The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-07-27

On the day that Mr.. Van Ness and
| General Ketchan came to Mrs. Wharton s
house her family consisted of herself and
two colored women, Ca cook and a
chambermaid.) Her only daughter, Miss
Nellie Wharton, was absent on q visit to
the country and did not return until the
dav Gen. Ketcham died. The rumor that
the daughter was also under arrest APP
pears to have had its origin in the fact
| that there was q guard around the house,
which had supervision over the movements
of the family. She was absent at the
| time the poison was taken, and did not
return until the day on which one Of the
| victims breathcd his last. Those persons
most familiar with all the circumstances
OF the case do not in any way connect the
| daughter with the crime Neither OF the
| colored women were arrested, and there
fore it is probable that no suspicion at
taches to either OF them.
GEN. KETCnAM A CREDITOR.
1t is said that Mrs Wharton was in
debted to Gen. ketcham for money
| borrowed, and that he held her note for
$1,000; and there are persons who dis
cover in this fact (if it be a fact) the in
ducement to the alleged crime but I'M
less accompanied by explanatory circum-
| stances the theory appears to be worth
| less. for the reason that TO take away the
| life Of the creditor would not necessarily
destroy the evidence of Indebtedness. or
relieve the debtor from its payment. 1t is
rumored that Mrs Wharton went to
Washington after Gen. Ketcham's death
| and made q claim of 1000 against his es-
/ tns, II ,4a IL Il
| leaves two or three children. He was
connected with the Quartermaster's De-
partment for many years, but was lately
put on the retired list. 1t is said that he
was man of unimpeachable integrity,
and while Il disburslng officer in the army
was the terror Of all rascals who me1i-
tated a rade on the treasury.
FOUR DEATHS IN THE FAMILY.
About four years since Col. Edw. Whar-
ton, L. S. A., a cousin of Mrs. Wharton's
husband, accompanied by his daughter,
Is years of age, paid Il visit to Major
Wharton's house in Baltimore, and while
there was taken suddenly i'll and died in
a few days his daughter followed him to
the grave. Not long after this Major
Wharton himself was taken with the ty
phoid fever. He passed the crisis, and
was supposed to be convalescent, when
a sudden vomiting set in, and he died in
Il few hours. He had eaten oysters, and
his physicians though it possible that the
unfortunate symptoms were occasioned
thereby. About Il year since Major II.
w. Wharton, Jr., Mrs. Wharion's son
who had resigned from the army, and
came to his mothers house TO make
preparations for Il trip to California, died
very suddenly His life was insured for
$50 900, and it is said that his mother was
the lawful heir to the money. These four
deaths occurring within four years in the
family have furnished material for great
variety of speculations, and there are those
who pretend TO recognize the deadly act
ot the poisoner in each OF them.
MRS. E. G. WHARTON.
Mrs. f. G. Wharton, the accused, is IN
exceedingly intelligent and well.bred
lady, perhaps 45 or 80 years of age, of
rather slender build, and has the appear
ance of being in delicate health. She is
said to belong TO y Philadelphia family of
high social position, and has in her person
all the graces that mark the accomplished
woman. 1t is probable that further de
velopments will be made in the case in a
day or two,
Since the above came TO hand, Il Jury of
inquest has found a verdict that the vic
Tins came to their death by poison ad-
ministered by Mrs. Wharton