Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-26
Makes Desperate Attempt
to Prove Himself Insane
in Shadow of Chair.
ADMITS POISONING
PARENTS OF WIFE
Tells of Countless Deprcda-
tons and Thcfts From
Boyhood.

NEW YORK, May 25.-Dr. Arthur
Y Warren Waite, on trial here for
the murder of his fathcr-in law, John
II. Peck. took the witness stand in his
own behalf late today and Larcd the
sordid secrets of his life in AN effort
to save himself from the electric
chair. Earlier in the day his counsel
mad stated he would prove the self
confessed poisoncr of his wife's p9r-
cnts was insane at the time the crime
was committed
The prisoners story was devoted
largely to admissions of series of
thcitS from the time he was "A boy
until he piltcrcd so from the purse -
the mother OF the girl ne married
while he was counting Miss Peck. lie
told also of his wooing of his wife,
who sat not tar from hlm in the
courtroom with head bowed while he
testified. The young dentist was pre-
cedod ON the witness stand by his
father, Warren w. Waite. and his
brothers, Frank and Clyde. The father
told OF q taint of insanity in his family
in the hope Of thereby aiding his son
All three related incidents in the de-
fendants life designed To show that
lie was peculiar even as boy and that
his thie\ cry always was a problem Tor
the family
Classmates Testify.
The testimony of relatives was sup
plemented 10y the depostions of family
friends and college classmates Of
Waite. who told of his thefts and pc
| culiarities.
waite seemed calmed when he took
! the witness stand. The courtroom was
sultry but he buttoned his coat
tightly around him. He smiled al
most constantly during his cxamina-
tion but appeared resigned and not
defiant.
The dentist commenced his life
story By recalling that as a child he
was cruel to animals He yawned as
he told of shrking home work in his
schooldays. Then he recounted how
he stole examination papers, copied
them from papers of his classmates.
stole from everyone for whom he
worked as boy and then robbed his
fraternity brothers while attending the
the University Of Michigan.
His total thefts during his fresh
man year at college amounted to
about $500 he said. He was expelled
from his fraternity while "A sophomore
for stealing but was reinstated in his
senior year In his second college
year he paid part of his expenses by
waiting on table and caring for a
furnace. At that time he began to at
tend church regularly although he
had no religious convictions He as
serted, however that he did not steal
during the time he was church at
tendant.
Chcatcr at Pool
After leaving college he told
of trip through Canada, where he
made his living by cheating at pool
He then went to Scotland. where he
took a special course in Edinburgh
university He said he "doctorod" his
diploma from the University of Michi-
gan so he could get credit for certain
studies and thereby shorten his course
in dentistry.
From Edinburgh Waite went to
South Africa, where he Travelled for a
dental supply house He said he stole |
$500 from his employers the first |
year and increased the amount each |
year of the five he worked for them. |
He also told Of hushing up by the |
payment of a small sum "A scandal in |
which he was involved with "A young
woman.
Courtcd His wife.
Upon leaving South Africa Waite |
returned to the United States and |
went to Grand Rapids to live. Soon |
after his arrival there he met Miss |
Peck and began to court her.
Were you in love with herr" he |
was asked.
81 don't know" Waite replied
Then he told of declaring to her |
"Ill make you love me- He ad- |
,n,ttad LnnuinV that the peckS were |
very wealthy.
Later he met the Pecks at Palm |
Beach and it was there Miss Peck |
consented to marry him. lie hung |
his head as he admitted the theft Of a |
$40 bill from Mrs. Peck's purse while |
at the Florida resort.
Telling of his betrothal to Miss
Peck he said that two weeks before |
their marriage he almost broke their
engagement.
Il was not so sure of her love" he
explained.
York with his bride and taking an
apartment on Riverside Drive Soon |
after establishing himself here he
formed an acquaintance with Miss
Katherine Peck, the elderly and |
wealthy aunt of his bride, for whom
he handled large sums of money.
Finally his personal funds and Miss
Peck's became so confused he could
not tell which were hers and which
his.
How much did you steal from Miss
Katherine" he was asked.
None whatsoever, was the reply.
When court was adjourned at $3.50
D. m. Waite was still on the stand
and Justice Shearn announced that he
would hold "A night session.