Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-23

New York, May z2.-Dr. Arthur War I ren Waite, the young dentist and ten his player, who was placed on trial today before Justice Clarence J. Shearn and a jury in the criminal branch of the supreme court, charged with the murder of his wealthy father-in-law, John B. Peck, of Grand Rapids, Mich, not only administered deadly disease germs and poison to his victim, but applied chloroform to l1is nostrils until he died, it was alleged by District At torney Edward Swann in his opening address for the state.
 Jury Quickly Selected.
 The trial, which began shortly after 10 o'clock this morning, moved rapidly. A jury was selected in less than three hours and the district attorney con sUmed only half an hour in his formal presentation of the states case. Mean time, Waite appeared as much un- moved as the most disinterested spec tator in the court room.
 Resume of Circumstances. Aside from the address of the dis l trfct attorney, in which he recited 1 Waite's life history and gave a com plete resume of the circumstances lead- ing up to the crime, to which Waite
 
 feature of the trial today was the tes- | tiInony of Dr. Albert Adair Moore. | Waite. the witness declared, admitted | to him he had purchased arsenic for his I2 year old father-in-law because the old gentleman did not want to I live" Previously, when suspicion first was directed to Waite, Dr. Moore said, the accused dentist had telephoned to him and asked him if he Or. Moore) thought they could hold him CWaite) | f01. I1 I1 \ nNv 70 nurse had not been engaged to attend the aged victim"
 Waite asked me-" said Dr. Moore, If arsenic administered before death would show in an autopsy, as distin- guished from the same poison when used in embalming fluid"
 1l1e witness said he replied that the poison would be discernible in the brain if administered before death.
 To Rely Upon Insanity Plea. I waite's counsel intimated that they would rely upon a plea of insanity tc save their client from the electric chair To combat testimony that probably vii be given tomorrow by aHenists botf from this city and Grand Rapids 1T support of the prosecution's contention that Waite was sane and his crime actuated by d desire for money, the defense announced tonight that one ol ' more alienists would be called by them
 Waite's Wife Not Present.
 Neither Mrs. Clara Louise Peck Waite. wife of the prisoner, nor Mrs Margaret Horton, his companion ir ''studio" here, was present at the tria today. Both, however, will testif. announced. Mrs. Waite probably vii , | go on the stand Wednesday morning i HeP brother Percy Peck, will preced < her.
 T pr. Moore said he was first called | visit Peck on March 5, seven days be fore Peck's death. A condition seem f ingiy no more serious than might b e expected of @ simple case of nause q slightly developed into one which gay cause for alarm. Dr. Moore in a con versation with Waite said he asked tn 2 young dentist-what he thought abot sonding Mfr. Peek to a hospital Wait o replied, he asserted, that he (Waite = didn't think it wise, as 'sClara (mean ing Mrs. Waite) probably wouldn't hh
 Later, according to Dr. Moore, Wal inquired of the physician if he did nt . think 1t would be well to prepare o Mrs. Waite for any sudden change fC the worse in her fathers condition.
 'T told him." said Dr. Moore ''ths n I did not think Mir. PeclSs conditie a was as serious as all that, and adde ' that he (Waite) should not appear 4 pessimistic."
 Telephone Conversation. <. The morning of Mir Peclss deat ''ss Waite telephoned to him, Dr. Mool '1 said.
 : q thought he must be mistaken whe ,; he told me he had just come from h father-in-law's room and the latt, seemed to be dead" continued D IS Moore. '-So directed him to go bac !e and feel Mir. Pecax's pulse a second tim IT T held the wire meantime ar tt7 Waite reported to me presently that l t was afraid Mir. Peck was dead"
 Although he made an examination the body, Dr. Moore said there appal h ently was nothing to indicate Mir. Pec l. died by other than natural causes. r. Ibid Waite say anything with refel a ence to his father-in-law's death ?" 1 }. was asked.
 "Yes. I think he said Too bad. DO, if old manl'"
 10 Anxious to Get In Touch With unde taker.
 Dr, Moore said Waite appeared an1 ious to get in touch with an unde
 taker. saying he desired to take u
 body to Grand Rapids the foIlowi1 at afternoon and there have it cremate i- fJust six weeks ago., he quott i'd Waite, I've had to take my metfer-il TT law to Grand Rapids on that san le train''
 Dr. Moore asserted he obtained u
 information with which he filled o 1y the death certificate from Mrs Pee Y Asked if he had any experience s- arsenic poisoning cases, Dr. Moore sa Ie he had not.
 " When Waite returned to New To
 after Alr. Pec4S's funeral iu Grand Ra'