The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-19
WAITE ATTEMPTED
KILL WIFE TOO
Sprayed Her With Anthrax
and Typhus Germs, Family
Doctor Says.
BLOOD TEST REVEALS IT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. April 1s.--Al-
though It has beer known that pr.
Arthur Waite contemplated taking .he
life Of his wife after disposing Of her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. John u. Peck, II
wal positively asserted to-day that he
had actually made m attempt to DO
away with her. The information was
furnished to Assistant District Attorney
Mancuso Of New York here to-day BY
Dr. Perry Schurtz, the Peck family
physician. who conducted the nrst au-
topsy on the body Of MIR. Peck.
DR.. Schurtz asserted that Waite IN
oculated his wife with anthrax and
typhus germs through the medium Of AN
atonizer. Only the fac. that she pos
sessed excellent physical stamina and
that the cultures were partly ~decomposed
saved her life.
1t was several days after the exposure
Of DR.. waite's activities as a poisoner
that Dr. Schurtz became alarmed at Mrs.
waitc's condition. lie had attributed
her condition largely to her mental state
resulting from grief and the shock of
the revelations and he did not give til.
matter serious thought until about a
week ago. Then. suspccting that DIR.
Waite might have attempted TO do away
with her. he obtained a quantity Of her
blood. Subjecting his to a severe
analysis he discovered the presence Of
numerous anthrax and typhus germs. al
though not In large enough quantities to
do any material harm. With this dis
covery he subjected Mrs. Waite to =
severe questioning and learned the facts
which he old MIR. Mancuso to-day.
Several weeks before John +. Peck
wa murdered" DIR. Schurtz said. "Dr.
Waite took two atomiZers ZONE lie
placed one in the refrigerator and one
outside the window OF the room he oc-
cupied with his wife. The atomizers
contained anthrax and typus germs. lie
then began warning both Mr.. Peck and
Mrs. Waite that they were in constant
danger OF contracting severe cold he
cause Of the unusual weather at that
time of year in New York. lie said they
should take every precaution TO protect
themselves. and lie suggested that ne be
allowed to spray their throats with a
special preparation h. had made which
practically guaranteed immunity.
Both Mr.. Peck and Mrs. Waite &C
Quiesced and Dr. Waite gave them tn,
treatment. His bacteria did not hay,
the rapid effect that he wished. SO he
resOrted to the arsenic in numbering Mr.
Peck. All the time. however. each night
before his wife retired he sprayed hei
nostrils and throat from the atomizcr
Her physical condition VAS such tina
she warded of the attack OF the germs
and this. coupled with the fact that
many OF the germs died through ineffi'
Gent treatment. saved her lif,. II tn,
cultures had worked properly I believe
that both MIR. Peck and Mrs. Waite
would ave succuinb.d about the sam.
time"
DIR. Schur,z has sent samples OF Mrs
Waite's blood to District Attorne!
Swami in New York With suggestions
for another analysis there. lie has
sent Mrs. waite to "A sanitarium "A
Kramer. Ind, where she will he treated
1t IL not expected that the germs now II
her system will have a serious effect
Mr.. Mancuso will return to New iori
Thursday.