Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-26
Dentist Charged With Muir
der Of His Father-ln-Iaw
Bushes as He Recounts Sc
rieS of TheftS.
PILFERED $40 FROM
MOTHER OF SWEETHEART
Prisoner Says He Was Cruel
to Animals, Stole Right and
left, and Also Cheated at
Pool.

tsv sosaiss IovssAI svse,al tsassp ~tssi
New York, May 26.--Dr. Arthur
Warren Waite on trial here for the
murder OF his father-in-law. John Il.
Peek. took the witness stand In his
own behalf late today and barred tho
sordd secrets of his life In an effort
20 save himself from the electric
chair. Earlier in the day his counsel
had stated he would prove the self
confessed poisoner Of his wife's par
ents was insane at the time the crime
charged against him was committed.
The prisoners story was devoted
largely TO admissions OF a series OF
thefts from time he was q hoy until
he pilfered $40 from the purse OF tho
mother of the girl he married while
he was still counting. He told also OF
his wooing of his wife who sat not far
from him In the court room with head
bowed while he testified. The young
dentist was preceded on the witness
stand by his father, Warren w. Waite.
and his brothers Frank and Clyde. The
father told OF taint Of insanity in his
family. All three related incidents IN
the defendants life designed to show
that he was peculiar even as n boy
and that his thlevery always was a
problem for the family.
Old Friends Testify.
The testimony of relatives was sup
plemented by tho depositions Of FAM
lily friends and college class mates Of
Waite. who told OF his thefts and Pc
ouliarities. Walter X. Deuel., counsel
for the defense IN his examination OF
witnesses and by the dispositions
sougth to show that Waite, was mem
tally unsound.
Waite seemed calm when he took
the witness stand. The court room
was sultry but he buttoned his coat
tightly around him. He smiled al
most constantly during his examina-
tion, but appeared resigned and not
defiant.
Bushes nj Escapadcs.
The dentist commenced his life
story by recalling that as child he
was cruel TO animals. He yawned al
he told Of Sinking home work In his
school days. Then he recounted how
he stole examination papers, copied
them from papers of his class mates.
stole from every one for whom he
worked as boy and then robbed his
fraternity brothers while attending
he University of Michigan. His face
flushed as he recounted some of the
'scapades of his student days
His total thefts during his fresh
nan year at college amounted to
lbout $500, he said. He was expelled
rom his fraternity while a sophomore
or stealing. but was reinstated In his
enior year,
In his second college year he paid
,art OF his expenses by waiting on
able and caring for furnace At
hat time he began TO attend church
although he had no relig-
ous convictions. He asserted, how
yer. that he did not steal during the
inc he was a church attendant.
Made Living by Cheating.
After leaving college he told OF q
rip through canada where he made
is living By cheating at pool. lilo
hen went 10 Scotland where he took
special course in Edinburgh univer-
ll1# lit SHiu flt ubtlOItu HIS
Iona from the University of Michi-
an so he could get credit for certain
iudies and thereby shorten his course
! dentistry
From Edinburgh. Waite went TO
outh Africa. where he travelled for
dental supply house. He said he
ole 81, 500 from his employers the
rst year and increased the amount
lch year OF the five he worked for
lem He also told of hushng up by
ne payment of o small sum a scan
al in which he was involved with
oung woman,
Story OF Courtship.
Soon after leaving South Africa,
faite returned to the United States
nd went to Grand Rapids to live.
oon after his arrival there he met
Iiss Peck and began TO court her.
Were you in love with her?' he
as asked.
Il don't know" Waite replied
Then he told of declaring to her:
III make You love me" lie admit
d knowing that the Pecks We're very
ealthy and explained that the fam
7 received him VERY nicely"
Stole From Succthcair's Mother.
Later he met the Pecks ut Palm
each and II was there Miss Peck
To marry him. He hung his
'ad as he admitted the theft of a $40
II from Mrs. peck's purse while at
e Florida resort
Telling of his hetrothal to Miss
EEK. he said that two weeks before
cir marriage he almost broke their
II was not so sure of her love-" he
planned
Had Affair With Aunt-ln-law.
He then told of coming to New