Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-19
MRS. WHARTON Is DEAD.
Two Famous Trials at Annapolis Re-
called by Her Death.


The Baltimore Sun OF this morning
says Mrs. Ellen g. Wharton. formerly
q resident Of Baltimore. died recently at
the home Of her son-in-law. Mr.. Moore
Wharton, near Philadelphia, aged about
20 years Mrs. Wharton will be remem-
bered from her connection with the cele-
brated cases IN which she was defendant,
that were tried Ia Annapolis in 1871 aud
IS72.s She was charged with poisoning
Gen. William Scott Ketchum, q retired
army officer, and with the attempted
polsoning OF Mr.. Eugene Van Ness at
her home 2g3 Hamilton Place. In Balu-
more city, in June, 1871. The cases at
tracted national attention.
a Some Of the ablest lawyers Of the State
were engaged In the trials. Mrs. Wharton
being defended by MessFs. A. b. Haguer,
now one of the Judges OF the Supreme
Bench Of the District of Columbia, John
III. Thomas. | hewitt Steele, of Bslti-
more, and Herman Stump. Bslair. The
prosecution was by Messrs. James Revell
at that time States Attorney Of Anne
Arundel, and Judge A. X. Sylvester, who
had just been elected attorney general OF
the State.
The first trial, Ia which the charge was
the kOAbOuluB VI 0Cus ASAC0aAtAs Was W
gun at Annapolis on December 4 1871,
and continued forty-three days. the jury.
after three days deliberation, rendering
verdict of not guilty on January %, 1872
During the trial 165 witnesses were tx
amined, including chemical experts from
New York. Phi 'adelphia, Cleveland and
Baltimore. The cost Of the tria. is said
to have been sic, 900. The alleged mo-
tive was an effort to obtain money claim
ed by the accused to be due her by Gen.
Ketchum. This money, according TO
testimony for the prosecution, she was
DESTROYS of procuring, so as to visit Eu.
rope with her daughter.
The second trialen the charge of at
tempting the life Of Mr. Eugene Van
Ness, also took place at Annapolis, aud
was conducted by the same counsel both
for defendant and State, with the excep-
tion of Mr.. j. hewitt Steele. who was fore
cd to withdraw, on account Of Ill health
and other engagements 1t was begun
on January 9th, 1878. aud closed Feb
ruary 3, OF the same year. La this trial
the jury failed to ag,ee and were dis
charged Tie cases were tried before
judges Miller, Haydn and Hammond
After the failure OF the jury to agree In
the sec md case Mrs. Wharton was call
ed In the sum of $4,000 for her future
appearance If required.
After the conclusion of the trial Mrs.
Wharton, with her daughter, Miss Mel
lie, who was her constant companion,
left for Philadelphia, where their friends
and relatives resided. At Philadelphia
Miss Nellie was married to Mr.. Moore
Wharton. and her mother made her home
with them, leading secluded life. For
d number of years they resided In Phila
delphia, but later they went to the coun-
try place OF MIR. Wharton, about twelve
miles from the city, on the line of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, at which place
Mrs. Wharton died.
Mrs. Wharton was native of Pennsyi-
vania and the wife of Col. Henry Whar
ton, who had command Of 9 Delaware
regiment during the civil war. His
regiment was stationed In Baltimore Oh
military duty In the latter part Of the
war, and It was at that time that Col.
Wharton brought his family, consisting
Of his wife and two children, a son and q
daughter, TO reside In Baltimore. Col.
Wharton continued to live in Baltimore
after the close of the war and died In
that city In 1856 or 1857. The son also
died In Baltimore shortly before the
publicity OF the unfortunate aHaI Win
which his mothers name was connected.
Gen. William Scott Ketchum was a.
friend of the family, having served In
the army with Col. Wharton. He resided
In Washington, but was frequent visitor
at the Wharton heme in Baltimore city.
He died at the Wharton residence June
%, 1871, and the circumstances attending
the occurrence led to the arrest of Mrs.
Wharton. charged with causing his death
by mixing poison with his food. Mr..
Van Ness was also friend of the family
and an occasional visitor. He too was
taken suddenly III at Mrs. Wharton's
home about the same time, which led to-
the second charge of attempted poisoning.
Mrs. Wharton never returned to Baltimore
after her trials at Annapolis, though she
had many warm friends In the city.