The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-01
WAITE TO DIE IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Jury Finds Dentist Guilty Of
Murder in First Degree.
LAWYER WILL APPEAL CASE
Prisoner viii Be Sentenced to Death
on June 1--Verdlct Returned in
One Hour and Twenty-Five
Minutes.

New York, May 29.-Convicted of
murder in the first degree for poison
ing his father-in-law, John f. Peck,
millionaire drug manufacturer of
Grand Rapids, Mich, DR.. Arthur War
rem Waite is in the Tombs prison,
where he will remain until Justice
Clarence J. Shearn sentences him on
June to death in the electric chair.
Walter r. Deuel., the young dentists
chief counsel, said the verdict of guilty
was proper one. He declared all
that could be done for the defendant
had been done in the trial.
One of Mr.. Deuels assistants said,
nevertheless, that preparations were
being made to take an appeal at once.
District Attorney Swami said that If
an appeal were taken, his Office would
be ready in ten days to argue the
cause In the higher courts.
Resigned to His Fate.
Waite declined to make any state
ment from his cell, but said he might
issue some impression" later. That
he was inclined to accept the verdict
as final and was resigned to his fate
seemed to be indicated, by his remark,
This is a great relief" as he was led
from the courtroom.
The dentist, who admitted not only
the murder of Mr.. Peck, but also that
of Mrs. Hannah Peck, his mother-in-
law, and who admitted that he attempt
ed to kill his wifes aunt, Miss Rather
inc Peck, apparently had no doubt that
the Jury would convict him. AS the
jury retired he turned to his brother,
Frank, and said:
THE jury should not be out five
minutes. 1t was a long-drawn-out pro-
ceeding. They will find me guilty"
Leaving the courtroom at / 20 p. m,
the jury was out only one hour and
twenty-five minutes.
The young dentist preserved his
nonchalant demeanor, not only while
facing the jury to learn his fate, but
after he,was led back to the Tombs
prison. u
Warren ". Waite ofdGrand Rapids,
the dentists father, and Frank and
Clyde Waite, his, Hhpthers.rwere in the
courtroom. when the verdict, was re-
turned. Frank Waite led his father
from the room without having spoken
to the convicted man.
Clara Peck Waite, the dentists wife,
whom he admitted he might have
killed had she inherited her fathers
H., 30
the rooms adjoining the courtroom
Gods will be DONE" was her only
comment.
Percy Peck, son Of the murdered
man, heard the verdict without giving
evidence Of any emotion.
The opinion of his alienists that he
was a moral imbecile" was swept
aside by the assertions of the states
alienists that he was sane and knew
the nature and consequences of his
crimes, and by the charge of Justice
Shearn that moral imbecility" had no
place in law.
Disappointed at Dowry.
Waite married Clara Peck in Grand
Rapids last September. He expected
$4,000 in lump sum from his father
in-law as a wedding present, but re-
ceived instead $500 a month.
Mrs. Hannah E. Peck his mother-in-
law, came here to visit the Waites on
January 10 last. Waite placed disease
germs in her food. She died January
30 and her body was taken to Grand
Rapids, where 1t was cremated.
John G. Peck came to visit the
Waites after his wife died and Waite
vainly sprayed his throat and impreg-
mated his food with disease bacilli,
finally resorting to poison, with the
result that Mr.. Peck died March ~
last.