The sun., 1917-05-25
WAITE DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Confessed Slayer of Wife's
Parents Weakens as He
Pays Penalty.
COVETED PECKS' RICHES
Also Had Designs Upon
Wealthy Aunt Who Had
Befriended Him.

Arthur Warren Waite. poisoner. paid
the penalty with his life in the electric
chair in Sing Sing Prison at IL III
o'clock last night. The wonderful nerve
he manifested in the closing hours Of his
life almost forsook him at the end, and
as he slumped into the death 6hair he
was on the verge Of mental and physical
collapse.
In silence broken only by the un-
easy STRINGS Of the other nine men in
the death house. Principal Keeper Dor
ner and the Rev. Anthony N. Petersen
walked swiftly down the corridor and at
exactly II o'clock stopped in front of
Waites cell, inside of which Waite sat
OF his couch with his head buried in his
hands and his body leaning forward.
As the keeper leaned over to unlock the
door the rattle of the keys aroused the
doomed man and he looked up. Then
he smiled. rose lightly to his feet anG
said:
Are you ready for me nowT
He waited for no reply. but the in
slant the lock clicked he pushed the cell
door open and stepped lightly into the
corridor. He almost skipped along the
corridor and as he passed the cells Of
the other nine men he stopped before
btNtTdl Ot tHtlus TdlStu tnt curtains tldl
are always lowered when a man goes
out to die and spoke some word to the
men who have been almost his only
companions for months. To several he
gave pencils and fountain pens and other
ANAL articles that he had stuffed into
his pockets just before leaving his cell.
Loses Nerve Rt Little Door.
To Frank Ferrara the doomed man
threw lead pencil. and to Gaetano
Montignano he threw the fountain pen
with which he has written his poetry
In the death house Through It all he
kept his nerve-kept II until he rounded
turn in the corridor and came face
to face with the little green door through
which he was to pass for the last time.
Then his nerve forsook him. He halted
and almost stopped. and 1t was only with
an effort that he regained his COM
posure and stepped into the electrocu-
ton chamber. As the little. door swung
open and the doomed man approached
the chair of death. three voices were
heard to sing out: "Good-by. Arthur
sood-by: God bless you. Waite"
Three of the nine inmates of the deaf tn
house had voiced this parting benedic-
tion. and Waite for an instant. paused
as though he intended to reply. But
swapping his Jaws firmly and with star
Ing, yet unseeing eyes, he marched
steadily ahead and in six PAGES reached
the chair into which he slumped.
offered No Remittance.
His face was ashen. his eyes glazed
and mis- hands twitched nervously
There was no resistance offered to the
guards as they adjusted electrodes and
straps neither was there any effort OF
the part OF the doomed man to aid them
In their task. The clergyman, who In
toned the Twenty-third Psalm as he en-
tered the death chamber. continued as
the preparations went on. always with
eyes glued on Waite as though beseech
Ing him TO join in the recitation.
But Waite seemingly had no iuteres
In anything that was going on abou
him. Casting one despairng glance
sbout the room and taking in the facei
OF all who sat tense and silent abou
hun. he finally composed himself a
though by a mighty effort and then fel
Imply back in his seat.
The first current of full voltage wa
turned on at II :05 o'clock. just tw,
minutes after his arrival in the execu
toa chamber. The shock was continued
FOR minute and fifteen seconds. a
II :os another shock was administered
tAis lasting five seconds. Then Di
Squire stepped forward and after apply
Ing all the tests announced at IL IL tina
Waite had passed beyond.
Not n Parting Word.
Contrary TO all expectations there wa
n scene. no speech. no parting word
not even look of farewell for thos
about him. Waite had often boasted tina
when his hour came nc would meet deaf
with a fortitude that was without fea
That he had nerved himself for the oil
deal was plain. although It was the opf
lon OF all there that had the eXecutio
been delayed few minutes his collaps
would have been complete.
AS to Waites spiritual preparation
and confessions OF faith his pastor ha
little to say. For some days prior
his death he had been in communicate
with II woman spiritualst Of New Yorl
who urged him to send her some me-
sage which might be used as a key
further messages he would transm
from the spirit world. Just how IA
Waite proceeded with the doctrines
this cult, however, none could say.
No sign OF Contrition.
The least concerned person in Sir
Sing prison apparently was Waite. II
last day on earth was much like tho
which preceded II since his incarcer
ton in the death house. There was
contrtion, no remorse. no nervousne
or no concern for those he was leaviI
awaited him. His hour had come. I
had lived the life he selected and seer
ingly he was resigned to the fate
store and ready and willing TO pay I
penalty.
While entitled to all the privileges a
corded man awaiting execution. Wa
asked no favors, accepted none and Il
lowed the prison routine with the sar
stoiclsm that has marked his cour
since he was transferred from the Tom
to Sing Sing His spiritual advise
were constantly at his side. but inste
of devotng his entire day and event
10 Scriptural readings he chose inste
well thumbed copy OF Keats a
pored over these poems for hours at
time.
Was In Normal Condition.
The long hours that intervened
tween the time of his arising and
entry into the death chamber Wa
spent about as those OF preceding da
lie partook OF three hearty meals. VIII
lac ate with relish and with no app
ciable lack OF appetite. His midd
meal included \ beefsteak. which he 81
he enjoyed to the full Asked II tn
was any dellcacy he would like he
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