The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-04
DR.. WAITE WAS
THE VICTIM OF
BLACK AILERS
District Attorney Seeks Per.
sons Who Knew of Muir
ders and Didn't Tell.
HUNT MADE ALSO FOR
AUTHOR OF TELEGRAM

AUTHOR OF
The authorship OF the telegram which
suggested to the u~ususpicious mind of
Percy 4. Peck in Grand Rapids. Mich,
that his father, John T.. Peck. had been
murdered in the apartment Of Dr.
Arthur Warren Waite is apt to play
an important part in District Attorney
swans investigation.
The case against DR.. Waite himself il
complete. All that is lacking In the
inquiry is accurate information as to
the activities OF persons who played
upon tho prisoners weaknesses aud
fears and took advantage Of his panic
TO mulct him.
within two days. We have reason TO
believe. there will he "A confession touch-
ing OH the authorship of the *. Adams
telegram which warned Percy :. Peck
and OH a %singularly cold blooded black
mail plot said Assistant District At
torncy Mancuso yesterday. One Of the
persons suspected has been warned that
we have strong evidence against him
and that he may save himself much
trouble IL he decides 10 tell the whole
truth. There will lie "A revelation con-
corning the *. Adams telegram which
will startle the public"
waite Couldn't Keep secret.
The substance of District Attorney
SwAiin'S information IL that Waite was
W inept us AN amateur criminal that
ha Mont tn several n.y.~ptS within five
days OF tine death of his fathcr-in-law
and practically confessed that he was
guilty OF murder. ~ the same time he
revealed TO them that he had money
which he was willing to spend to the
last dollar TO cover up his crime. judge
Swami is acting on the theory that
Waite was blackmailcd 10y persons
whose first duty it WAS to take to the
authorities their information as to
Waite's guilt.
Waite continues TO insist that lie is
perfectly sane: that he knew what he
was about when he poisoned his mother
in-law, his father-iu-law and planned to
kill his wife. lie says lie wanted money
and a lot Of 1t quickly, and that he was
determined to end the three lives that
stood between him and "A fortune of
$780, 900. The family attitude il that
DR.. Waite is a victim of an Insanity
faint that several members of the
Waite family have been confined in
lunatic asylums.
Assistant District Attorney Mancuso.
while in Grand Rapids "A week ago.
anticipated the probability of an iu-
sanity defence and spent two days pro-
curing affidayits from persons who hal
known Waite most Of hs lie. Thirty
five dispositions were obtained and they
cover more than 1000 typewriter pages.
Tho sum total ot the statements il that
in Grand Rapids young Waite WAS re-
Earded as a strewri. clear headed young
man. who had never displayed the
slightest symptoms of insanity.
In addition to the Grand Rapids
dispositions tho District Attorney has the
statements of the employees of the
Colosseum apartments at AZ, Riverside"
Drive. Thu superintendent of the Hous"
and the hall and elevator boys have said
that Waite was regarled az Il model
Tenant man of excellent habits and
81 restrained deIncauor.
More witnesses Questioned.
Assistant District Attorney pooliuG
questioned several persons yesterday
vi o will be called as witnesses when
Waite goes to trial, Dr. .Alb"rtus .Adair
Moore. who attended john r.. Peck in
Mr.. peck's last Illness. said that he
had not observed suspicious behavior on
Dr. Waiteis part and that Mr. l'cck's
ease had not REVEALED symptoms Of
poisoning. 1t was quite true, 1hr. Moore
added, that arsenic administered in
email doses might pro"1uce a stimulation
of "A natural ailmrnt, such as acut"
stomach or intestinal trouble, aud he had
believed that Mi. Peck suffered from an
intestinal disorder.
Miss Margaret Lynch, II trained rurs"
who cared for Mrs. J. Peck. who died
on January so, or six weeks before her
husband, said that she had MT observed
anything irregular about Ir. Waitc's b.
havior or about tine treatment a.; MIR.
Peck. She had read the newspaper
stories about the poisoning Of the elderly
couple, and after reading thcm had
begun TO recall peculiar circumstances
such as that Mrs. Peck had complained
about severe stomach IT,ins
Other statements taken 10y the Dis
tlict Attorney yesterday had to ii. with
the fact that both Mr.. Peck and Mrs.
Peck were In excellent health when they
arrived here from Grand Rapids To- visit
their son-in-law. aud that each had told
friends of plans for the future plans for
travel and the general enjoyment of life.
They trusted completely n III" suavc
son-in-law aud accepted his advice IN
every important matter. even permitting
him IL dictate their diet and nat mcdi-
cine they should take,
Judge Swami said yesterday hat lie
desired 10 bring Waite 10 trial 10y My /,
and that he would oppose cvcry cudcayor
80 drag out the ease. AZ certain other
murder cases have been dragged out.
Ibr. Mcnas =. Gregory. alicuiSt at
bellevue Hospital. announced last night
after spending an hour and "A half in
IN ward with Or Waite that the den
fist would be moved from Bellevue to
the Tombs ON Thursday.