The New York herald., 1871-12-30

| good service as Commissioner of Public
Works. Knickerbocker Van Mort has a
chance to make himself famous.
| The Great Wharton TX crchum Murder Trial.
The trial of Mrs. Ellen G. Wharton at the
stiff old city of Annapolis, Maryland, for the
! murder by poisoning of General William Scott
| Ketchum, has reached the stage of absorbing
interest. There is something in the fate of a
human being on trial for life which, in spite of
| all preaching about morbid tastes and depraved
moral appetite, fascinates and rivets attention.
This arises from two main causes. First, un-
dOubtedly, comes human sympathy, which
breaks down all barriers and sees in the man or
woman over whom hangs such terrible incer-
titude of existence fellow creature in the
very jaws of death. Next follows the subtle
interest which the display of legal acumen
and move and counter-move that, apart from
the fearful details of the crime itself, makes
every man more or less juror in the case.
Grouped around these are the intensifying
causes of a personal or general sympathy with
the slain or deep horror of the crime ITSELF
which are, however, secondary in the view
taken by the public in such cause cetebre.
Since the trials of Mcfarland and Mrs. Fair
no case has excited the same interest as the
present one. The two cases cited were
looked on as murders arising out of. distorted
views of the marriage relation, and were dis
cussed and dilated on as social questions
touching every mans hearth and household
gods. Over the present case hangs the
mysterious veil of death by poison, the
crime of the Borgia OF the Brinvilliers.
When man stoops to poison his enemy the
same interest is not evoked as when woman,
the piiiless exterminatcr of human beings for
mere prospective monetary gain. The woman
who revenges a sentimental wrong in Staying
seldom pauses to administer subtle poisons.
1t needs a cat-like tenacity of purpose, an
utter want of feeling to the exhibition of
physical agony in Others and, above all,
nerve of steel. The history of poisOners of
this class shows that where the necessary
mental and physical qualities are present the
first successful crime is only the experiment
on which other more daring breakings
into ''man's bloody house" are essayed.
of horror ran through the community
in July last, when the fearful suspicion first
assumed shape that General William Scott
Ketchnm had been poisoned by woman for
the sake Of liquidatng debt at the mouth
of the grave When it became known who
a. 81, l. 4
moved in the best society of the first city
of Maryland, and that the principal parties
concerned. the victim included, were Of the
creme de In creme of Tue national capital,
q rustic of silks all over the land evidenced
the deep attractiveness of the case. Rumor
became busy, and it was recalled that Mrs.
Ellen G. Wharton, the accused, had lost her
husband. General Wharton, about four
years ago. somewhat suddenly and with
peculiar symptoms. Her son, Major Harry
w. Wharton, Jr., too, handsome young
man OF twenty y-seven years Il was also recalled
had died suddenly, and, as alleged, with SINH
lar peculiar symptoms, about fifteen months
previous to the death of General Ketchum.
The circumstances surrounding these deaths
were either unnoticed at the time of their
occurrence or else quieted in the minds
that questioned them by the thought that
Mrs Wharton was husband of the one and
mother of the other. Indeed, in the case
of the man for poisoning wlom this woman is
on trial, suspicion first fell on domestic in
the house of Mrs. Wharton at No. 263 Entaw
street, Baltimore. The deceased had been
warm friend of Genera Wharton and had
continued on friendly terms with his widow,
advancing her at one time 81, GOO, for which
he received her note o. the oath of June
last General Ketchum arrived in Baltimore
from Washington and repaired to Mrs..
Wharton's residence for the purpose of paying
her visit, bent, it is aveired, on asking the
latter TO pay him her indebtedness In the
evening he was taken sick, and complained Of
giddiness and sick stomach, but he got some
what better the next day, Sunday. On Mon
day the sickness, with nausea, came on again,
and DR.. r. j.. Williams WAS called in, who
found the patient nauseat.d, pale and weak.
He prescribed creosote--tvo drops to table,
spoonful Of lime water, and left him. On the
next day, Tuesday, he cane and found Cen
eral Ketcbum better. OnWednesday he was
again sent for. The patient was lying on
sofa, his face congested, aid limbs and arms
rigid. He prescribed half an ounce Of yellow
jessamine, and the sufferer appeared momen-
tariIy relieved. AT this time glass was
handed to him containing white sediment.
He tasted II aud experienced an acrid. metallic