The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-23
SWAMI ACTS ON
STRANGE DEATH
OF RICH COUPLE
Aged Pair From Michigan
Stricken While on Visit
to Daughter Here.
TRACE OF POISON Is
FOUND AT AUTOPSY

Information supplied by friends and
members of the family OF Mr. and Mrs.
John r.. Peck of Grand Rapids, Mich,
A,s impeled District Attorney Swami TO
investigate the circumstances of the
.ath of Mrs. Peck on January 80 and
" Mr.. Peck on March l2 in the apart
men, occupied by their son-in-law. Dr.
A-;Aur Warren Waite. at 435 Riverside
Peck estate il valued at more than
100000.
Percy ;. Peck. "A son of the elderly
couple who Is now in Grand Rapids. re-
c'ed Mysterious telegram. while
making arrangements for the funeral of
us father IN Grand Rapids. advising
him TO have an autopsy performed on
the body without fail. MIR. Peck sum.
moned the family pastor. the Rev Dr.
A. ", Wishart, and Dr. Perry Schurz
The pos, -mortem showed that the con-
dt.on OF the heart and lungs did not
Indicate death from other than natural
rluses. hut an examination Of the stom-
i,h made by Dr. Victor &. Vaughn.
dean OF the medical department of the
laiversity Of Michigan. disclosed the
presence of arsenic.
This information was promptly con.
eyed TO District Attorney Swami and
as; saturday he began an inquiry into
'l. circumstances OF the death Of both
Mr Peck and Mrs Peck. on Monday
ne Rev. DR.. W.shsrt and Or. Schurz
cane to this city, but they were not able
80 supply Judge Swami with any con-
siderable material
Inquir. In Grand Raptds.
Judge swami then sent Assistant Dis
'rci Attorney Mancuso and DR.. otto ii.
schultz, pathologist of the District At
.orneys stan. to Grand Rapids TO take
charge Of a second and more thorough
autopsy on the body OF Mr.. Peck. Yes
tegday Judge Swami received n telegram
from. Assistant District Attorney Man
tlso saying.
Perfect case on present matter. Prof
Vaughn reports plenty Of arsenic
The telegram from Mr.. Mancuso did
10, materially advance the investigation.
since II pointed only 20 the fact that Mr..
Peck had died from poison and furnished
no uscful new clues as to the manner
In vhich the poison entered the body.
Judge swami was active previously
ird subsequently, to the receipt of this
telegram. lie questioned every person
who Va in the apartment at the time
Nj, Peck died and at the time Mr.. Peck
ael lie sought details from Or. Will
am II. Porter OF 40 West Eighty-th!rd
rref;. who attended Mrs. Peck from the
indertaker who prepared the body for
Shipment 10 Grand Rapids. whore il was
rtmstod from Or. Albertus Adair
Noor" ot i2i Madison avenue. who was
called TO attend Mr Peck on the night
" March II, "A few hours before he
ded from the undertaken who prepared
W. Pecks body for shipment from
Vs. Ellen Peck. sister OF John T..
PECK from Dr. Arthur Warren Waite,
10 fecks son-in-law; from Or. Jacob
cornell "t Raritan. y. j.. whose wife
- ,cCpnd cousin Of Mrs. Peck. and
.r4T D. l. W. Doxtater Of 667 Madi-
"' avenue q college friend OF Or. Waite.
Tt" substance Of these inquiries. sup
rr "n'ed hy the information received
ron 'b" Rev. Dr. Wishart and DIR.
I-z, was that early in January. soon
'"r Or and Mrs. Waite took the apart
.-.' ~ 49, Riverside Drive. Mrs. Peck.
80 was 60 years old. came to visit
"W Her husband. a wholesale drug
nj. c.i. ''' ''' "''P""'
IN s,o, Ara. a..,,.,
O..
SH"ilN after her arrival Mrs. Peck
"''t u" suffering apparently from
w." 'I""ol" she recovered suifi-
- 20 u" taken OUT IN an invalid's
VIA" 'Nd "n the night OF January 20
tt l" MrS' i-ynch, the nurse in
'dIG" she seemed to be much improved
i'r an occasional attack or nau-
"' nv "nN She became suddenly
arm" " MlIi.anl ~. Porter was
.o AIRS ',ck died within few
IT wan" ana his wife took
"''F =" 'ttf"l'' where. after funeral
II was cremat"d on February /.
III ''"'"' wh" was '2 years OF age,
r'' nor" 20 visit his daughter and som
p'S" m III" latter part Of February.
t.fi " March he became III, but DR..
',-- A'ur Moore was not called in
m't '.' night Of March H. DR., Moore
mage ','s statement TO Judge Swami
About q year previously had treated
s,.rI'H 'or cardiac troubie. When l
l,v..,..' nun on me night or March II.
t,J ''u," 'ha' th' cardiac troupIe
ns,,,,. ~ u,Sappear"d ana that the
,.r.,, "'S suffering from nothing more
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