Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-15
Alleged Poisoning Case.

ARREST OF A LADY CHARGED WITH
THE MURDER OF GENERAL kETCHUM BY
Po1soN, &c.-For some days past there
have been rumors in the community IN
relation to the sudden illness Of several
persons and the death of one gentleman
at the dwelling-house Of lady, the
widow of an officer of the United States
army, residing in Hamilton Terrace,
Eutaw street. which on Monday even
inc eliminated in the arrest Of the party
charged with the atrocious crime OF
poisoning and murder On the 23rd OF
June last Gen. VIM. Scott ketchum, OF
Washington city, arrived in this city,
and became the guest Of Mrs. Henry
Wharton, widow of the late Major Hen
" Wharton, a member of well-known
Philadelphia family, and an old friend
Of Gen. ketchums.
On the next day General Ketchum
was taken suddenly i'll after partaking
of meal He was attended by Drs.
Williams and Chew, and died on the
2Sth ultimo, at three o'clock, =. VI. His
remains were taken to Washington for
interment, where, upon post-mortem eN-
animation, there were found III his stom-
ach twenty grains of tartar emeuc,
which is deadly poison when taken IN
large doses. The friends Of the deceas-
ed communicated the fact to the BaItl-
more board of police commissioners,
who placed the matter in the hands OF
Marshal Grey and Deputy Marshal
Frey, of our police force, who, after an
investigation, obtained bench warrant
from Judge Gilmor for the arrest of
Mrs. Z. G. Wharton. In consequence
of the i'll health of Mrs Wharton, who
is suffering from liver complaint, and her
daughter. who is affected with disease OF
the heart, the authorities did not desire
to commit the lady to Jail until further
action was had in the case, and the OIL
GERS held her in custody in her own res
idence.
Mrs. Wharton and daughter, Miss
Nellie, a young lady of some twenty
two years Of age, had previously en-
gagged passage for Europe in a steamer
to sail to-day from New York city.
There is also another charge against
Mrs Wharton Of feloniously poisoning
Mr. Eugene Van Ness, bookkeeper
for Alexander Brown Il Sons, who is
said to have had a business intimacy
with the accused. A few days before
the visit Of General Ketchum, Mr.. Van
Ness, while visiting Mrs Wharton, was
given glass Of beer or punch, and soon
after drinking it was attacked with i'll
ness, and fell upon the floor of the din
inc room. He has been quite i'll ever
since. and was unable to be removed
from the house for several days.
The accusation with which Mrs
Wharton is charged has astonished the
community, and particularly the circle
of society in which she moved. She is
lady apparently between forty and fifty
years OF age, Of engaging manners, and
it thought by her acquaintances to be
incapable Of such a crime from the
promptings of any pccuniary motive
which may be inferred in her case.
Mrs. Wharton lost her husband and
also her only son, Henry, few years
since. BY the death Of the latter, she
obtained upon a life insurance policy
$4,000. Rumors have been started
preiudicial to the accused in connection
with their deaths, but nothing Of that
character has been proved, and they
have no connection with the present
case. which will be laid before the grand
jury on Saturday next.-BahimOre SIN.