The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-15
Resume Of the Evidence In
the Case.
History Of the Wharton and Ketchum
Families.
The Autopsy on the Body of
General Ketchum.
What is Thought Of DIR. Aiken's
Chemical Analysis.
ANNAPOLIS, No., Jan. 10, 1872.

On the 10th day Of July last the people OF the city
Of Baltimore, and, indeed, the whole country, were
staYtled with the announcement that Mrs. Ellen G.
wharton, lady moving in the highest circles OF
refined and educated society IN that city mad been
arrested upon the charge OF numbering General w.
Scott Ketchum Nv poison, and the attempt to muir.
DER Mr.. Eugene Van Ness, her confidential business
agent. AT first the statement was received as q
Wild rumOr and few people gave 1t heed for her
position and standing In society was Of the highest,
and she had always been conspicuous in charitable
works. and was known as a devoted Christian men,
Der of the Episcopal Church, and the very last
person likely to commit crime; but an inquiry OF |
that she had been arrested upon bench warrants |
Issued by Judge Gilmor, OF the Criminal Court and
was
PRISONER AT HER OWN HOUSE.
Not single fact in relation to the arrest could be
obtained, however, from the authorities, and the
friends OF the accused lady equally reticent In
regard to 1t and the causes that operated TO bring
It about. As soon as Mrs. wharton was
rested she sent Tor her counsel, Mr. j. hewitt
steele and J. II. Thomas who, on the 18th
Of July, held consultation with Judge Gilmor ana
Xr. Pinkney, Deputy States Attorney, at which 1t
was determined that the whole matter should be re-
1erred The Grand Jury on the following Saturday,
the 18th OF July, and that instead OF admitting her
% bail she should remain prisoner at her own resi-
was announced,
THE MOST INTENSE EXCITEMENT
prevailed among all classes Of society," and the least
rumor In regard TO the matter was magn1ed as
often as related. The most unnatural stories were
Get afoat by the idle gossip OF pretentous people.
which were caught up by the daily newspaper press
OF the city, and, In the absence OF facts, framed into
plausible stories to which were added the theories
OF their own excited imagnations, adorned with
Aashy mead lines and given to the excited people,
who gulped them down as truth. During the week
that interviewed between the arrest and The meeting
d the Grand Jury the immediate public were in a
Btate OF everish excitement, greatly augmented by
che reticence OF those who knew the facts but would
NOT relate them and the press were even unable to
gain word Of authentic information in relation to
the alleged crimes and. to supply the public appe.
ete for news in regard to the arrest and its causes
1hey continued to PRINT every wild runor that could
be caught up upon the street, no matter by whom
uttered. These tales generally emanated from that
class Of society whose untutored brains foroid their
appreciation OF the situation OF a refined ana intet
gent lady Conscious Of her own innocence, charged
with
TIE TERRIBLE CRIME OF MURDER
ana were of a character that freighted the public
mind with prejudice against the unfortunate
prisoner.
Saturday, the 18Th OF July came, and with 1t the
meeting of the Grand Jury; but the general public
were by this time believers In her guilt, While those
circles OF society that had known her TO honor the
association were equally convinced OF her entire
Innocence Of the charges alleged against ner. Two
indictments were, however found against heroine
Tor the murder or General Ketchum and the other
for the attempt to murder Edsene Van Ness; aud
On Monday the 17h OF July, she left her
lnxuricus home and the association or cultivated
friends for :f.
THE COMMON JAIL OF BALTIMORE CITY,
accompanied by her only child, a beautiful young
girl, PANIED Nellie leaving to the care OF her SER
wants the once happy household. No sooner had
che indictments been found and the prisoner re-
moved to prison than strenuous efforts were made
90 get some statement from her or her friends or
counsel in relation to the case, but not word
could be obtained She had not invoked aid before,
and would not court sympathy now. her friends
were also indsposed to say word, and Indignantly
denied her guilt The city press. TO strengthen what
they had already put fortp, then began the publ
cation OF
THE MOST FEARFUL STORIES,
connecting her name with the death OF any number
OF her relatives other stories OF most sensa
sional character concerning her early life. Her
kindest acts were distorted into evidences OF deep.
seated guilt, and OF Kindness and devotion
and religious duty declared to be one OF fearful
crime. These tales were taken up by the press OF
the country and spread uncontradicted broadcast
over the land. For weeks they continued, until the
whole country began 10 believe that the counterpart
of Lucretia Borgla or Countess Brlnvier had been
found in Baltimore. 1t was even asserted that her
husband and son, who had died some months be-
fore, were taken from earth by
THE SECRET WORKING OF POISON
feken from her hands, and thousand people, al
most, VINO had been for years the REGIMENTS OF her
generous hospitality, declared with show Of sim
oority that at one time or another they had been
poisoned by her. These stories were told and re.
told gaining In proportion at each repetition until
~ last they were good truth TO the hungry and
excited public. Days, weeks and even months,
these publications were continued from time 10
time, until at last Mrs. Wharton and her cause was
almost forgotten In the busy hustle OF life; but when
they did she had been tried upon this pare
evidence and, with the general public found fear.
fully guilty. Even those circles OF society knew
her as an associate, and had at drst protested
her innocence began TO be lukewarm In her de-
fence; ana, finally, under the pressure brought to
bear 5y those who had starred many OF these wild
eumors against ner who happened TO boast respect.
able and naughty connections LETT her cause and
aarkly limited that she might be- or PROBABLY was,
guilty. SO that she could count almost upon the
fingers OF her Two hands before her trial those OF
that society that honored her in prosperity that
Colonel Henry ". Wharton, OF the United states
Army; OF his wife, now upon trial Tor her lie; son,
Major Henry w. Wharton Jr., rising young officer
Of the United states Army. ana beautiful daughter,
named Nellie q. wharton, whom we have referred
70 before, and OF whom We shall have occasion 10
speak again.
Colonel Wharton was for many years stationed at
Baltimore city as mastering and disbursing officer
n that post and " was under ms direction and
supervision that many Of the volunteers In the late
war OF the rebellion were mustered out and paid
Probably no oflicer OF The government who was
stationed al that post enjoyed the respect aud
esteem Of the citizens Of that community In
higher degree than did Colonel Wharton. lie was
= man Of pleasing address, fine, though at times
erratc manners aud was universally recognized as
OF the correct and elcient Officers OF the