The Washington herald., 1917-05-25
Three Electric Shocks Re-
quired to KilI-Dentist, in
Farewell Letters, Reveals
Analysis of Own Character.
(By the International News serNIce.O

Analysis of Own Character.
(By the International News servIceD
Sing Sing. May 24-Dr. Arthur Waite
was executed in the prison here tonight
at T1O O'Clock. 1t required three electric
shocks to kill
Some amazing letters written by DR..
Waite to a friend while in the death
house were made public tonight. In one
of these epistles, about the last he wrote,
he said:
For days feel absolutely disconnect-
cd from the world-ss though l had never
lived in it, yet having a dream memory
as though l had flown over it and 50
CLEANED what knowledge I possess.
Il am by no means abusing the re-
naming days l may have in body form.
o, friend, had I paused some years ago
to learn what l am now learning, I would
have caused less trouble in the world.
Il had never bothered much about vital
matters such as honesty, truth. kindness.
patience, humility. etc. The knowledge
OF them was not altogether lacking
probably most people would say 1 was
very kind to them. l tried to be a gentle
man (exteriorally) and this covered many
Really. at the bottom 1 believe the
greatest fault was that love was absent.
l was entirely. or nearly so, self-cent-
cred, ambitious, vain, contriving. untruth-
full. But love, would not love for some
other human soul have changed all OF
that? Take me out of myself and give
me devotion which prompts all the other
good qualities? That is about the way
am beginning to decide matters.
Loved Only Himself.
'I have loved Arthur Waite. I mean
Arthur Waite has loved Arthur Waite.
do not believe my soul or consciousness
has been permitted to have much sway
in my actions. Maybe years ago my
will" put my conscience down.
1T will be certainly not an unhappy
day when l feel that Arthur Waite has
paid for his evil with his life. And It is
absolute justice. He took Hfe-he should
give his That does not rectify matters.
Thus you see would not sacrifice truth
for the saving of his life.
And when l cross the bar I hope be-
sides the opportunity God will give me
TO work out by eXpiation and salvation
that there will be some one little kindly
form which will offer to me the spark OF
the queer. warm, Transforming thing
called IOve-even as you have reached 1t
out Of the darkness to me here"
A chorus of farewells from the other
men in the condemned cells was heard
as Waite stopped for a moment on the
threshold of the chamber. He returned
the good-by with all the cheer of man
embarking on a pleasant journey.
"Is this all there is to it?" he said as
he looked around the chamber.
Last Words of Waite.
Those were the last words of Waite
spoke before he was put to death.
When Fred Dorner the principal
keeper, went to his cell at II o'clock,
Waite cast his book aside and said in
a voice indicating neither nervous
ness nor distress:
Is it time?"
Dorner led the condemned man to
his death chamber door.
Waite was dead five minutes and
five seconds after he stepped into the
CHASTITY white room.
Waite left in the care of DR.. Amos
%. Squire. head surgeon in Sing Sing,
a letter to be opened after his death.
1t was to be treated as confidential.
Waite was the most remarkable
man with whom 1 have ever come in
contact in prison." said DR.. Squire
II have seen forty men go to the
chair, but never have I seen any man
So entirely calm. Neither his pulse
blood pressure, nor nerves indicated
that he was under any greater strain
than he would be if at home in his
library reading"
Spends Quiet Evening.
Waite spent his last evening almost
alone, except for the two hours previous
to his execution, when Rev. DR.. A. n.
Peterson was with him praying. He lis
tened to the clergyman unconcernedly.
rs there no one," pleaded the clergy
man, no one to whom you wish to send
a word-a letter or a line of FAREWELL
There is nobody, thank you,"' Waite
quietly replied. And he resumed his ter
rible calm, a calm that was not broken
by prayer: that was not moved by the
tears of his brother Frank; that did not
disappear when the ashen-faced brother
told Waite that his mother was dying in
her Grand Rapids home.
Waite was awakened at o'clock this
morning. He had slept soundly. He was
displeased that his sleep should have
been disturbed. But he quickly regained
his composure.
His brother Frank broke down utterly.
Waite did not try to cheer him.
I'm going now Arthur" sobbed the
brother. Goodbye. God help you. God
receive you. Is there any message-any-
thing / can tell anybody-anything?
Goodbye. Frank" came the reply
Don't worry for me. shall not suffer
There is No IN