The Washington herald., 1916-05-26
TALKS In A WHISPER
Il Wanted Those Bacteria to
Kill Three Persons" Calm
ly States Dentist.
LAUGHS AT CLEVER REPLIES
Tells Court He Went to Sleep, Of
Course" After Fiendish Methods
Had Proved Successful.
BY T. l. HANY,
CSun News seryiceD

New York. May 25.-Arthur Warren
Waite, as coolly as If he were dis
cussing the weather, told the jury in
the criminal branch of the Supreme
Court tonight how he had caused the
death Of Mrs. John Z. Peck by bac-
terra. how he had poisoned and then
smothered John Z. Peck, and then
how he had tried to kill Miss Gather
inc Peck, maiden sister of his father
in-law.
As he spoke hardly above a CONVEX
sational tone. perfectly at his ease.
the court room. from which women
had been excluded after o'clock in
the evening. was still as death. Ju-
rors, wearied by the long session, sat
bolt upright, or leaned forward to
catch every word
The supreme moment Of the mans
session on the witness stand had
come a half hour after the evening
session had convened. Then, in re-
ply to the questions Of Walter R.
Deuel.. his counsel. following his con-
fession Of attempts to destroy Miss
Peck. he said in a surprised tone:
Why. I wanted those bacteria to
kill those three persons-Mr. Peck,
Mrs. Peck, and Miss Peck, the maiden
aunt"
Then after telling how he had tried
to kill Miss Peck. who had befriended
him with lavish presents. Mr.. Deuel.
came to a question which held every
one.
Six Tubes of BaciIIi.
DO you remember when Mrs. Peck
came to visit YOU"
Yes; let me see; really I can't re-
member exactly. she and Mrs Waite
came some time in January. I can't re-
member exactly when"
Did you give her bacteria ?"
Why. certainly. got the contents of
about six test tubes of the bacilH of
dlphtheria. pneumonia. influenza. and re-
duced them to one tube and gave them
to her
What did you do them"
There was almost a gasp in the room
as the man. shaking his head as If the
question were trivial replied:
Why. Of course, then went to sleep"
So did she, he added a moment later,
for when he had awakened early in the
morning and had looked, his mother-in-
law was dead. After that he had waited
until the daughter. his wife. made the
discovery.
Then came the confession about John
f. Peck. and when the man told of the
dozen or more ways he had attempted
to kill the 72-year-old druggist the strain
reacted into smiles.
Gave Peck Arsenic.
when did you give him the arsenic?"
"Oh. don't recall. really I do not. 1t
was Thursday or Friday. He rubbed his
hands together nervousIy for the first
time. and then added:
You know Mr.. Peck did not die from
arsenic poisoning"
How did you give this?"
"Oh. in his food. Of course" The food.
he said, was rice pudding. soup, hot milk,
egg nogg. anything that it would go into
without detection.
What did you do them asked the law
yer calmly
after she had retired. and then I got
up. Mr. Peck was groaning with pain
I went in to him and saw that he suf-
rered."
What did you do?" repeated Mr..
Deuel.
You see, my wife had a lot Of bottles
and medicine boxes, and things like that.
Just like any woman, and among them
a small phiaI Of chloroform.
Il got this" said the witness, nodding
toward the jury. and got a rag, or
handkerchief. went in to Mr.. Peck.
who was in pain and said: Here, father,
Is some ether and ammonia which will
relieve your pain. DR.. Moore had told
US to use something like that satu-
rated the cloth slightly and placed it at
his nostrils. He breathed 1t in, and
said. If I remember: All right, Arthur
hat is better " Waite stopped abruptly.
Placed Pillow Over Face.
Go on" commanded Mr. Deuel. /
Il put little more on the rag and
then little more" he continued wearf-
idly. AT last the man fell asleep. I.
continued to put on more until he was
unconscious"
What them
Il went out to the couch and got a pill
tow which placed over Mr.. Peck's face
and held it there until-until he died"