The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-27
Evidence Strong That Others
Were in Big Murder Plot.
As ROMEO And JULIET
E.StudiO" Woman and Dentist
Played at Dramatic School.
Waite Says He's Ready to Pay
Penalty With Life.

| other person is suspected of having
been implicated with DIR. Arthur War
rem Waite in the million dollar poi
/ son plot" that resulted in the deaths
| of John Z. Peck, the dentists aged
and wealthy father-in-Iaw, ard the
| latter's wife.
This was the startling fact that the
district attorneys investigation took
! today. Very guardedly-and at the
moment when members of the Waite
and Peck families were seeking to
have the defendant come through
with a complete confesSion-officials
of the district attorneys office and de-
tectiVes limited that others were cog
infant of Waite's scheme to murder
for money.
The sinister revelation came after
Mrs. Dorothy ~Palmenberg, living in
West Seventy Second street, had been
closeted with Assistant District Attor-
neys Brothers and Dooling for four
hours Mrs. Palmenberg is ''nexl
friend" to Margaret Weaver Horton,
she of the velvet eyes and the dove
like disposition, who shared a stu
do" room with Waite at the Hotel
Plaza under the name of Mrs. A. w.
Walters The examination of the two
women has practically absorbed the
entire energy of the district attorney S
office for two days.
Evidence Strong.
as any one else implicated with
Waite?" Dooling was asked when Mrs.
Palmenberg had flounced with a show
of anger out of his office.
1.-The evidence we have is sufficient
in the case of Waite alone" was the
measured and significant reply of the
assistant prosecutor
You mean that certain phases of
your investigation now point to one
or more others being implicated with
Waiter"
Yes" replied Mr.. Dooling.
who else knew of the murder
scheme besides Waite himself?''
This is so big point" answered
Mr. Dooling after a pause, that 1
don't feel that 1 should say anything
about it at this time
Desires Electric Chair.
- Waite Sunday -moaned out desire
to be taken to the electric chair at
once. He expressed desire to waive
all legal formalities-
why don't they take me out and
have it over?" he queried at one Pc
Rod of the day.
Waite begged that Mrs. Horton be
sent to him He made the request
of Raymond SCHNEIDER, private detec-
tive through whom he sought to make
an offer of $1,000 to Dora Hitler, the
negro maid to perjure herself.
rs Mrs. Horton under guard Mr.
Dooling was asked after his interview
with Mrs. Palmenberg.
"She can't leave" was the reply
rs she watched? ?"
Il won't say" responded Dooling.
'She is under continuing subpoena
calling for her appearance during a
certain period of time"
In his guarded statement Mr. Dool-
ing gave hints indicating that Waite
during the period when he was plan
ming and successfully accomplishing
the murder of the Pecks for their
money was himself the victim of GER
tain coterie.
Waite spent money on a lavish
scale. He always seemed to be well
supplied with cash. Mrs. Horton, Dool-
ing revealed today, says that Waite Of
fered to buy her expensive jewelry at
Fifth avenue shops.
At School Was Miss Horton"
'She has not yet admitted that
Waite bought anything for her. said
Dooling. But we are eliciting new
and more important information from
her at every interview
'She now admits that Waite was
paying for her tuition at dramatic
school She was registered here as
Miss Horton I don't know how
Waite was registered. Mrs Horton
says they studied Romeo and Juliet
together. Waite was Romeo to her
juliet. She eloquently compares his
rendition of the role to that of E. H.
Sothern.
Il am frankly puzzled by Mr.. and
Mrs. Horton. They give the impress
sion of being persons of means. Hor-
ton says he is an engineer and men
tons a great many prominent per-
sons as friends and acquaintance.
Both Have Mones.
thax, I,o Va honlx
They have given me the names of
the banks. Because of the holiday l
have not been able to go into these
further. Both seem to have plenty of
money. They have an automobile and
a home that is certainly comfortable.
Yet her income as a singer in motion
picture theaters has not been remun-
erative and L have been told that
neither displayed any signs of opu-
lence a year ago.
I'm a memorandum given to the
newspapers last Wednesday Judge
Swami said Waite had confessed TO
him that he was living at the Plaza
under an assumed name" Dooling
was reminded. Judge Swami said
he had been told that Waite sought
to postpone his marriage to Clara
Peck in September, 1915, because of
his relations with this woman. Does
Mrs Horton admit that she knew
Waite before his marriage?"
Knew Him Since Christmas.
Not yet" replied Dooling. ''She
admits that she has known him since
Christmas week, 1915. Previously she
asserted she met him first at the
Berlitz School of Languages. Now
the question that interests us is did
Mrs. Horton have a predecessor or
did she know Waite before his mar
riage?"
Assistant District Attorney Francis
X. Mancuso, who has been in Grand
Rapids for Judge Swami, is expected
10 arrive IN New York today He
will be a grand Jury witness. A charge
a yainSt Waite cha