Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-26
Question No Longer One
of Crime But of Defend
ants Responsibility.
ACCUSED CONFESSES /
MURDER OF PECK
Defense Tries Hard to Show That
Waite Was Not Mentally Responsi-
BILE For His Acts, Contending That
Crime Was That Of Madman-
Waite's Memory Poor as to Events
Of Recent Months.

OF heGont MontnS.
New York, May 26.-Dr.- Waite tod
an alienist engaged for his Defense in
i his trial for the murder of John f.
Peck, that he had intended to kill his
wife, Carrie Peck Waite, and that he
married her only for her money, ac-
cording to DR.. Morris J. Karpas, an
aienist. The witness added thai
Waite said he did not intend to stop at
anything to gain his ends.
Under cross examination Waite told
the prosecutor that he was mot sure
he would have killed his wife," lie de-
MED he had ever told the prosecutor
that the Man From Egypt" had killed
Mr.. Peck and swore that he slept
perfectly after the murder. He de-
clined to admit that he had made
himself appear worse than he was in
order to convince the jury he is in
sane.
The alienist testified he did not ap-
pear to be mentally we'll and that he
was abnormal in that all his interests
were centered in himself.
New York, May 26.-The question
whether sane man could commit the
crimes confessed by DR.. Arthur w.
Waite, confronted the jurors today in
the Peck murder trial. Z
Waite's confession yesterday left
nothing more for the prosecution to do
toward proving that he committed
murder. Their problem was to show
that a monster Of crime such as the
defendant confessed himself might
have been mentally normal and there
fore a fit subject for the electric
chair. -. }.5g-s.. 4 A,IGr j.
|: Women were excluded from the
court room when DR.. Waite resumed
the stand today. His COUNSEL, Walter
r. Deuel. told Justice SheaTa that he
had only few more questions to ask
the dentist before the cross examina-
ton began. .:z. Z
""Did you ever try to kill your ,wife?.'
asked Mr.. Deuel.. p .9'22s
No. replied DR.. Waite ar
r. Did you ever plan to kill herr"
+ "No, never
You never thought you might kill
her!"
IT am not sure I would not have
killed her." said Waite. e-..~., :
Denies Conversation With Brothers.
Assistant District Attorney Brothers
then began the cross examination. He
first asked the prisoner: |
DO you recall telling me that you
did not want your wife learning Of
your relations with Mrs. Horton?"
NO" replied Waite.
Waite folded his arms and smiled as
he denied ever having any CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Brothers. He said he
was surprised to learn that he had
given ring to his nurse.
you were taking insanity in Belle
vue, were you not?"
IT didn't fake insanity at any time,
said Waite.
"You faxed insanity in the Tonbs, -
said the prosecutor.
Waite denied it and also denied he
had deliberately planned a false de-
fense or read books on nervous dis
eases. @ - -
- Waite Foraets Recent Events. :
You have displayed a wonderful
memory for events back to your ,6th
birth day, but you have forgotten these
recent incidents" said the prosecutor.
II don't remember" said Waite.A=
You don't wish to remember even
your letter to Margaret Horton? ?"
asked Mr.. Brothers.
Waite did not answer. The smile
gradually faded from his face and he
seemed confused. He denied he had
been reading medical books but adj
mitted reading a medical magazine. X
He denied he had. told District At-
torney Swan and Mr.. Brothers. while
in Bellevue, that the Man From
Egypt" had Killed Mr.. Peck.
care you crazy?" asked Mr..
Brothers. 1s .s. a. II
IT think not" s.
No Remorse For Crime.
"After you took Mr.. Peck's life, you
could not sleep, could your
81 slept perfectly" said Waite
"You wanted to xiii yourself, aida aida
you 2. "
YES ~
"You fixed the embalmer. What had
you to fear"
We'll this trial" 7 ~ q : 4.
"Why did not you kill yourself? ~ Y
: Il made q pretty good attempt at it, y
said Waite 90
"You only obtained the cultures in
which the germs SO grown" said
Brothers. 'H you wanted to kill the
Pecks why didn't you shoot them?"
"I don't know"
Never Punished For Crime.
Waite said he had never been pun
ished for any crime.
you began to believe you were
above the law 2"
NO" s N .. 4 u
"You have never been anything but
a sneak thief have you?"
That's ALL
"You were gambler. You told per.
sons that you played for high stakes
that you lost in the Peck case"
NO = We e w. ~
..You planned to win $1,000, 900 r. s
NO, not that much" W
The prisoner denied he had schenaet