New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-25
Waite's Crimes, Started
In Boyhood, Hinged Upon
His Passion for Wealth

A criminal career which started IN
boyhood had left no visible telltales on
the frank and open countenance which
DR.. Waite turned on New York for the
first time in 1914. He had just re-
turned from South Africa, and the
circle of new friends which he speedily
rallied around him-friends who were
as slow to renounce as they had been
quick to appraise him-accepted him at
face value.
Waite's smile was the one honest
thing about him. AS boy he had
stolen from his employers; as stu
dent at Ann Arbor he had stolen from
his chums and achieved through the
aid Of stolen examination papers the
very degree which pronounced him
graduate dentist. He had forged the
credentials which won him advanced
standing when, later, he presented him
self as a postgraduate student IN
Glasgow University.
limited, Independent means, so that his
passion for play and women and music
might have free rein. In Clara Peck,
Of Grand Rapids. Mich, the city in
which his boyhood had been spent,
Waite saw a means TO his desired end.
Her father was reputed TO be several
times a millionaire man TO be count
ed upon - do the handsome thing by
Son-in-law.
Back TO Grand Rapids went Waite.
Travel had given him a polish and con
versational resources which stay-at-
home rivals lacked. Here again he was
the brilliant young surgeon at play.
BY innumerable devices he contrlved 10
bring home TO the dazzled Clara Peck
his professional eminence. his universal
popularity, his lofty associations, ms
own social gifts-every talking point OF
the lie he had chosen to live.
Father-in-Law Dubious
John f. Peck, hardheaded business
man, was dubious. His wife. afutter
with the prospect Of clinching so desir.
able a match for Clara, overweighed
his opposition. On New Years Eve,
1914. Waite proposed marriage TO Clara
Peck and was accepted. The wedding
followed in September. 1915. and Waite
brought his bride to New York.
Then came Yates first disappolnt-
ment. Father-in-law Peck had cannily
drawn his purse strings and the ex-
pected dowry of $4,000 was withheld.
Instead. Mr.. Peck furnished an apart
ment on Riverside Drive for the couple
and sent on the first check of series
that were 10 follow in monthly Sc
a ~ q
Peck, an aunt of the bride who lived in
New York, contributed $4,000 as a we'd
ding present.
About this time Waite met and be-
came enamored of Mrs. Margaret Hor-
ton. a professional singer.
The singer whose raven hair and big
eyes had bewitched Waite herself al
ready possessed of husband and
home of a sort proved an expensive
luxury. She became his almost daily
companion iq "A bedroom studio at the
Plaza.
The checks from Grand Rapids fell
far short of Waites needs. He got
$4,000 from "Aunt Catherine" whose
spinsterly affections he had won. and
instead Of investing il opened a brok-
erage account downtown.
Ii was then the murder plot was
born. Waite wrote on TO his mother
in-law TO come TO New York for a
visit. A few DAYS later he began a
study of germ cultures.
Poisons Mother-in-Law's Food
Mrs. Peck. the mothcr-in-law, came
East early in January, 1916. On the
third week of her visit Waite began
dosing her food. as he coolly confessed
a.. tho trial with rvnhoid and Dneu-
mona germs. She died during the
night Of January 30, while Waite en-
joyed untroublcd rest in an adjoining
room.
Waite. outwsrdly gricf-stricken, saw
the body back 10 Grand Rapids. 4
while later he sent an invitation to his
father-in-law. the next victim. The
lonely widower accepted. But his was
germproof constitution. Waite'S
deadliest cultures seemed not to affect
him in the slightest degree. In add.
ton. Waite dampened the sheets Of
Pecks bed TO help out the pneumonia
germs, and administered arsenic. On
the night Of March 20 he went 20
Peek's bedside. anssthetized him to
silence his groans and smothercd him
with pillow.
This time suspicious Of Eastern rela-
tives OF the Pecks were aroused. and
they sent mysterious" telegram.
signed az Adams" 70 Grand Rapids,
advising Percy Peek. Waite's brother
in-lsw. TO order an autopsy when his
fathersin-law's body should reach him.