The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-17
The Baltimore. Poisoning Case
A TRUE BILL FOUND.
Mrs. Wharton Lodged in Jail.
SHE DENIES HER GUILT.
She is Thought to be Insane.

BALTIMORE, July l5.-The Grand
jury of the criminal court of Baltimore
city, found true bill against Mrs E.
G. Wharton, for the murder of General
w. Scott Ketchum, and also true bill
against her for attempting to poison
Eugene Van Ness. Eighteen witnesses
were examined. It is said that Mrs.
Wharton has been sent to the city jail
to await her trial before the criminal
court.
LATER.
At $50 a hack was driven to the
rear of Mrs. Wharton's residence on
Gardner street, and Sheriff Abbott,
Marshal Gray, Deputy Marshall Frey,
and George Roseman, Deputy Sheriff
alighted, and entered the house. An
empty hack followed the one
which contained the officers. The
prisoner having been notified of their
coming, was roady to receive them.
Marshal Gray delivered his prisoner to
the sheriff, and in a few moments Mrs,
Wharton accompanied by her daughter
and Mrs. Crawford Nelson, under the
escort of the officers above named, left
the house by the back way and walked
rapidly to the front hack, in which she
and the ladies with her seated them
selves. She said she preferred the
other hack, and was allowed by the
Sheriff to make the change. The
Sheriff took seat opposite to her, and
the hack was driven rapidly to the Jail,
Mrs. Crawford Nelson following in the
other hack.
Mrs. Wharton was dressed in deer
black, and heavily veiled. Her com
posure, after reaching the Jail, was
really wonderful Upon her arrival al
the Jail, Mrs. Wharton was assigned to
the second cell on the first tier of what
is known as the women's side. The
prisoner was allowed to have her cell
furnished, and her meals will be sent
to her from the outside. Her demeanol
was perfectly calm and collected; she
expressed little surprise at the action o
the Grand Jury, but denied, emphatic
ally, her guilt, and said she felt conf
dent of being able to establish he,
innocence. On the other hand the
prosecution, who have been engaged in
working up the case, express it as their
opinion that the evidence is perfectly
damnins. Mrs. Wharton is tall
woman. very slender, with sunken eyes,
sharp cheek bones, and short nose; she
has the bearing and manners of cult
waited lady. Her daughter has applied
to Mr.. W. II. Perkins, President of the
Board of Visitors, to be allowed to re
main with her in the prison. He holds
the request under advisement. Mrs.
Wharton is subject to epileptic attacks
and her physicians think it would be
dangerous for her to be confined in a
cell bv herself as she might be seized
at night and die for want of attendance.
It is therefore probable that the request
of her daughter will be granted. The
impression seems to be gaining ground
that she is at times insane.
LATEST
BALrluoRE, MD., July l6.-The in
terest in the Wharton poisoning
case is unabated. 1t is the univer-
sal topic of conversation amongst all
classes, and in all circles Of society.
| Opinions are various. The sentiments
of the masses, however, is one Of decided
hostility 10 the prisoner, and total dis
belief OF the theory Of insanity, which
will probably be the ground work ofthe
prisoner defense. On the other hand,
many in higher and more cultivated cir
cles of society sympathise deeply with
Mrs. Wharton, and while they affect to
disbeleve that there is really any case
against her, feel confident that her
counsel will be able as last resort to es'
tablish clear case Of intermittent in.
sanity. As the case now stands, her
friends assert that there has been no
sufficient motive shown to Induce sane
woman TO commit such an atrocious
crime. The fact OF her owing Ketchnm
$500, and hoping by his death to sup.
press evidence thereof, and the fact OF
her seeking fraudulently,a very few days
after his death to obtain from his
executors $1,000 in bon ds. which she al
leges she deposited with him previous
to his death, as the wherewithal to
meet her expenses in Europe, do not
seem to them motives by any means
commensurate with the magnitude Of
the crime, when it is taken into consid-
Grafton that she was woman IN easy
circumstances, in fact moderately
wealthy.
1t was yesterday developed at the pre-,
liminary examination before the grano
iury, that on Saturday, June 24th, Gen
erai Ketchem left Washington for Bal
timore, stating to his son at the time ne
thathe was going over to collect $2oot
from Mrs. Wharton, for which sum be
| held her note; that she was gong tC
Enrope in a few days and he would
probably not have another opportunity
Mrs Chuff, of Washington, accompa
MED him. On Sunday, 25th inst, ht
was taken sick at her house, anc
was sick from that time until the
2Stb when he died at Mrs. Wharton
house He was not very sick at any
time until the day he died, and deferred
going home from day to day with nope
that he would be better. His body wa
subjected to post mortem examlnatiol
and twenty grains Of tartar emetic dis Is
covered. His effects were delivered y
his son bt kra Wharton bat no n9''
Was found among them. 1t was alss'
proved and acknowledged by Mrs