The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-30

LEAvENwORTH Kan, March 29-It is
not known on what ground the county
attorney is holding John Mettman, charg-
ed with the murder of his wife People
here say that the couple did not live happi-
iy together; that on the contrary they
Quarreled frequently. 1t has been discov-
cred that neighbOr called at the house of
Mettman Thursday evening and inquired
OF Mrs. ROutsmdn, a married daughter,
after her mother. The woman says Mrs.
Routsman told her that her mother was
out but would return in brief time. That
same day there appeared in the newspaper
advertisements inquiring after the where
abOuts of Mrs. Mettman. Theywere signed
by j Ohm Mettman. Saturday Mrs. Mettman
drew from the bank S400. 1t will be re-
membered that on that same evening she
went to the house of a neighbOr and die
tated a letter to her daughter in New
York The SuppOSitiOn is that she and her
husband quarrelled that day and that she
determined to go to New York and live
with her daughter The contents of the
letter will probably come out at the in
quest.
The family physician of the Mettman's
says he has served them III that capacity
for twenty years. He further says that
some years since John 'Mettman had an at
tack OF cerebral spinal meningitis from the
effects of which he never fully recovered
and that during the past five years he
has been subject to mental troubles,
worth Coal company said that he
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Mettman walking on
the reservation Sunday night, One-half
mile from where the body was found.
Mrs. RoutSman was the only witness of
note examined at the inquest today, and
her testimony neither vindicated or crimi-
mated her father. John Mettman. The
liPf of ha in bat APS ptt
came TO her death at the hands Of some
person or persons unknown. City AttOr-
ney Atwood says that unless some eyi-
dence is obtained he will release him. He
will recommend Governor Humphrey to
offer reward for the apprehension of the
murderer
THE THEORY AGAINST METTNAN.
The theory advanced for Mettmans ar
rest was that he gained knowledge of his
wife having the 500 or more saved by her
son during his employment on the rail
road; that he determined to murder her
and make the family and the world believe
that his faithful wife had deserted him.
even carrying away the fruits of years of
toll or the part of their only son.
On the opposite side of the street from
the Mettman residence was found a guam
tity of blood, and upon examining Nett
mans stable unmistakable blood stains
were discovered on his horse The shOul-
ders of the horse had recently been washed,
but the officers discovered a quantity Of
blood which had been overlooked.
A reporter visited him this afternoon
and telling him that he was generally be
Iieved to be the murderer asked if he had
anything to say on the subject. His
face flushed, he stammered and talked
slowly, firmly denying any connection
with the affair, and seemed to be little CON
cerned about his wife's tragic death. He
is about 80 years of age, dark blue, sleepy
eyes and gray chin whiskers, well dressed
and rather good looking
He said he did not know his wife had
any money in her possession, and
could not imagine why anyone
should wish to Kill her. When asked
why he did not give publicity to
her strange disappearance, he claimed that
he had notified the police of the fact on
last Tuesday
The reporter verified this statement by
inquiry at the police department where it
was learned that Mettman had met Officer
Murphy at the union depot and had given
a description of his missing wife.