Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-20
The Trial Of Mr.. wharton

THE LAWl ERS TALKING YET.
ASNAPOLIs, MD, Jan. 20.-The court room
was crowded to-day long in advance OF the O 2en-
ing at the court, the ladies comprising at least
half the audience. Mr.. Steele promptly re-
sumcd bis argument, and begged the indulgence
OF the jury while he read to them TAYLOR on
criminal evidence touching the credit 10 be
given interested witnesses. He then referred to
the testimony OF Dr. Williams. and said
Il was not in the nature of things that
his recollection of General ketchums symp-
toms should not be warped 10y his subsequent
suspicious. He did not believe that any man
could but doubt the evidence when il was CON
sideTed from what streams OF feeling il had
come. He next spoke Of the part Marshal Frev
had played. He was as respectable a man a.
could be found in the vocation Of detective, bat
he admittedprscticing deception and fraud, aud
he went 10 her with a lie in his mouth. We
most have detectives. but we must not cOnyic
on the evidence of detectives. Mr.. Steele then
asked the jury not TO attach too much import
ance to the testimony OF a man who had con
fessed that he had sbtain ned his information bv
means OF a lie. He wa argung the case not 10
show the want OF evidence against Mrs. Wnar-
ton, but he sought 20 show that the states own
evidence proved that she was innocent. and there
could not be doubt about 1t Mr.. Steele then
reviewed the evidence relating 10 occurrences i'm
Mrs. Wharton's house during the illness of GEN
cIal ketchum, particularly that Of Mrs. Hutton.
Mrs Loncy, and Mrs. Van Ness, and cOntendel
there nething whatever TO prove that
ketchum had been poisoned by Mrs. Wharton
The le monade drunk by ketchum was mixed IN
the full presence of Mrs. Chubb and others: the
Drown stout sangaree IN the presence OF nu m
her of persons, and every act testified 10 WAS in
iull view Of the company then in her house
Does the murderess thus seek publicity? There
WAS not an act done that could not have been
seen by the watcbful ewes in the house. Moth
ing puts poison in the cup but suspicion. Mr.
Steele commented at some length on the failure
of the prosecution to put the colored witnesses
on the stand after they had been brought here
zone from Philadelphial as witnesses Tor the
stae.
The counsel then proceeded with his analysis
of the evidence OF the state until l2:l5 when he
asked that a short recess be taken. which was
granted, and the jury retired for that time. At
one O'Clock Chief Judge Miller announced that
Mr.. Steele was too much deblitated 10 proceed
with his argument, and adjourned the court to
Monday, at 10 O'Clock.
Several distinguished army and navy officers
occupied seats within the bar with a number Of
prominent gentlemen of the legal profession
from Baltimore and other cities, drawn hith or
by general interest in the case and the desire to
hear the closing argument of the counsel for the
defence. MIR. Steele.
Mrs. Wharton this morning as much ex-
hausted. being almost worn cut by her long
imprisonment, her anxiety, and the protra cted,
weary ing trial. She entered the courtroom a
few minutes before ten, leaning on Deputy
Sheriff BRYAN, and accompanied by the same
friends who have been her daily attendants
since the commencement of the trial.