The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19
KELLER IN THE "swEAT Box.n
Story Told by the Butler of the Wall
Iace-Ketcham Household.

CHICAGO, Nov. 1S.-Joseph Keller, butler,
valet and confidential man in the Wallace
Ketcham household, and who recently has
become a notable figure in the Ketcham
mystery, was put in the "sweat box for
two hours late last night by Police Captain
Homer About midnight Keller was re-
leased on demand of Attorney Hansen, who
agreed to produce the butler IL the police
should require him. Captain Homer does
not believe Keller has told all he knows Of
the Ketcham case. His story of the trip to
Milwaukee and the subsequent marriage Of
ketcham to Mrs. Wallace the captain still
considers incomplete. In the sweat box
Keller was questioned and cross-questioned
During this interview Keller made the fol-
lowing written statement:
MY name is Joseph Keller. have been
Employed by Mrs. Wallace for over a wear
1 have known Mr. John 3. Ketcham for
nearly year. On Oct. "a l accompanied
Mrs. Wallace and Mr.. Ketcham to Mil
Hotel. We arrived in Milwaukee about 8
o'clock at night. About O'Clock the next
went out for drive. They returned about
o'clock and Ketcham laughed when he
met me in the hotel Office and told me that
he had just got married to Mrs. Wallace.
We all came home together that same after
noon. Over ten strangers have stopped at
the house within the last thirty days. Mrs.
together as man and wife for nearly year,
but the mail was always addressed to Mrs.
Wallace. About the LIST of October Ketcham
came to me and told me he had made his
will and asked me to sign 1T. did so in
the presence of himself and Mrs. Wallace.
Mrs. Toney a friend of Mrs. Ketcham's,
was the only other person present"
When seen by a reporter after leaving the
sweat box" Keller repeated the substance
of his statement. He denied he had repre-
scented Ketcham in the marriage ceremony
at Milwaukee and insisted that Ketcham
was the bridegroom.
A few minutes after Keller had been taken
TO his cell Attorney Kern appeared and held
q long conversation with Captain Homer.
Mr.. Kern refused to admit his connection
with the case, but expressed his opinion
forcibly. This is simply case of insur-
ance companies and others interested by
purely selfish motives to blacken the charac-
ter of woman and a widow, said he,
Eas have ever had come under my observa-
fon. All this bluff1ng and shouting is but
Nights"
Captain Homer said he was at a loss how
70 proceed further in the case until the re-
suit of the. analysis of the stomach had
been made known. 1.-THE whole case is pc
euliar and one that is difficult to handle, I"
said he. While / am satisfied Keller is not
telling either the truth or even half what
he knows do not believe he really knows
anything that would help us clear up the
case. l am satisfied the Milwaukee mar
rage was all right, and the talk of Keller
playing the role of the happy groom is all
bosh. Ketcham is married and the woman
IS his widow. and whatever there is to the
story of 8 fake will, why, that is a matter
for the civil courts. ALI that interests us
IS: Was Ketcham's death due to natural
causes? Until l am informed of the result
Of the investigation now being made by the
chemists / will simply let the matter rest
Where 1t is will, however. keep my de-
tectives at work on the case until we are
satisfied one way or the other. There is
much that we are anxious to learn about
that trip to Milwaukee. but IL is on that
truth"