Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-03-29
CHARGE MURDER TO DENTIST.
Half Interest in Estate Made Waite
Unwilling to Wait.


from self-adninistered drugs, DR.. Ar
thur w. Waite, a dentist and we'll
known as tennis player, was in Gus
tody Of detectives tonight and will be
charged with The murder here on
March II Of his father-in-law. John
e. Peck, a millionaire drug manufac-
turer, of Grand Rapids, Mich, as soon
as he can be taken into court. With
the arrest Of Dr.. Waite, the district
attorneys office believes it has uncov-
cred one Of the most sensational
cases in many years.
Mr.. Peck, who Is repnted to have
left an estate valued at about $780,
600, and his wife, died within six
weeks while visiting their daughter
and her husband at their Riverside
Drive apartments here. BY the will
OF Mr. Peck, his estate was equally
divided between Mrs. Waite and
Percy Peck, of Grand Rapids his son.
Mrs. Waite now is seriously i'll at
Grand Rapids. District Attorney
Swami said to-day he had learned she
had been instructed by Waite to make
a will in his favor.
Had Taken "Plenty."
When detectives went to the Waite
apartment to-day they found the
young dentist in bed, apparently in
great pain. Dr.. A. A. Moore, the
physician who attended Peck while
he was here, declared Waite was suf-
fering from AM overdose OF narcotics.
Considerable quantities Of three diff
ferent drugs were found in the den
lists clothing, and he said he had
taken some Of each kind, beginning
yesterday morning. Asked how much
he had taken, he replied "plenty.''
District Attorney Swami went to
the house with a stenographer to
take statement from the dentist,
but Waite WAS in a stupor. DIR. Moore
said his patient probably would be
able to go to court tomorrow. In
the meantime, he will be closely
guarded.
The arrest Of DR.. Waite was order
ed to-day by the District Attorney af-
ter an investigation, based upon the
results of All autopsy on Peck's body,
which revealed strong symptoms of
poisoning. The case was placed in
the hands Of the grand jury to-day
after Dora Heller, a negro maid at
DR.. Waite's home, and Dr.. Jacob B.
Cornell, wealthy relative OF the
Pecks, had told stories to the Dis
trict Attorney which seemed to him
TO warrant beginning proceedings
against the dentist.
Other Developments.
New York, March 24.-District At
torney Swami announced late to-day
that Dr.. Arthur w. Waite, accused of
the murder of his father-in-law, John
e. Peck, millionaire druggist Of
Grand Rapids, Mich, had confessed
that he had purchased n quantity of
poison and given it to Peck in a
small package. Waite denied, how
ever, having himself administered
the drug or knowing that Peck took
it. The district attorney added that
Waite had said he had brought the
poison at Peck's request because the
aged millionaire wished to commit
suicide.
The district attorney announced
that he had obtained a voucher from
druggist signed with Waite's name
for the purchase Of quantity OF ar
senic on March 9, three days before
Peck's death.
The druggists record showed that
Waite had purchased enough arsenic
to kill several men.
The district attorney also exam
ined Miss Catherine Peck, the aged
sister Of the drug manufacturer and
announced he had learned. from her
and from an investigation Of DR..
Waite's financial activities that he
had misused $4,000 entrusted by
Miss Peck to him for investment.
According to the district attorney,
Miss Peck said she had given the
$4,000 to Waite to invest in mort
gage bonds, but instead of doing so
he had used 100000 in a speculative
r"c punt with Wall street brokers.
and sent $4,000 to his brother, C.
T.. Waite, in Grand Rapids.