Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-05
EVENING STAR.
TRIAL OF MRS. WHARTON.
TINE BxLTLn0RR P0Iso.N.ER.
Opening Proceedings Yesterday.

The trial OF Mrs. Ellen G.. wharton widow of
the late Major Henry Wharton. United States
army, indicted for the murder Of General Will
liam Scott hetchum, United States army, BY
poison, on the 2sth of June. 1871, and attempt
ing to poison Eugene Van Ness on the 2ith of
June, lotl, IN Baltimore, was commenced yes
terday IN the Circuit Court OF Anne Arundel
county, sitting at Annapolis. The circum-
stances OF the e9se. it will be remembered, were
published IN Tag STAR some months since.
THE COURTROOM
in Annapolis was densely crowded yesterday,
and the neighbOring streets were filed with
persons anxious to gain admission. i he pris-
Oner was brought TO the courthouse in a close
carriage, with her daughter Nellie, who has been
with her AL through her imprisonment, and Mr..
and Mrs. j. G. Nelson, her friends, She en-
tered the courtroom leaning on the arm of Mr.
Nelson. ard Was closely yelled, but showed lit
tie agitai.ol-
When the case was called the Court ordered
THE AERAIGSNENT OF THE PRISONER.
Mr.. Basil. a deputy sheriff, then conducted
Mrs. Wharton to the box allotted for criminals
outside of the bar. Her daughter accompanied
her TO the criminal box, and here occurred, per-
haps the most touching incident which has ever
marked the criminal annals of this any other
country Certainly in Its dramatic interest il
intense. Mrs. Wharton threw aside her
veil, and allowed the anxious, but not too Gu
Us h 20 gtzs uo did, ne s,eRped
show OF nervousness, and with a steady de-
mesnor. Her daughter accompanied her.
The Cont sSe Sasms SRrsS
tons name was wrongly written in the docu-
ment, but as she pleaded to IL, the misnomar
will not be flaw under the statute.
Major HarwOOd, the Clerk Of the Court, a
gray headed gentleman Of the old regime. called
upon Mrs. Wharton TO stand up and hold up her
right hand She raised her hand, and he COM
menced to read the Indictment in a very steady
and solemn voice Mr.. Steele suggested that
the prisoner be permitted to take her seat, md
the Court 80 ordered Her daughter, who nad
been closely yelled, very humDly, but very beau
tifully, sank at her feet upon the dsis. At this
moment among the stronger and more robust
part of the audience, commonly known as men,
not dry eye was 70 be found. No revengeful
feeling existed in the breast of any one towards
the daughter, and her quiet and graceful scqui-
escence in the DEGREES of an unhappy fate pro-
duced a deep emotion in the court room.
After the Indictment had been read the pris-
oner in an audible voice plead " not guilty"
THR KxPANKLLING OF TIE JURY
was then commenced. and eight jurors were
sworn out OF the regular panel as follows: j.
Franklin Deal, foreman, George M. Taylor.
.Jr., Stephen Beard, Benjamin b. Davidson
j mes A. Bruce, Lloyd Brown, George John
son, Jr., and Charles c. Stewart. The regular
panel being exhausted the court ordered that
twenty-five talesmen be drawn to appear this
morning, and alter the drawing the court adj
journed-
The prosecution is conducted by district at
tOrney James Revells and attorney general A
X. SyeSter. The defence Is represented by Hon.
i. Sevett Steele, John III. Thomas, of Baltimore
and Alex. b. Hsgner, Of Annapolis.
APPEARANCR OF THE PRISONER.
Mrs Wharton shows - effects of her impris-
Onment, and trouble seems to have worn linden
tations into her face. Her features are remark
ably regular. She has a restless gray eye, which
appears TO leap from one object to another, and
probably Is seldom at rest until it is closed. She
regarded attentively the ladies whs were pres
ent to witness the trial, and, perhaps, not an
article of their apparel escaped her sweeping
glance To tell the truth she displayed no bra
Vado, bat looked calmly and cOolly prepared for
anything that might happen. When the clerk
finished his reading of the indictments she was
allowed TO retire from the conspicuous position
which she had occupied, and take a seat by her
attorneys
Among the jurors selected FIVE are farmers, one
Autograph operator, one physician, and one
printer.
over one hundred witnesses have been sum-
DOned, about One-third of whom for the
prosecution. Among these for the defense are a
large number Of distinguished army officers. On
each side are a number OF ladies occupying the
highest social position, and also several eminent
physicians summoned as medical experts and
chemists
WITNESSES FROM THIS CITY.
The names of those summoned from Washing
ton for the prosecution are General b. w. Brice,
Psymaster General, United States army; Charles
A. Ketchum. son of the late General; Mrs. Eliza
q. W. Chuhb, General j. III. Eaton, DIR. Basil
Norris, United States army; Eugene Carusi, Esq;
and Mr.. Zugg, a clerk here.
For the defence there are Lieutenant Colonel
George Andrews, DIR. James Simpson. and Col
Onel BTantz Mayer, United States army; Mrs
General David Hunter, General David Hunter,
Dr, L. ii. Alexander, U nited States army; Gen
eral d. II. Rucller, Captain +. III. Beaverton,
General A. CadT, General ID. Ii. Sackett, Cap
tain j. N. Baer, Dr. Benton Randall, Colonel
Frank NJ. Fitting, General Stewart Van yilet
Commander and Mrs. Skerrett, United States
navy; Mrs. Colonel Beall and II. III. Lockwood
Of the Observatory here.
@The Grand Duke says he admires Amer
lea, its 'veeskey" cocktails, and its lovely wO-
men. Very good taste.