Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-22
Death OF mrs. WHAEqoE.
a woman Accused Of TWO Murders
Which Attracted National Aaten.

tIsR.
Baltimore Sun, May 18th.
ats. Eil4n q wharton. formerly rest
dent Of Baltimore, died recently AZ the
home Of her son-ln.laR, MT. Moore, What-
ton, near Philadelphia. aged about 70
years. Mrs. Wharton will be remembered
from her connection with the eeisorated
cases IN which sho was ds'eEdalt thst
were tried IN Annapolis In 1871 Ana 1877.
SITE was charged with poisoning Gen. wal
liam scott Ketchum, u retired army officer,
and with the attempted poisoning o Mr.
Eugene Van Nsss, Mt her homa, 263 Hamli-
ton Place, In this city, In June, 1871. Inc
CAGES attracted national attention.
The first trial, in which ;ha charge WAS
the poisoning Of General katehun, was
begun Mt Annapolis on December attn, 1871,
and continued 40 days, the Jury, after three
days deii5eratton, rendering verdict OF
not guilty on January 25.h, 1879. During
the trial los witnesses were OK
amined, inclullng chemical experts from
New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland ana
Baltimore. TIE cost OF the trial IL SAID TO
have teep $40, 600. The alleged motive was
nn effort to Obtain money claimed by the
accused to be due her by General ketchum.
This money, according to testimony Tor tue
prosecution, she was DESTROYS of procuring
so as to visit Europe with her daughter.
The second trial on tho charge OF at
tempting the life Of MIR. Eugene Van Ness
also took place at Annapolis, and was CON
| Quoted by eminent counsel 10th for DIS
| fsndant and state. 1t was begun on jan
uary 9th, 1873, and closed February 81 Of
| the same year. In this trial the jury failed
| to agree and were discharged. Aztec the
failure of the jury 10 agree In the second
case Mrs. Wharton was held Ia the sum
| OF $4,000 for her future appearance II
\ required.
Alter the conclusion OF the trial Mrs.
Wharton, with her daughter, Miss Nellie,
| who was her constant companion, lett TOE
Philadelphia, where their friends and rela-
tives resided. At Philadelphta Miss Nellie
was married to Mr.. Moore Wharton, and
her mother made her home with them,
leading secluded life. For number oil
years they resided In Philadelphia. but
later they went to the country place OF Mr.
Wharton, about Ia miles from the city, on
the line OF this Pennsylvania railroad, al
which place Mrs. Wharton died.
Mrs. Wharton was a native OF Pennsyl'
vabia and the wife of Col. Henry wharton.
who had command of a Delaware regiment
during tho civil war. His regiment was sta
toned in thia city on military duty In the
latter part Of the war, and It was at thai
time that Ool. Wharton brought his family
consisting OF bis wife and TWO children,
son and daughter, to reside here. Col
Wharton continued to live In Baltimore
after the close OF the war and died IN this
city in 1866 or 1867. The son also died here
shortly before the publicity of the un'ortu
nate affair with which his mothers namt
was connected.
General william Scott Ketchum was {
friend OF the family, having served In tbs
army with Colonel Wharton. He resided
In Washington, but was II frequent vlsito
at the Wharton home in this city. He die,
at the Wharton residence June 28th, 1871
and the circumstances attending tas occur
renee led to the arrest of Mrs. Wharton
chareed with causing his deHth by mixinI
poison with his food MIR. Van Ness wa
also friend OF the family and an occa
sional visitor. He too was taken auddant,
! III at Mrs. Whartons homs about the sam
time which led TO the second charge OF nt
tempted poisoning. Mrs. Wharton neve
returned to Baltimore after her trial at An
napolis. though she bad many warm friend
8 In the city.