Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-26
DISEASE GERMS
FED TO PERSONS
He WANTED TO DIE
Waite Tells of Efforts to
Kill Wife's Parents
and Others.
RECITEs sORDID STORY
ON THE WITNESS STAND
Testihes Also Regarding Rela-
tions With Mrs. Horton, His
Studio" Companion.
A THIEF FROM BOYHOOD DAYS
Details Virtually Entire Life History
| Of Cheating and Crooked
Deeds.
A THIEF FROM BoYHooD DAYS
Details Virtually Entire Life History
Of Cheating and Crooked
Deeds.

NEW YORK, May 25.-Dr. Arthur
Warren Waite calmly recited on tho
witness stand tonight, in an effort to
save himself from conviction for the
| murder of his father-in-Ia W, John E.
| Peck, by showing that he was unsound
OF mind, how he attempted to cause
| the death of Miss Katherine Peck,
the wealthy aunt of his wife. and his
own benefactor, by feeding her disease
germs He also told of trying to kill
his wife's parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Peck,
in the same way before resortiug to
poison as more effective means. He
| testified. in addition. regarding his re-
lations with Mrs. Margaret Horton. his
studio" companion.
Waite said he put ground glass in
q can of marmalade and gave 1t to
Miss Katherine Peck prior to his mar
riage. He also put disease germs In
can Of fish, and gave that to her.
Afterward he frequently gave her va
rious germs. including typhoid, while
he was studying bacteriology
! He tried to produce the germs him
self. he said. but his cultures failed
and he purchased them. He was able
TO buy germs of diphtheria. influenza,
spinal meningitis and other diseases
| What did you want of the germs?"
| no was asked
II wanted to give them to certain
people" he replied
DISCOURAGED BECAUSE
OF LACK OF SUCCESS
. The trouble with the germs Waite
said. was that they were not virulent
enough. He began to take an interest
In bncteriology long before his mar
r pn hn ax Int
germs to Miss Peck for while he
became discouraged. he asserted. be-
cause Of his lack OF success. He put
the germs in her food. but he denied
that he gave her arsenic.
WAS there any arsenical Ay-paper in
her room? ?" the dentist was asked
"Oh, yes" he answered. II read some
where OF an arsenical fiy-paper which
If treated and put in a PERSONS pocket.
would cause death, SO I got some and
put II In her room"
"Did you administer any bacteria to
Mrs. Peck?"
Yes. soon after she arrived had
been working on them for some time,
and had them all ready for her"
How often did you give them to
her?"
Quite often. 1 put them in her food
on the first day she came. and she
grew i'll almost immediately"
| He had given Mrs. Peck millions of
germs. he said Asked how many kinds
of germs he administered to Mr.. Peck.
| Waite replied:
Typhoid. diphtheria. pneumonia and
others. 1 gave him 4 spray and nut
dphtheria and later pneumonia germs
| in it. and had him spray his throat
every time he went out. They had no
effect. and / tried to make them strong
er.
put water in the sheets of his
ped SO that he would catch cold. but
he didn't. also put chemical COM
pound in his room which would ere
ate POISONOUS gas. but it failed to
produce results. One night I turned
on the gas but the superintendent OF
the building came up and turned it
off.
GAVE DOSES OF ARSENIC
IN FOOD OR EGGNOG
Il gave him arsenic q few days be-
lore he was planning to go away.
got ninety grains. i think. l think II
was three or four days before Mr. Peck
died that l began to give him arsenic.
gave him little at first and in
creased the dose until an of il was
gone l gave him the doses in his food.
once or twice IL was in eEgnog, and
once in rice pudding, and then once in
hot milk"
Waite told of sleeping on the couch
on the night before his father er-in-law's
death so as not TO disturb his wife.
lie got UP after retiring. he said, and
administered chloroform to Mr.. Peck.
lelhng Of his acquaintance with Mrs
I hotton. Waite said he heard her sing
at theater here last fall and went
frequently just 10 hear her He met
her behind the scenes. he said and saw
her every day after that, becoming
very fond of her.
Did she seem 20 reciprocate?" ask
/ ed Mr., Deuel.
She did" Matte replied He then
told OF taking up with her the study
preston.
Al 70 o'clock in the morning" he
SAID. we used TO go to school together.
Then We would have luncheon some
where. Afterward we would go to the
Plaza twhere their studio" was To-
cated), or I would take her to her mu-
sic instructor and would return for
her. Then we would go TO the Plaza
and study languages and play for a
couple OF hours. In the evening we
often went To the opera together"
Did YOU ever meet her husbandr.
the witness was asked.
II have seen him."
Did you ever tell your wife abou.
Mrs. Horton?"
NO"
Waite related his eHort. IN Induce