arsenic. but
know YOU won't believe what I am
going to tell you. so I'll probably 20
| 70 the electric chair. Mr. Peck was
an old man, he was very respondent
over the death OF his wife. One day
he asked me 10 buy some poison for
him. I don't remember whether he
said he wanted arsenic or not. I
went 70 see a physician acquaint-
ance: told him ] wanted to kill a
cat. and asked him 10 recommend me
to his druggist. he called the drug
gist on the telephone and told him
7 was all right. 7 also told the drug
gist 7 wanted 10 kill a cat 7 took
the poison home and handed the
package 70 Mr.. Peck. 7 never saw
II again"
The poison was bought on March
. and Peck died March Il. The dis
trict attorneys office has informa-
ton that the dentist made other
purchases OF poison between Dec. q
and March T. Mrs. Peck died here
on Jan. so. 1t was after Waite was
confronted with written records OF
some OF his purchases that he made
his ALLEGED confession.
How much was Peck worth. do
you know ?" the district attorney ask
ed him.
Yes. I know" DR.. Waite replied.
a million dollars"
Mrs. Waite had no knowledge Of
her husband purchasing poison M
Swami said the dentist told him.
My regret is that this Will wound
my wife very deeply" the dentist
said
Melody knows anything about the
subject except myself, and I can't
prove what l say"
DIT Waite told the district attorney
ne had never taken drugs in his life
until last Wednesday. when he said
he took them 10 make him sleep.
Mr.. Swami has been reliably in
formed he said that last Monday
lCONTINUED OK PAGE THREE)