The Washington times., 1920-07-01
Anonymous Letter May SolUe
the Mystery of ElWeps Death
Prosecutor Studies All Missives
In Hope of Getting
Real Clue.

NEW YORK, July 1.-The snony-
OF writing. has attached to itself some
value as an aid In investigating crime.
In the Elwell case, still a great
mystery. many unsigned epistles now
daily into the district attorneys
ofiiee. None is overlooked. Some one
OF them may furnish vital clue to
the stlll unknown murderer Of the
gambler.
Many a person having some slight
knowledge OF the circumstances OF
such a crime might hesitate to come
out openly and give up that informs-
sequences OF having his or her name
linked with the murder. But II Is a
simple matter for such a righteous.
but timid, citizen to mail. unsigned,
or signed with a fictitious name. what
bit OF knowledge lie can contribute
TO the melting out OF justice.
IL someone had not sent just such
a communication a few years ago, Dr.
Arthur Warren Waite might not yet
ftiNe Dtt0 tOHN oi Ni' VI
his mother-in-law and father-in-lsw.
Mr.. and Mrs. John +. Peck, OF Grand
Rapids, Mich.
SUDDEN DEATH OF PECks.
To the luxurious apartment OF the
Waites, on Riverside Drive, came Mrs.
Peck TO visit her daughter, Clara
Peck waite. the wife OF the young
dentist. doctor. and surgeon.
Mrs Pack died during her visit TO
DR.. Waite and his wife. Her body
was taken back TO Michigan and cre-
mated all without arousing sus-
picion In fact, Waite's father-in-law
accepted an invitation soon aiterward
to visit the Waites in New York. His
visit terminated in his own death.
Arrange were quickly made TO
ship his remains back to Grand Rap
ids, rush along the process OF crema-
ton and then hurry back TO New
York.
But a telegram signed II. Adams"
upset the plans of the crafty DR..
Waite. II was sent TO the brother
and sister-in-law OF Mrs. Arthur War
rem Waite. 1t read:
Mr.. and Mrs. Percy Peck, Grand
Rapids Mich:
suspicious aroused. Demand au-
topsy Do not reveal telegram.
"k. ADAMS"
INVESTIGATION Is BEGUN.
Percy Peck took the anonymous de-
spatch 10 his family physicisO, Dr.
Perry Schurtz. who, after consulta-
tion with Dr. Alfred W. Wishart, his
pastor, began the task OF investigat-
ing the death OF Waits father-in-law
and tracking the young dentist back
to New York.
The nnal confession of Waite to
the two crimes was the climax to a
remarkable piece OF criminal investi-
CATION.
But it never would have been
brought about had not the telegram
awakened suspicion in the minds of
those concerned, and II they had not
acted upon It's cryptic suggestion.
SO il can be seen that not every
unsigned communication is necessar-
lily poison pen" letter. Such vitri-
olic missives have brought untold
misery to their recipients and af-
forded petty satisfaction to the send
ers. prompted usually by jealousy and
sma illness of soul that precluded
speaking out honestly. Then. too, the
enemy whose fight is clean does not
need TO resort to the underhanded
weapon the accusation that cannot
be answered.
WIDOW HAPPILY MARRIED.
Yet in the Waite case this type OF
letter was Invaluable. Waite died in
the electric chair.
His wife today is the bride of John
L. Caulfeld. a childhood sweetheart
of Grand Rapids. They were married
June l. A different destiny than the
death of poisoning-which Waite had
planned for his wife--in order to be
able TO control the s2,000,000 Peck
fortune.
so much for the Waite murder case.
Swift as was the investigation lead
ing to the capture of Waite as the
murderer, yet the battling Elwell mys-
terry may yield as quickly to sim
liar clue. afforded by one of the way
ward epistles that the post brings
each day TO the Criminal Courts
Building.