Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-07-25
A B0RGIA I'm BALTIMORE.
A Beautiful Woman Poisoning t.Vo of her
Guests.

4 Sons, called at the house of Mrs. T.. q.
Wharton, widow of Major Harry w. Wharf
ton, U. s. A, at 263 Eutaw street. He was
friend Of the family, and also financial agent
for Mrs. Wharton, aud attended to the invest.
ment of her money. Shortly after he en-
tered the house he drank \ glass of beer,
pouring in a.iew drops Of the tinclure of gen.
tau. In short time he was taken i'll, and
Dr.. s. q. Chew summoned to attend him.
Mr.. Van Ness was too i'll to be taken to his
home, and was put to his bed in Mrs Wharf
tons house, where he remained till the fol,
lowing Friday under DR.. Chew's care. On
the same Saturday afternoon, Gen. VIM. Scott
hetchum, retired officer of the u. S. A..
and an old friend of the Wharton family. ar.
rived, intending to spend few days with Mrs.
Wharton before his departure for Europe
lie aud Major Wharton had served together
in the Sixth United States Infantry the rela-
lions OF their families had always been most
intimate, aud they were in the habit of inter.
changing visits.
THE SECOND VICTIM.
On the evening OF his arrival Gen Ketchum
was taken suddenly i'll, aud did not leave his
bed until carried away a corpse. DIR. +. e.
Williams, attended him, and had suspicious
all the time that he had been poisoned. He
communicated his suspicious to Paymaster
General Brice, Gen. Ketchum's brother. in
law. post mOrtenI examination was made,
the contents Of the stomach Analysed by Prof.
Aiken, aud twenty grains Of tartar emetic dis
covered.
In the meantime a circumstance occurred
In the room in which Mr.. Van Ness was lying
that seemed to give the key to the mystery,
aud TO demonstrate beyond doubt that he
had been poisoned.
TARTAR EMETTC IN MTTY pTYN CuRS
DIR. Chew had prescribed milk punches for
his patient which we're prepared in the house
and brought to his bedroom ready made. He
drank the frs; Que and it appeared to be all
right, nothing unusual being detected in the
taste. When the ncxt one was brought in
Mrs. Van Ness, who was IN attendance on her
sick husband, while pouring the fluid from
one glass to another, by some inexplicable inn.
pulse was prompted to taste it, and she imme.
dIately discovered that something was wrong.
She poured out the milk and in the bottom
OF the glass was u white substance resembling
cream OF tartar. 1t is said that lady who
was in the room put this glass in her pocket.
aud subsequent examination by Prof Aiken
showed the white substance To- be tartar cmetic
This occurred on "Wednesday afternoon, June
", an hour or SO before Gen. Ketchum's
death, and confirmed the suspicion 10 which
the symptoms Of the dying man had already
given rise.
THE INVESTIGATION.
DIR. Williams, after consultation with Gen.
Hr'ce, considered it his duty to lay the facts
IN the case before the Marshal OF Police: and
since then Marshal Gray and Deputy Marshal
Frey have been engaged in securing the evil
dencc that would justify an arrest
MRS. wHARTON's ARREST.
Mrs Wharton was arrested on Monday
evening. Out of consideration for her health
she was not taken to Jail, but was made n
prisoner III her own house, four officers being
detailed I" guard the house aud prevent any
one from leaving.
FOUR SUDDEN DEATHS IN THE FAMILY
About four years since Col Edward Whar.
ton, u. :. A, a cousin "f MnjO II. W. Whar.
ton Mrs. WhnrtUn'S husband accompanied
by his daughter, young lady Of lS years Of
age. paid visit to Major Wharton's house in
H"litW"rc, aud while there was taken sudden
y ~ ana died IN few days his daughter
followed him TO the grave.
M, long after this Major Wharton himself
was taken with the typhoid fever lie passed
the crises aud WAS supposed to be couvalssccnt,
when n sudden vomiting set in, and hc died
IN lew hours. lie lad eaten oysters, and his
physicians thought it possible that the unCa-
Vorahe symptoms were OccasiOned thereby
About year since Major II. ". Wharton.
Jr., Mrs. Wharton's son, who had resigned
from the army, and come to his mothers
house to make preparations for trip to Cali
fnrnin, died very suddenly. His life was in,
sured for $50, 900. and it is said that his mo-
thor was the lawful heir to the money.
TUE ALLEGED PUISONER AND HER FAMILY.
Mrs. Il. q. Wharton, the accused. is about
70 years old. and has moved in tie most
highly respectable, wealthy, and influential
circles in Baltimore. She is said TO belong
to Philadelphia family of high social posi-.
ton. and has in her person all the graces that
mark an accomplished woman.
a MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME
WAsnINGTON. July 12-Gen. Ketchum
held note of Mrs. Wharton's for 81. GUO.-
II was to collect the money due that he wen.
to HaItimoge. The note has been tracked to
Baltimore with him aud cannot be found, nor
is there any evidence that she paid it.
nS~ The grand jury in Baltimore, on Sat-
urday week, found two indictments against
Mrs. NhartOn,-Onc charging her with hav-
ing poisoned and killed General VIM. Scott
ketchum, L. S. a, aud the other with hav-
ing poisoned and attempted to Kill Eugene
Van Ness, both offences being located ON or
about the 18th of juno. Officers Mt once
proceeded to the residence of Mrs. w. with
carriages, and conveyed her to prison. A dis.
patch says, arrived at the Jail at her request
It was agreed by the authorities that her
daughter should remain with her during the
evening. She was allowed the choice OF the
vacant cells. aud on selecting one it was inI-
mcdIately furnished with neat but plain fur,
n'turc, forming a marked contrast to the cle-
CANT apartment she had just left.
j. 81 / 4, A.
the defence will take, but in conversation
Mrs. Wharton eXnrcsscs herself ns cnnthnnt