The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-19

Action OF the CSfnnQIN4Iy-CSeSonSA
OF MRS. Wharton for the Murder. OF
General Ketchum, also for Attempt
to Poison Mr.. Van Ness-Mrs. Wharton
Committed to Jail-The Testimony In
the Case-Statement OF Deputy Mar
shall Frey.
From the Baltimore Sun, July IL!
No event in the annals of crime in this city
ever stirred the emotions Of what Is called the
cultivated circles of society, as the extraordi-
nary crimes charged against Mrs. Wharton.
The facts of the case as they stand before
the public, are of themselves sufficiently
sensational without :. the exaggeration
of any hlghly-wrought description. Those
who have been accustomed to regard
crime as an accompaniment of rude
and vulgar life are astounded at the informa-
tion thar the educated and refined walks OF
life have been invaded by the arrest OF one OF
it8members upon charges 80 helnous, atro-
cious and appalling, especially when consider
ed In connection with the suspicious which
have been engendered OF antecedent crimes,
as to be too horrible for ready belief. The
charges read like chapter in the life OF the
Borgias, or of the Bouroons OF later date, 5 ID
an age when the poisoning of human-l life was
regarded as q, science and practiced 'as an art
Unlike, however, the crimes dictated by State
policy and craft, or the strong passions oil 1eal-
ousy and revenge, the theory of Mrs Whar-
toms case is that she was influenced by mo-
tives entirely of pecuniary nature.
IL Is not Just, however. to base any asSump-
eions upon the preceding deaths OF Mrs. Whar-
toms husband and her son, because there hap
pened to be large insurance on the letters
life, for 1t Is unders' ood that the physician IN
his case certified to his death resulting from
t.of5 and m fhn n
word Wharton, her brother-in-law, ut her
house, and that of her daughter, two weeks
after, three years or 30 ago, the Intimate
friends of the family OF the latter declare there
was never any ground of suspicion In either
case against her.
victims of the alleged poisoning, wholly exon
crates Mrs. Wharton from all suspicion Of guilt
In his case,. and 1t Is inferred that such was
the nature Of his testimony before the grand
Jury, and also that the vote OF that BODY was
not unanimous upon the subject OF the pre-
sentiment. 80 ,. i>:--
The manner and bearing of Mrs. Wharton
under the terrible circumstances In which she
Is placed are said to be perfectly composed
She sheds no tears, utters no reproaches, but
quietly asserts her Innocence OF the charges
alleged. She, appears like a woman accus-
toned to discipline her feelings and the sxer-
else of perfecrseltcon :. ....,..,.,,
Her daughter, however, though assumfng O.
sprightly manner TO encourage her mothers
sSfrfts, cannot conceal her anguish OF mind.
Mrs. W., since her first arrest, has been visited
by her brother, DR.. Nugent, of Plttston, Pa,
and sister, but 1t Is stated tnat since tne
death of her husband his family connections
have held no Intimate relations with her. "a,
Statement OF Deputy Marshal Frey
Deputy Marshal Frey has communicated the
following statement, exhibiting the manner
In which the case was worked up by the police
authorities, and the evidence obtained by
them: - tg -
Deputy Marshal Frey states that as, soon as
he learned of the death of General Ketehum
from Drs. Chew and Williams, he called upon
Mrs. Wharton Alter talking Wlt1 her LOT
three-quarters of an hour, ne told her ne
{ would like to take her servants to his office
and examine them privately. She made no
objection, and the servants were taken to the
Office and examined separately by Marshal
Gray and himself, and they were satisfied tbat
the serveBts knew of nothing wrong as to the
cause of the death Of General Ketchum. On
Saturday. 9Th instant, he asked Mrs. Wharton
If she had purchased tartar emetic: she replied
that she had bought some and used 1t IN
mustard plaster which she placed on her
breast,
he then went to the store of Gosmans& Co.,
No. l9l Madison avenue, where he found that
Mrs Wharton had purchased. on the 25lh OF
January, about sixty grains of tartar emetic;
he found 1t charged on the books. UP TO last
Sunday night, 9tn Instant, he was satisfied that
suspicions pointed strongly to Mrs. Wharton.
The next move OF the deputy marshal was to
ascertain what motive there could have been
for the desired death Of General Ketchum, and
In doing this he learned that the deceased
came to Baltimore, as believed by bis friends.
for the purpose of collecting note OF s26oO
from Mrs. Wharton; that atler his death this
note could not be found among the things he
brought with him.; which had been returned
by Mrs. Wharton; that few days after the
death, of General Ketchum Mrs. Wharton
visited Washington, and called upon General
Brice, the brother-in-law OF deceased; that she
asked General Brice for $4,000 worth Of govern
ment bonds, which she said she had deposited
for safekeeplng with General Ketchum. Cen
eral Brice asked her If she had written proof
of the fact, or living witnesses that she could
furnish; she said that she had neither; ne then
asked her II she was not Indebted to General
Ketchum, and whether he did not hold her
note for s2600; she replied in the negative, and
said she paid the note some time ago to Gene
ral Ketchum in person, and that she had torn
up the note In his presence.
Yhe Case Of Mr.. Van Ness.
Iii. Van Ness called on Mrs. Wharton on the
18th and 20th Of June and took glass OF wine
each day, after which he was affected with
pains In the back and shoulders bit which
6OOn passed. Oh. On Lne Z4tn ne was aC blFs.
Wharton's house and took glass of lager beer 4
from Mrs. Wharton's own hand. Shortly after
he was taken violently sick with commissions.
The cork of the bottle was drawn out in his
presence. He was SO sick that be- could not be
removed from the house. His family were sent
for, and also Drs. Williams and Chew, who at
tended him. he was confined until the 30th,
when he was taken home.
, Mrs. Hutton, sister of Mrs. Van Ness, made
some beef tea on Sunday, part Of which Mr.
Van Ness partook of. The remainder was
placed in a refrigerator In the cellar. The
next time Mr. Van Ness partook OF it he was
unable to retain it upon his stomach. On the
28th. when General Ketchum died, Mrs. Hut
ton brought milk to the house. Mr.. Van Ness
drank tumblerful and said 1t was nice; OF II
A. NJ. she made amilk punch herself, took
wSpeglassful and handed 1t to Mr.. VaIf Ness,
wIo said itN Ls very agreeable and pleasant.
The remainder was put In q nursery reirlgera-
tor in dining room adjoining the room in
which Mr.. Van ness was lying. Atl2.30 P. Ii.
Mrs. Van Ness went to get her husband
another drink OF it, pouring it from q tumbler
into the wineglass. She tastedit, and found
1t had peculiar taste; called Mrs. Loney, who
observed sediment In the bottom Of the
tumbler. Sae tasted 1t, and found itwas Bit
ter. She thought something was wrong, and
consulted with DR.. Williams. The sediment
was examined by Professor aiken, and found
to contain fifteen grains OF tartar emetic. Al