The New York herald., 1871-12-07
WHARTON N-KETCHUM TRIAL.
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GREAT EXCITEMENT AT ANNAP0LIS
The Assemblage Of Ladies in Court Represent
ing the Baltimore Aristocracy.
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TcchnicaIities and Eloquent
Arguments.
Evidence of Mrs Hutton, Who First De-
tected the Prisoners Attempt to
Destroy Life by Giving
Tartar Emetic.
How the Generals Medicine
Was Mixed.

nrst TWO days proceedings were stripped of great
ueal or their interest some OF those whose curl
osity was excited By the peculiar situation OF the
prisoner and those personally interested In Mrs.
wharton, either as relatives or warm personal
friends; but the jury empanelled the statement OF
the prosecution put IN, and the evidence already
commenced, drape the proceedings with new and
important surroundings that OF the greatest
lnent both the prisoner and the public generally.
OPENING OF THIS DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
AT ten O'Clock this morning the Court was called
70 order. with all the judges and other ofncials
In their places. As yesterday, the crowd outside
the space assigned to the bar was great, and. If
possible, larger than on either OF the preceding
days OF the trial. The space assigned specially for
the ladies was filled TO overnowing at least an hour
before the Court called with the fem mime re-
prcsen,atives OF the arlstocratic and fashionable
society OF Baltimore. all OF whom seemed to take
deep and lively interest In their former associates
Therefore, indeed, it can be said tnat never was
there gathered around trial for murder such
AN AUDIENCE OF REFINED AND INrELLIGE ENT PEOPLE
here to-day TO give this unfortunate lady their
countenance and support in this hour OF her dread-
fu peril. Immediately after the Court was called
the prisoner, accompanied by her daughter and Mrs.
;. Crawford Nelson and daughter, came In and took
as yesterday in the rear OF the coun-
rel.
APPEARANCE or THE PRISONER,
Mrs. Wharton as also was her daughter, was
dressed in deep mourning, and their careworn
countenances were hidden from the gaze OF the Gu
nous by heavy Grape veils through which no eye
could penetrate.
After the usual preliminaries OF organization
Judge Miller directed the counsel to proceed with
the case The proceedings yesterday were closed
with the discussion OF the admlssbity Of the evi.
dence OF Mrs. Chubb. as 10 what General Kctchum
said to ner IN relation TO the object OF his visit TO
Baltimore to see Mrs. Wharton.
Mr.. Steele, for the Defence having tho noor
began his argument against the admlssibiity OF the
evidence, few m,nutes after ten O'Clock and with
much ability and eloquence laid down the points OF
his objection TO the question. He alluded with
much feeling to the mental condition OF his client
WIEN GENERAL KETcHUM WAS TAKEN SICK
IN her house. How earnestly she pleaded with the
witness for the State, on the stand when these
mysterious occurrences were taking place in her
house, 10 refresh her mind with erence to their
visltto the apothecary, when the tartar emehc was
purchased, and said to her. 'You know that only
one dose OF that drug was purchased, and that
tor my own innrmitesn lie dwelt with great
stress upon kind and generous impulses OF heart
exhibited by the prisoner at all tlm0s toward her
friends, ana closed his argument by asking tho
had said i've days before ms death, when on his
way to Baltimore, as inndmlssibc.
Mr.. Rcvels, state Attorney for Anne Arundel
county, followed Mr. Stun, and tho newly elected
Attorney General OF the state, Mr.. Sysier wno IL
D. W. voorhees, for the defence In the notable case
Oi Harry Crawford Black, recently tried ut Frede- |
TICK, Nd, for killing Colonel wv. Mckaig ipll
time closed the argument for the prosecution with
. most eloquent ana able EFFORT.
Mr.. steele then took up the discussion again. and
closed lew minutes alter twelve O'Clock.
