The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-21
SHE POSED IN THE NUDE
And When the Negative Vas Discovered
She Was Arrested.
KATIE KETCHUM CAUGHT
For Years She Was Prominent In
w. {. T. u. Circles. Now she
is Chiefly Prominent in the
Courts-A Nasty case.

SnOChltC News luak ONO OF tue CITY > Ntll-
known women had boon arrested for hav-
ing had photograph of herself taken in
the nude.
"Surely there must be some mistake"
said the ladies, but the truth could not be
denied, for the chief of police had in his
possession n print of the Objectionable
picture. 1t was true that Mrs. Catherine
J. Ke;chum, an active and industrious
member of tho W. {. T. L. had been pho
tographed in such an unbecoming atti-
tude.
For some time her neighbors had sus-
pccted that under tho cloak of Christian
work everything was not as il should be.
A committee was secretly formed, and the
evidence of Mrs. ketchum's double life
was given to the police.
It appears that two travelling photo
graphers camo TO the city, who had in
their possession n large number of photo
graphs of nude women, which ION tho
quiet" they sold to those who desired
them. Just how they came to know Mrs.
Kotchum, so active IN w. c. Il. T.. work,
is not known. but become acquainted
they did, and with their Photographic in
struments, finally gained admission to
her home and TO her boudor. The pic
turc was taken in most disgusting posi-
ton, the only garments Mrs. Kcichum
having on being pair of shoes. and
very broad smile.
A member of the committee somehow
heard of the transaction, gained admis-
sion to the room of tho photographers Mt
their hotel, and took the negative from "A
grip.
Mrs. Retchum is a woman of medium
stature. dark complexion and weighs
nhnuf tx .,ntp1s no ia 10.
a. and so years OF age. Snc came To this
city 1Oyears ago with her husband, an
inonensivc carpenter, and has resided in
n well-Io-do portion of the city, owning
her own home. 1t is true thai since this
happened, unsavory things have been
said of her former life in neighboring
village, but nothing of that nature was
known here before. She was well known
as good W. {. 4. L. worker. 1t was her
duty to visit the jails, the railroad depots
and such public places and leave temper
ance papers in boxes for tho public con-
veniencc.
On complaint of one of tho citizens of
this city n warrant was issued for her ar
rest. She was brought before a Justice
of the peace, waived examination and was
bound over to tho circuit court for trial
The two photographers were also arrested
for taking the picture. Thcy, too, waived
examination and were bound over to the
circuit court for trial. Photographer Webb
was unable to secure bail and had to
langulsh in Jail awaiting trial. lie was a
citizen of Canada, and being merely en-
ployed as an assistant to Wige, he felt
imprisonment kecnly, and threatened to
appeal TO the governor Of Canada, and to
bring dire things on the government of
Michigan for so ruthlessly treating one of
her majesty's loyal and abused subjects.
Later, he was acquitted. but nothing has
been heard from tho Canadian seat of
government and Michigan is still IN tho
union.
photographer Wiglc was the first TO be
tried. The jury brought in a verdict of
guilty, and as tho accused had been held
for some time, the judge gave him but 30
days.
Then the trial of Mrs. Kctchum began.
As is usual in such cases, tho court room
was crowded by a vulgar and curious
crowd from day to day. Tho trial lasted
three days. In charging tho jury the judge
said:
'As 10 the obsccnity, charge you that
the picture upon which the PROCEEDINGS
are based is unqucstionably immoral and
obscene. IL is, indeed, a most disgusting
production. IL certainly has a manifest
tendency TO corrupt the morals of youth.
1t Is common knowledge that the usual
purpose IN procuring negative is that
photographs may he printed from il.
Therefore, If Mrs. kctchum procured or
assisted in procuring the negative, shall
hold 1t immatcrial whether she purposcd
the circulation, exhibition or loan of the
negative itself or of pictures printed as
photographs from the negative
The jury thought Mrs. X etchum had
her picture taken IN tho nude for no good
purpose, and brought in n verdict of
guilty. The defendant was convicted
upon information which charged her
with having procured a certain obscene
picture OF herself, Tor the purpose of cNhi-
bition, loan aud circulation. The counsel
for the people claimed that the evidence
showed that the defendant employed two
iunerant photographers TO mako Mega
uyes of her residence, and then sub,e-
quenty these negatives were found
among the effects OF said photographers.
together with the picture Of Mrs. Ketchum
in practically nude condition, sh, being
dressed chiefly in a smilc and a pair of
shoes, but without stockings. The testi-
mony adduced AT the tria., which created
profound sensation, was to the effect
that the residence and interior furn. sh-
ings were those OF the defendant, tho pic
lures on the wall. the carpets and oven
the chair she occupied being identified
and acknowledged as hers by the defend
ant, but there was no testimony tending
10 show that any photograph was made
from the original negative. cxcep, that
made by the direction OF the officers who
made the arrest.
The circuit judge instructed the jury in
substance that the negative was picture
within the meaning OF the law, and thar
If the defendant voluntarily sat in nude
condition, to enable II to be taken, she as
sisted IN obtaining il, and, therefore, Dro.
cured It, and that an intention 10 circs-
late Photographic prints from the Mega
tive would be an intention TO circulate the
picture, within the statute. lie loft the
question Of the intent with which % was