Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-26
GUILTY OR CRAZY
IS NOW YATES FIX
New Workers. Fate Depends
Solely on His Plea of
Insanity.
HIS MEMORY FAILS"
AT CRITICAL MOMENTS
Slayer of Millionaire Peck Put
Through Grueling Examination.
by Assistant District Attorney.

/ NEW YORK. May 26.-could sane
man commit the series of crimes con-
fessed by Dr. Arthur Warren Waite:
I This question confronted the jury today
in the Peck murder case. The young
dentist left the witness stand last night
after five hours and forty-tive minutes
crowded with horrors unparalleled in the
history of New York criminal trials. Every
| detail of his story was noted by the
alienists engaged by the defense for use
in framing the hypothetical question they
will be called to answer before Waite's
attorneys ask the jury to decide whether
he was mentally responsible when he
killed his father-in-law John +. Peck.
Waites testimony left the prosecu-
tons attorneys today nothing more to
do toward proving that he committed
murder. Their problem was to show
that monster of crime such as the
defendant confessed himself might
have been mentally normal and there
fore d fit subject for the electric chair
Women Are Excluded.
Women were excluded from the
courtroom when DIR. \. w. Waite re-
sumed the witness stand today.
Hundreds of persons in the corridors
vaiuly tried to gain admission to the
courtroom. Waite appeared pale. but
seemed to have bra ced himself to face
the ordeal.
His counsel. Walter r. Deuel., told
Justice Shearn that he had only few
and questions to ask the dentist before
t the cross-examination would begin
Did YOU ever try to kill your wife,
asked Mr. Deuel..
NO replied DR.. Waite.
Did you ever plan to kill her.
NO. never"
You never thought you might kill
her.
u am not sure that I would not have
killed her said Waite.
Waite's Cross Examination.
Assistant District Attorney Brothers
then began the cross examination of
Dr. Waite. He first asked the prisoner:
do you recall telling me that you
did not want your wife to learn of your
relations with Mrs. Horton"
NO" replied Waite.
Waite folded his arms and smiled at
the prosecutor as he denied having any
conversation with Mr.. Brothers in DR..
Waite's apartment.
The dentist said he was surprised to
learn that he had given a ring to his
nurse.
You were taking insanity in Belle
yue, were you not" asked Mr.. Broth
erS.
II didn't fake insanity at any time"
said Waite
You faxed insanity in the Tombs,"
said the prosecutor.
Waite denied it, and also denied that
he deliberately planned a false defense
or read books on nervous diseases.
His Lapses of Memory.
you have displayed a wonderful
memory for events back to your sixth
birthday, but you have forgotten these
recent Incidents said the prosecutor.
Il don't remember" said Waite.
You don't wish to remember even
your letter to Margaret Mortonr ask
ed Mr.. Brothers.
Waite did not answer. The smile
gradually faded from his face and he
seemed to become confused by the
rapid fire of questions. He denied that
he had been reading medical books. but
admitted reading a medical magazine.
The witness declared he did not tell
District Attorney Swami and Mr.
Brothers while in Bellevue that the
man from Egypt" had killed Peck He
said he had asked Mrs. Horton If she
| had heard of the man from Egypt"
| but denied that he had otherwise
spoken of such a character.
Are you crazy?" asked Mr.. Brothers
| Il think not"