Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-26
examination, but appeared resigned and


not defiant.
The dentist began his life story by re-
calling that as a child he was cruel to
animals He yawned as he told Of
lodging home work in his school days
Then he recounted how he stole exam
ination papers. copied from the papers
Of his classmates. stole from everyone
for whom he worked as a boy and then
robbed his fraternity brothers while at
tending the University of Michigan at
Ann Arbor. His face flushed as he re-
counted some of the escapades.
He was expelled from his fraternity
when sophomore for stealing, but was
reinstated in his senior year. In his
second college year he paid part of his
expenses by waiting on table and car
ing for furnace. At that time he be-
gan to attend church regularly, al
though he had no religious convictions
He asserted. however. that he did not
steal during the time he was a devoted
church attendant.
Cheated at Pool
After leaving college he told Of trip
through Canada, where he made his liv-
ing by cheating at pool. He then went
to Scotland, where he took a special
course in Edinburgh University He
said he "doctored" his diploma from
the University of Michigan so he could
get credit for certain studies and there
by shorten his course in dentistry.
From Edinburgh Waite went 10
South Africa, where he Travelled for a
dental supply house He said he stole
$500 from his employers the first year
and increased the amount each year
of the five he worked for them. He
told also of hushing up BY the pay
ment of small sum A scandal in
which he was involved by young
woman.
Counting Miss Peck
Upon leaving South Africa. Waite
returned to the United States and went
to Grand Rapids to live. Soon after his
arrival there he met Miss Peck and
began to court her.
Were YOU in love with herr" he
was asked.
Il don't know" Waite replied.
Then he told Of declaring to her. .Ill
make you love me-" He admitted
knowing that the Pecks were very
wealthy and explained that the fam
lily received him very nicely"
Later he met the Pecks at Palm
Beach and it was there Miss Peck con-
scented to marry him. He hung his head
as he admitted the theft of $40 from
Mrs. Peck's purse while at the Florida
resort
Telling Of his betrothal he said that
two weeks before their marriage he
almost broke their enga cement
i was not so sure Of her love" he
explained
Affection for Aunt
He then told of coming to New York
with his bride and taking an apart
ment on Riverside Drive. Soon after
establishing himself here he formed
IN acquaintance with Miss Katherine
Peck, the elderly wealthy aunt of his
bride, which soon developed into an af-
fectior on her part, which was recip-
rocated by him to an extent. He said
his aunt-in-law was always very
kind" and that on several occasions
she offered him money, but that he
refused to accept it.
Later Waite sold real estate for Miss
Peck and invested the money. Several
months after his marriage. he received
100000 from her with which he opened
a brokerage account in his own name,
paying her > per cent. interest. Sub
sequently she entrusted him with
about $4,000 more. Finally his personal
funds and Miss Peck's became so con-
fused he could not tell which were
hers and which his.
How much did You steal from Miss
Katherine Peck he was asked.
None whatsoever" was the reply
Waite declared that Miss pecks
funds either had been returned to her
or were still on deposit. He said that
while he was in the hospital after his
arrest he signed a paper turning over
to her not only her own money. but
all that of his own which he had mixed
with it Earlier in the day Waite's
brother Frank had told of having this
paper signed.