Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-30
WAITE, CONVICTED.
DECLARES HE FEELS
GREATLY RELIEVED
VIII Remain in TombS Prison
Until June /, When Judge
Sheam viii Impose Death
Sentence
CBy Associated Prsss.y

(By Associated Prsss.y
NEW YORK. May 27.-Arthur war
rem Waite. convicted today OF murder in
the first degree for poisoning his faith
er-in-law. John z Peck. a millionaire
drug manufacturer Of Grand Rapids.
Mich. tonight is IN the Tomhs prison.
where he will remain until Justice
shearn sentences him on June l TO
death in the electric chair.
Walter R Deuel.. the young dentists
chief counsel. said tonight the verdict
was proper. He declared all that could
be done for the defendant had been
done. One OF Mr.. Deuels assistants
said. nevertheless. that preparations
were being made 70 take an appeal. Mr..
Deuel. was in consultation with his eli
, ent for a few minutes in the Tombs this
afternoon.
Waite declined 20 make a statement
but said he might issue some impress
SION later. That he was resigned 10 his
fate was indicated by his remark. this
IS q great relief as he left the court
room.
The dentist. who admitted not only
the murder OF Mr.. Peck. but also that OF
Mrs. Hanna Peck his mother-in-law and
who admitted that he attempted TO Kill
his wife's aunt. Miss Katherine Peck,
apparently n1o no ooapN ne WooAu DC
convicted.
As the Jury retired he turned to his
brother Frank and said:
The jury ought not be out Eve min
utes. II was long drawn out pro-
csedings-"
Half an hour later he remarked: II
don't understand this"
you shouldn't talk that way" said
Frank They may be finding you not
guilty"
EXPECTED THE VERDICT.
-Oh. yes They will find me guilty"
insisted DR.. Waite.
The trial lasted six days. almost a
record for brevity for an important
murder trial here in recent years
Leaving the court room at lao p. m.
the Jury was out only one hour and
twenty-five minutes. The foreman de-
cIared the jurors had made a compact
not to reveal the nature OF their DELHI
erations-
The young dentist preserved his non
cbalant demeanor while facing the jury
to learn his fate and after he was led
back TO the Tombs. Throughout the
trial he seemed unmoved by any human
feeling as he recited the details OF his
deliberate attempts to kill Mr.. Peck
with the bacilli OF various diseases and
OF his final resort to poison, OF his MUIR
der OF Mrs. Peck by administering dis
ease germs and his attempt to kill his
wife's aunt by placing ground glass and
germs IN her food.
He heard the verdict without other
emotion than relief that the ordeal was
over When he had been taken TO the
Tombs he was allowed to exercise. He
marched up and down a corridor whist
ling la Paloma."
BROTHERS IN COURT.
49,
father. and Frank and Clyde Waite, his
brothers, were in court when the YER
dict was returned Frank Waite LED
his father from the room without hav-
ing spoken to the convicted man.
Clara Peck Waite, the dentists wife
heard the verdict In one OF the rooms
adjoining the court room. Gods viii
be done was her comment.
Percy Peck. son OF the murdered man
gave no evidence OF emotion 1t was
reported tonight that Peck had said e
Assistant District Attorney Brothers
when the trial began:
Il realize the Importance OF keep
ing any apparent desire for vengeance
on nv part out of this case, but
want TO ask you just this one favor
give me a seat in the court room, from
the beginning OF the trial TO the end
where 1 can keep my eye on that man
hope fading from his face"
Few doubted that the verdict would
be guilty after DR.. Waite on the wit.
ness stand told with every appearance
Of calm indifference, the details Of his
crimes, declaring his main motive fol
them was TO obtain money. The opin-
ion Of his alienists that he was q
moral imbecile." was swept aside by
assertions Of the states alienists and
BY the charge Of Justice Shearn that
moral imbeciIity had no place in the
law"
Waite married Clara Waite in Grand
Rapids a few years ago. He expected
$50, 900 in a lump sum from his father.
in-law as a wedding present. but receiv.
ed instead $500 a month. The dentist and
his wife took an apartment in Riverside
drive, this city. Waite received a gift
OF $4,000 from Miss Katherine Peel
and induced her TO let him invest s40.-
600 OF her fortune. Waite admitted
that ne sent $4,000 OF IL 20 his brother
. in Grand Rapids and used the remain.
der to speculate in stocks.
Mrs. Hanna z Pack, his mother-in.
law, came here 10 visit the Waites or
January Is last Waite placed diseas'
germs in her food. She died January
80 and her body was taken TO Grand
Rapids where il was cremated.
John E. Peck came TO visit the
Waites after his wife died and Waite
vainly sprayed mis- throat and impreg
mated his food with disease bacilli
finally resorting 10 poison with the re
Sult that Mr.. Peck died March Il
last.