Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-06
TELEGRAMS 10 THE STAR.
This Afterneon's Dispatche s.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
sEGeND TRIAL 0F Mxs. WHARTON.
THE Charge &C Atsessspssnx 90 pes-s,
Euxe0e Wan Nc~~.


ANSkroIls, Nh. Jan. 6.-The trial 81 Mr..
firaheth g. Nhsrtun, indicted for attemrting
"a poison Eugene Van Ness In the month ~
Of Anne Arundel county to-day. IL will De re-
menihercd that Nrs. Wharton was ir,li-sfsl AZ
the same time--lGne, issi-in the criminal
and numbering General W. Scott Ketchnn. uf
the Unitod States amy. The trial ON the latter
Indictment, the case having been removed froIa
meneed NJ Annapolis. December a. ISsl. art
after n prViTactcd and ar,lu0ns SESSION oi ths
court was concluded January -, 1872, the jury
rendering a verdict al ..nut guilty"
Owing 10 the high social position az the pris-
oncr. who Is the widow cf the late Major Harry
W. Wharton. 4. =. A. and the circumst ancrs
attending the death OF Gen1 ketchum, Who
~as an intimate friend of the family. AMI on \
visit To Mrs Wharton when seized with che III
ness which terminated in has death. the fIiaf
was one OF peculiar and absorbing interest
throughout the country. The prosecution was
conducted by Attorney General SyeSter ant
State Attorney james RcVell, and the defence
by J. hewitt steele and Mr.. Thomas of the Bal-
umore city Tar, and Mr.. Alexander n. HArner.
OF Annapolis, all occupying positions IA tho
mont rank Of their Profession. The court vas
composed OF Judge Miller. OF the court OF APP
ptals, chief judge OF the Anne Arundel circuit,
and Judges Hammond AMI HAYDEN. three "a
able and profound iurisfs sic ON the bench OF
Maryl while General ketchum Law al as
Mrs. Nhartons house Mr.. Eugene Van N,-s. 4
clerk in the banking house OF Alexander Brown
& Sons, and
AN INTIMATE FRIEND
OF Mrs. Wharton called TO spend the evenin g.
Shortly after his arrival Van Ness nartook 81 a
glass OF beer or ale profiered by Mrs. Wharton,
and I'm brief time was taken sick, and remained
sick I'm her house for several DAYS. The in.iict-
ment charges Mrs. Wharton with administering
tartar-emetic and other deadly Ioisons 20 Van
Ness ON the 18th, apth, and 2lth day OF June,
IS i, In beef tea, milk punch, &c. The penalty
for such offence IL confinement in the pcniten-
tiary Tor not less than two, nor more than ten
years.
THE Court NET
at ten O'Clock. Chief Judge Miller and Associate
Judge Hammond on the bench. On Inquiry
from the court. State Attorney Revels r,pii.st
that he Was ready on the part of the state TO
proceed with the trial OF Mrs Wharton. and ths
counsel for the defence said they were also
ready.
At this point Mr.. Hagner. counsel for the ae-
fence ,asketiMr. Revells whether the indie ment
which contained a number of counts charging
several separate and distinct acts on Different
days, was Intended 30 allege separate and differ
ent attempts 20 poison nj different TINES. aud
was not designated to he taken a. Charging in
different forms one and the same attempt 10
poison.
Mr. Revell said he was free to admit that the
state expected 10 prove the various separate at
tsmpts TO poison ~ different times. and the in
dictment meant TO charge separate and distinct
acts.
Mr. Hagner submitted a motion 90 quash on
the ground that the several separate aud distinct
charges in the indictment are separate ard dis
unct felonies, and should for that reason DO
quashed.
The court stated that it was desirable the ar
gument ON the motion should be heard by the
fun bench, and a. Judge Hayden would not bs
present until Tomorrow argument would be de-
ferred until that time, and the court adjourned.
Attorney General Syester, who assisted IN the
ketchum case was not present to-day, nor was
Mr.. Steele, for the defense. The prisoner Nho
was present In court il i'm much better health than
during her previous trial. BY her side was her
daughter. Nellie. and her faithful friends. Mrs.
=. Crawford Nelson and Miss Rosa AeilSon,
who were hen Constant attendants aurinn her
trial for the murder OF Gen. Ketchum. Mr..
Van Ness and a number of witnesSes were
present. The number OF spectators was not
large.