Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-04-08
DIED or a BROKEN ntAHl.
The strange story of Frank ketter.
Former Brooklyn Merchant.

The strange story OF FRANK -
former Brooklyn Merchant.
Paterson y. j. Special 70 Brooklyn Eaglel
Frank Ketter, formerly "a prominent
Brooklyn merchant, fell dead in Little
Falls. on Tuesday afternoon. while he was
returning home from the Standard Woolen
Mills, where he had been employed for
some time past. IL was supposed 70 have
been case of apoplexy, and Coroner
Stewart gave a burial certificate. Upon
visiting the rooms occupied by Ketter, who
was ifty-twO years OF age, baby about
e.ght months old was found in charge OF
little nurse girl. The girl could give no
account OF th child, and only said that he
had engaged ner some time ago 70 take
charge OF the baby. Upon searching
through Ketter's effects the Coroner found
a number OF letters. Some OF them were
signed LENA Berrott," and were couched
in the most endearing terms. They re-
ferred TO their little one" and hoped for
"Mr Ketter's" speedy return. Other let
ters were apparently from a sister OF
Lena, and these begged her 70 return
home 10 her father and mother, and
ito give up the life she was leading
with that man" In thess letters
the sister several times mentioned
"Ketter's wife," and stated that nothing
but unhappiness was in store for Lena un-
less she returned 20 Philadelphia. Some
conclusions suggested BY the letters and
the presence Of so young baby led CorO-
ner Stewart % make further investigation,
and be finally decided upon an autopsy.
Dr. Myers made one yesterday and made
a remarkable discovery. He found that
Kstter had died literally OF a broken heart,
or. In other words. the bursting of the
main pulmonary artery. A hole was
found In this artery sufficiently large 70 re-
ceive the end Of a mans thumb Death
was consequently instantaneous
This morning a hand some young woman
arrived in town and said that she vas Mrs
Ketter. nee Lena Berrott. She declared
that she had come direct from Philadel-
phia. and she was deeply moved when
Shown the remains. She gave her age az
nineteen. and explained that she had been
employ ed BY Ketter. when ne was man
ufacturer Of hosiery and knit goods in
Philadelphia, as his accountant. His wife
died some three years ago aud he bee tme
despondent and went 20 Brooklyn, w~.re
he established himself in the same hue Of
business. About two months ago he fst sd
and through the New York agency OF he
eompany mentioned procured sm-
ployment in their Little Falls
factory She sad that she
married him ia Philadelphia nineteen
months AGO. year after bis former ife's
death. against her pa euts' wishes, he BE-
ing more than thirty years her senior.
Her parents begged her not % divulge tbs
fact of aer marriage with Ketter. and her
sisters and sther relatives did not know Il
IT, When she ieft Philadelphia for Brook
lvn with Estter thev thought that she had
eioped with hirs and hsd not been legally
married. hence the letters above alladed
- begging her 20 return. She admitted
thst she had always called him Mr.. ket-
tpr. because he vas 40 much older than
herself In conclusion she said that when
her husband failed IN Brooklyn they had
mutually agreed that she should return -
her parents IN Philadelphia and obtain
employment where she could learn al the
newest methods BY machinery. In the
srfinu they were % start a new manu-
factory ~ rheir own. The remains Of Mr..
kettar were Inferred in the Holy Sepul-
cher Cemetery and the young woman re-
arued to Phdadalphia taking he infant
with her