The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-01
The Whartea -Circu1staatini Evt
deuco and Science In tho Case.

The trial of Mrs. Wharton, Of Baltimore, at
Annapolis, on the charge Of killing General
Ketchum by administering poison, ID one Of the
most extraordinary cases that ever came
before the criminal Courts of this or any
other country. 1t has occupied twenty-five
days already, and will not be concluded prob
ably before the twenty fifth or twenty sixth
day, If by that time. While there may not be
such an array of the highest order of legal
and judicial talents as there has been in some
other celebrated criminal cases in different
parts of the world or at former periods, both
the lawyers and judges have shown respect
able abilities as well as careful and patient
investigation. The jury, too, appears to be
composed Of plain, solid and honest men,
intent upon understanding the evidence and
giving Verdict accordingly. The trial is
conducted in small town and away from the
excitement and influence Of popular feeling.
There is reason to expect, therefore, that the
result will be in accordance with the evidence.
When the charge Of murder was first made
against Mrs. Wharton people held their
breath with surprise. Her social standing in
the community and the relations that had
existed between her and General Ketchum
precluded the thought that she could have
been guilty of the fearful crime. Even those
most impressed with the suspicious circum-
stances apparently surrounding the sudden
death of General Ketchum were afraid to
express their suspicious or opinions. The
character of Mrs. Wharton in all the relations
of life and throughout life seemed to forbid
the thought that she could be guilty Of such
crime. There was total absence apparently
Of sufficient motive for committing the deed,
for even the small sum of money which 1t is
alleged Mrs. Wharton owed General Ketchum
seemed to furnish no adequate motive, even to
q vicious-minded person, much less to lady
in good circumstances, surrounded by the
Injuries of life, universally respected, an
exemplary member Of a Christian church, and
with the best social position in the community.
AS suspicion grew more rank and evidence
began to accumulate, particularly after chem
lists had declared they found poison in the
body of General Ketchum and Mrs Wharton
was arrested, people said she must be insane,
or, at least. that she was afflicted with that
sort of monomania which sometimes leads its
unhappy victims to dreadful freaks of crime
The impression was general still that there
was an absence of sufficient motive for such a
lady under the circumstances OF her situation
and Of the case to commit murder if she were
sane, and, therefore. as the belief grew that
General Ketchum had been poisoned, 1t was
thought that some developments would be
made showing that Mrs. Wharton was q mono
maniac. Circumstantial evidence seemed to
be fcarfully against her, aud IL General
Ketchum were poisoned, as the chemists said
he had been, there appeared to be no other
person who could have committed the crime.
History presents examples Of dreadful halluci-
nation on some particular subject in persons
who in other respects appear sane, and who,
under the influences Of such hallucination,
commit crime, aud this was the charitable
view taken by many in the case Of Mrs.
Wharton. This opinion was strengthened by
the dark rumors current that others had been
poisoned previously by Mrs. Wharton. Mr..
Eugene Van Ness was one Of these, though he
recovered from the alleged poisoning. The
sudden death of Mrs. Wharton's husband and
son, some years before, were discussed sus-
piciously, and it was limited they had been
poisoned also. In fact, this woman, who had
been 80 universally respected and whose
moral character no one impugned, was repre-
scented to be another Borgia, or worse than
Borgia. 1t was hardly possible to suppose she
could be sane if guilty Of these alleged or
suspected crimes. Yet since her imprison-
ment she has shown no signs of insanity or
monomania, nor is there any evidence to
show she ever did. The defence has taken no
ground to show such state of mind, but
seems to rely entirely upon overcoming the
charge by facts and careful analysis of
evidence brought forward by the State.
In case like this the public
mind becomes feverish and too apt
to exsggeratc appearances. The very horror
Of such crime bescts other horrors. Suspi-
cions accumulate in the Imagination. There
is, unhappily, morbid disposition for exag-
gerating the horrible. This is so espe cially
where the alleged criminal is distinguished in
any way above the lowest or ordinary class Of
people.
The tedious trial Of Mrs. Wharton has been
narrowed down at last to nice point as to
the case of General Ketchums death alone.
An attempt was made by the prosecution to
bring in cxtraneous evidence, as that, for ex-
ample of Mr.. Eugene Van Ness; but this was
not allowed. The first question that arises is,
was General Ketchum poisoned at all9 This,
which ought to have been decided OF the COM
mencement is now the all-absorbing one
before the Court. The evidence brought in by