Tne Judges. Chief Justice s hllles fnd Associate
moments, when Judge Miller said the discussion be-
fore The Court upon the question at issue had Dcen
the Defence as was rarely heard before judicial |
tribunal; but that IT was the opinion o! the Court
prosecution was not admissible at this stage Of the
oace; but without expressing any opinion as to It's
documentary evidence was in, the question might
again ARISE. This ruling OF the Court gave much |
satisfaction 10 the friends OF Mrs Wharton, who
looked upon the question as one OF great import
anCe TO her case.
Alter the delivery OF the opinion Mrs. Chubh, the
stand again aud crosse xamlned by Mr. Steele for
tne defence at some length, but there was no ma
teria change In the direct testimony OF this lady as
published yesterday.
After she left the witness stand there was some
lit,Ic delay for consultation by the for me
prosecution and the audience, with eager expecla-
toa, watched every movement OF those engaged in
Presently the name OF Mrs. Hutton was called,
and and at once every eye was 1xed upon the seat
ness stand every one In the asemblage watched her
movements, as II was known that she
FELT VERY BITTERLY TOWARD MRs. WHARTON.
Mrs. Hutton Is the sister OF Mr.. Eugene Vau Ness
whom Mrs. Wharton is charged with attempting to
poison and was the lady VINO nrst suspected Mrs. |
charged, aud who also hid the glass OF punch |
oIered her brother when sick at Mrs. wharton's |
emetIc therein. When she was sworn the stiffness |
IN the court room was painful and every waited
say Mr. Revel conductei the examination for the
prosecution. She testified that she had lived In Bal
Ke,enum TN sne met him at Ma narou's house
on saturday evening, the oath OF June last; II was
aDS t se % Se dosT
him there and invited him up stars; had met Mrs.
Chubb before that ume about six O'Clock she was
gong into the gate aud had some medicine Tor her
brother, Mr.. Eugene Van Ness who was then sick at
MIS-. whsrtons mouse; she
SAW GENERAL KETo HUM AT THE TEA TABLE,
and lie appeared very well; lie asked her TO take
some tea, and she told him she did NOT desire any;
Mrs. Wharton then handed her some tea for her
sister, and she Ieit The rom; Mrs. Wharton, Mrs.
Chubb and General ketchum were at the table
alone General Kcichuin said that she Mrs. Hutton
was poor, nervous creature, and that n she was
hs hungry as he was she would eat something; she
irou nun aeI IN ms evening n % ~ 'ne ,Id sorS
With him; she called MRS. Wharton out OF the room
she saw him General Ketchum) on the following
Monday morning, between seven and eight O'clock
be was Then SICK IN bed lie told her he had been
quite SICK. but felt better;
THAT MRS WHARTON had POISONED HIN
WIN glass OF lemonade. Al this answer there
was considerable excitement and some sharp
accusing the prosecution OF attempting 10 introduce
matter not evidence TO preJudice the Jury and the
YIooesuAon bisNlhlnnnk any SUCH lHtcDtlUn. Tuc
Court excluded the latter clause of The auswer from
the jury.
Mrs. Hniion conunuinq her evidence said that
she saw General ketcnum on Wednesday morning
between nine and ten O'Clock; lett nm; went INTO
the dining room and gave some mix sne mad into
tbe hands Of . servant; she saw DR.. Williams ana
Nj. Hutton, her husband, about ten or haf.past
Into ihe ROOM but waited outside the door
until be was laid on The bed; his
eyes were WIDE open, Aud his arms were
stretched out upon the bed; went 10 and down
and Uegan rubbing bis hands; renamed In The room
rubbing mis- hands until Dr, Williams gave hef
prescription for t1e General, when she left the room
10 call MIR. sargent, who was IN her brothers. room
10 procure n for her, and offered her purse 70 pay
for IT, when Mrs. wharton came and SAID that II
should be charged 10 her account at Gassmans.
MIXING THE FATAL DOSE.
she then returned 10 the Generals room and
watched at the WINDOW nnul Mr.. Sargent
returned: wBen she saw him enter The aate
she ie.t the room 10 meet him and get the
medicine. sne got Inc medicine, went Into