The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-29

proffered by Mrs. Wharton, who pour
ed in few drops Of the tincture Of
gention, the lady remarking IL was an
excellent tonic. In o short time the
gentleman was seized with illness, and
DR.. 8. C. Chew, his family physician,
was called to his bedside. On the
same evening Gen. w. Scott-Ketcham,
an cid friend Of the family, arrived, in
tending to spend q few days with the
family before the departure Of Mrs
Wharton for Europe. He too was
taken sick the same evening. after par
taking of some beer, and took to his
bed from which he was taken q corpse
only four days subsequently. DIR. +.
G. Williams attended this man aud had
suspicious all the time that he was
poisoned. So strong were DR.. WIS
suspicious that be communicated them
10 Paymaster Gen. Brice, at Washing
ton. ID. c., brother -in-law of General
ketcham. The remains were at once
examined, the contents Of the stomach
analysed, by Professor Aiken, and
twenty grains of tartar emetic discover
ed. In the mean time circumstance
occurred in the room in which Mr.. Van
Ness was lying, that seemed to give the
key to the mystery, aud demonstrate,
beyond doubt. that he was pc soned.
DIR. Chew had prescribed milk punch
I for his patient. which was prepared in
the house and brought TO the sick mans
chamber already made. He immediate
y drank the first one and it appeared
all right, nothing unusual being detect
ed in its taste; when the second one
was brought in, Mrs. Van Ness, who
was in attendance upon her husband,
while pouring the fluid from one glass
to another, by some inexpllcable i'm.
pulse, was prompted to taste il. she
immediately discovered that something
was wrong, and upon emptying the
glass discovered, in the bottom, white
substance. A lady in the room put
this glass in her pocket, and a subse-
quent examination by Professor Aiken
proved the white substance to be tartar
emetic, This occurred on "Wednesday,
June 28lh, about an hour before Gen.
ketcham breathed bis last. OF course
1t conf med the suspicious to which
the symptoms Of the dying man gave
rise. Mrs. Wharton was arrested on
Monday evening. Out OF consideration
OF her health she was not taken to Jail,
but was made prisoner in her own
house, four officers being detailed to
guard the premises. John Hanson
Thomas, and j. Neirtt Steel have been
retained as her counsel.
These circumstances have given rise
to a thousand and one rumors. About
four years ago the husband Of Mrs.
Wharton died somewhat suddenly. A
short time after Col. Edward Wharton,
cousin of Mrs. WIS husband, accom-
paned by bis daughter, paid a visit to
Mrs. Wharton in Baltimore, and while
at her house both sickened and died.
Not more than a year since Major III.
w. Wharton Jr., died very suddenly
at bis molher's house. HIS life was in.
sured for twenty thousand dollars one
paper says thirty and another forty
thousand. BE this as it may, Mrs.
Wharton received the money. OF
course all were poisoned, according to
Madame Rumor, and Mrs. Wharton,
according to the same authority, did
the deed.
Mrs. K. G. Wharton, the accused, is
a woman of rare intelligence and Of
rather slender build, aud strikinnly
handsome features for a woman Of 46.
She was Miss Nugent" before mar
rage, and connected with q Philadel-
phIa family of high sociAi position. She
was indebted to Gen Ketcham for
81, 800, and it is stated that a recent
purchase of that gentleman's in Wash
ington prompted him to come to Balti-
more and ask the payment of Mrs.
Wharton's Indebtedness 1t is also
stated that this note is now nowhere TO
be found. Mrs. Wharton will be kept
in her own residence, under rigid sur
violence, until the action Of the grand
jury. If they fail to indict she Will be
released.
THE GRAND JURY AND MRS. WHARTON.
The case of Mrs. Wharton was yes
terday brought before the grand jury
and true bill found against her. She
was subsequently, removed to the Bal
timore city jail, where she now awaits
her trial. 1t Is said there are nineteen
witnesses for the State.
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