South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-07-21
An Alleged Murderess.

% Tuesday of last week, in Baltimore,
Mrs. Il. q. WHARTON, widow Of tho late
Major HENRY w. WHARTON, United States
army, residing at Hamilton Place, was ar
rested on warrant issued from the Crimi-
nal Court, charging her with poisoning
General WINFIELD SCoTT KErCuUM, a re-
tired officer of the United States army; al
50, with poisoning Eugene Van Ness, book
keeper In the banking house of Alexander
Brown q Sons
General Ketchum arrived at Mrs. Whar-
ton on the Odd of last month, and was ia
ken suddenly i'll on the 24th Az aualiza-
ton of his stomach, by Prof AIKEN, dis
covered twenty grains of tartar emetic.
On Saturday afternoon, June 81, Mr..
Eugene Van Ness, clerk in the banking
house of Alex. Brown & Sons, called at
the House of Mrs. Il c. Wharton, widow
of Major Harry w. Wharton, u. S. A., at
263 Eutaw street. lie was friend of tho
family, and also financial agent for Mrs.
Wharton, and attended to the investment
Of her money. Shortly after he entered
the house he drank glass of beer, pouring
IN few drops of the tincture Of eentian.
In short time he was taken i'll, and DR..
5 G. Chew summoned 10 attend him. Mr..
Van Ness was too i'll to be taken TO his
home, and was put to bed in Mrs. Whar
ton house, whore he remained till the fol-
lowing Friday under DR.. Chew's care.
In the meantime a circumstance occur
red IN the room In which Mr.. Van Ness
was lying that seemed to give the key to
the mystery, and 10 demonstrate beyond q
4 hal hn Ind
TARTAR EMETIC IN MILK PUNCHES.
DR.. Chew had prescribed milk punches
Tor his patient, which were prepared 10 the
house and brought to his bed room read
made. He drank the first one and il an
peared to be all right, nothing unusual be-
log detected in the taste. When tho next
one was brought in Mrs Van Ness, who
was in attendance on her sick husband.
while pouring the fluid from one glass to
another, 10y some inexplicable impulse was
prompted to taste it, and she Immediately
discovered that something was wroDg. She
poured out the milk, and in the bottom of
the glass was q white substance resembling
cream OF tartar. Ii is said that a lady who
was IN the room put this glass in her pock-
ct, and subsequent examination by Prof.
Aiken showed the white substance TO be
tartar emotic. This occurred on Wednes.
day afternoon, June 2S, an hour or so be-
fore hetchum's death, and confirmed the
suspicion to which the symptoms Of the dy
ing man bad already given rise.
Gen. Kotchum's body was taken to Wash
ington by his friends, and there inferred.
Mrs. WHARTON is said to be refined
and elegant lady of forty-fye or fifty years
of age. 1t is said that her husband was
recovering from typhoid fever and was sud-
denly taken with vomitings and died. Her
husbands brother and daughter visited her.
aud died suddenly in the same way. Her
SOD, whose life was insured for $50 900 for
her benefit, visited her and was taken with
sudden vomiting and died. She moves in
The best society it Baltimore.
MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME.
Washington, July 2-Gon. Ke,chum.
who was recently poisoned by Mrs. Whar
ton Of Baltimore, held note Of Mrs. Whar-
tons FOR s., 500 A few weeks oeo be
bought house and lot here on Franklin
square, near the late residence Of ox-Secre-
tary Stanton, for 81 ! 900, and was to have
been soon married. IL was to collect the mon.
ey due TO pay for his purchase that be went
90 Baltimore. The note has been tracked 10
Baltimore with him & cannot now DO found.
nor is there any evidence that che paid IT,
There Is no doubt here with those who have
examined into the case as 10 how Ketchum
came 10 his death.