The New York herald., 1871-12-19
MRS. VAN NESS ON PUNCHOLoGY.
Paymaster General Brfce a
Prosecuting Witness.
What the Witness Said About the European
Trip In Conjunction with the $4,000
Worth Of Bonds.
The Dead Generals Eccentrictties
in Business Affairs.

in Business Affairs.
ANNAPOLIS, Dec. ls. 1871.
what with the rain OF last night and sort Of
natural depression common TO Annapolis In falling
weather. the court room looked dull ara uninterest-
ing tins morning to degree not at oil noticeable
at any time heretofore during the progress Of
she case OF Mrs. u. G. Wharton, now on
Trial here for the murder OF General w.
Scott Ketchum. But few ladies, other than those
whose examination as witnesses was pending.
were present, ana the crowd outside the bar
had q steamy, damp ana quite approximately
Odorous character that gave the atmosphere
. 1oggy, unpleasant, Old Bailey aspect quite
depressing 70 contemplate. Mrs. Wharton sat in
her usual seat behind her counsel statuesque, I'M
mobile, and as gloomlly craped as ever, and ap-
peared 70 have nothing 10 say to either her lawyers,
her daughter. or any OF the friends surrounding
her. Mr.. Steele, her senior counsel, missed the
morning boat from Baltimore, and aid not arrive
the court room until little after one O'Clock, which
caused some delay, and stripped the early proceed
1ngs OF some interest. the general impression OF
the outside public, which In q case like this may be
taken as an indication OF that Of the jury, Is un-
changed in any wise Dy the evidence Of the past few
days.
At ten O'Clock Chief Justice Miller, accompanied
room took their seats and at ordered the Open
tng OF the Court. All the counsel. with the excep-
ton OF Mr.. Steele were present. and within the bar
were seated several genllomen OF legal and medical
distinc,iOn who were drawn n1ther hy the imp0r-
tance Of the trial or were summoned as experts to
contradict certain medical theories advanced by
she prosecution. Among the scanty crowd Of
spectators without the bar were lew ladies' the
more intimate friends OF Mrs. Wharton, who were
snclemency Of the weather did not prevent their
tending. At fifteen minutes after ten Chief Justice
Miller directed the counsel to proceed. and Charles
l. Ketchum, whose examination was begun but not
concluded on Friday, took the stand
Mr.. THoMAs-We should rather not proceed with
tins witness until Mr. Steele arrives. .axs,
Cbiei Justice MILLRR-There Is no objection; ne
may stand aside for the present
TESTIMONY OF JAMES D. KETCHUM.
The witness then LEFT the stand, and Attorney
General Syester directed the calling OF James y.
Ketchum. A young man, evidently about twenty
years OF age, responded to the call, and advancing
20 the Clerks desk, took the oath and occupied the
witness stand. He Is nne looking young man, and
his manner upon the stand was easy and highly
c0mmendatory. He testified that he was son Of
the late General Kctchum, and then merely COR
rOborated the statements OF his brother, Charles
I. Ketchum, ir relation to the conversation with
Mrs. Wharton al out the note and bonds, per0aun
account Of which appeared in the HERALD OF sat-
urday.
MRS. VAN NESS ON TIE STAND.
Mrs. Helen Van Ness was next called for the
prosecution she testined:-l live in Baltimore an
Inn the wife OF Mr.. Eugene Van Ness; was at Mrs.
Wharton's house from the oath TO the 29tn OF juno
the witness was about to state that she was there
nursing her husband when Mr. Thomas Interrupted
ana SAD. I'VE Object to her saying what she was
CHIEF Justice MlLLER-That question has been
mooted all along during the trial II is fact that
there was SICK person IN the house, and there Is
Ness.
WIrNEss-My husband was III there at that time
and was there for the purpose OF nursing him;
left there the 80th was there from the Gath to The
ana e All s er ws
out several times; she was IN and out Of my room
but not great deal with me; saw ner on the night
time; she came into the room l occupied-lne
irontroom-and stayed I'LL after had reured; ! was
awakened by the noise; she was at the washstand
was slck; asked her 4 could 40 anything FOR her
Ketcnum was very sick, and she was going TO give
him some paregoric and mint as she started TO
sss s ha sse Sou en- s s sr
aua 0ss as wous sne 40 was ssa oaa
she caIne back In few moments; l asked
sI ss sssan Ra s s ses
s e s a nsi sS sS
ser s 'es eamSs doxS SaY gs n i
saw him coming down stairs; was on nj the vS second o
noor ana he went down past me; did not
Spout ten or een mlnu1es, dO~H WAS s'alds Sus
very few moments after Mrs. wharton had been In
my room before General Ketchum came down
down saw Mrs. Wharton come down, and did not
see either any more that nlgnt; my room was I'M
medtately under General keichumg; | hau not
heard that he was sick uD TO thar time;
MADE THE MILK PUNCH
that Dr. Williams had ordered for my husband;
Mrs.. Hutton, Mrs. Wharton, Mrs. Van Ness, mother
OF my husband, and myself were In the room at the
Sim and s that we
should make double quantity; Mrs. Hutton took
M IT. nous roo aa p0s ana q
. piece on; then poured the milk on the sugar and
en me n, wnssey and one G n o. that punch
leit IN the tumbler and put In the little nursery
gigeraEor; left the room with the punch, leaving
Mre wharton, my husbands mother and Mrs.
Judge HAYDEs-was there anything else put in
Arer left went back, took the tnmber Out OF lhe
poured it out into wine glass; noticed sedi-
n4enf. and thought IL was the whisKey that mad
tasted 1t, and found It tasted peculiar, but did
not think anything OF It, and ! walked TO the
GOT there II tasted SO peculiar rnss went oSeS and
tasted y twlce again; II lasted 80 badly that
no e ne % nepe shd oW Weo ~ Du
glass and made 0 iresn punch anu took II In and
gave u 70 my husbands, when ! first tasted
IN my mouth; ! mad q conversation win
MIS- wharton, put cannot tell exactly the day,
ON which she told me she had invited General
ketcnum, Mrs. Chubb and Charles L. KetcnuIn to
spend Saturday % and sunday; drank q tumble OF
mlik Out OF whicn the punch gave my husband
drank II after the punch was made.
The witness was here handed over for cross-ex-
animation, which was conducted by Mr. Thnmas.
hut new facts were developed.
GENERAL BHlCE, PAYMAsTER GENERAL UNITED
STATES ARMY,
General B. w. Brce was the next witness called.
fudge Miller administered the oath, as the Clerk OF
,the Court Was absent He testined:-I am Paymas-
lar General OF the United states Army and nave
beep such for nearly eight years. was very well ac
qu2lnted with General ketchum; knew him Ior
lhlElE odd 1 lnarriel I