The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-17

pOSit box, and the details of the will
both she and Attorney Hansen re-
fused to disclose, except that it left to
her the entire fortune. Ketcham up to
three years ago was reputed to be
millionaire, but his attorney said
yesterday the fortune probably would
be much less than $500. 600 During the
last three years it had been Iessened
considerably by Ketcham's big pay
ment to his second wife and by un-
lucky stock SpeculatiOnS. One of his
heavy losses, it is said, came in the
slump in the Diamond match.
Though Mrs. Ketcham claims to be
but % years old, and looks even young
er, it is asserted that she IS nearer 40.
She is a perfect type of the Creole
beauty, with a glossy black hair and
slender brOwS, a rich dark complexion
and a perfect form. Her hair is worn
in the style of southern women in ante
belIum prints, and in her deep black
gown yesterday she looked like a rare
oil painting come to life. Her manners
are as suave as her looks are pleas
ing.
As a young girl she is said to have
been famed in New Orleans, though IN
that city she never figured in the
strictest circles of polite society. Her
mother kept a boarding house, and it
was during the Mardi Gras festival of
1882 that James r. Walkup of Emporia,
then mayor of that city, arrived at the
boarding house. became enamOred, and
offered to take the young girl back to
his home as his wife. Walkup had sew
eral grown children, and it is to their
opposition to the marriage that Mrs.
Ketcham lays her troubles u years ago
and her trial on a charge of murder.
Walkup had represented himself to
the mother and daughter as an i'm
mensely wealthy man, and, before the
wedding took place, Mrs. Wallace and
her daughter were taken to EmpOrIa
for a visit where he showed her many
buildings and much real estate which
belonged to him. Mrs. Wallace and her
daughter were satisfied, and the we'd
ding took place that year.
Walkup died suddenly on August 29,
1885, and it was found that all his
property, amounting to nearly 100000,
had been willed to his girl wife AL
most Immediately after his death it was
discovered that the day before Mrs.
Walkup had purchased a quantity of
arsenic at an EmpOTia drug store, tell
ing the druggist she wanted 1t for her
complexion.
A post mortem showed that Wall<up
had died of arsenical poisoning, and
when the fact of Mrs. Wall1up's pur-
chase became known she was arrested
and charged with murder. Walkup's
family were active in the prosecution,
which attracted attention all over the
country. They had turned their backs
on her when she came to EmpOria, and
had asserted that their stepmOther had
not the most savory reputation in the
world
After her acquittal Mrs. Walkup re-
turned to New Orleans to her mothers s
boarding house. The will was allowed
to stand and she acquired all of Walk
ups fortune. She made an effort to go
on the stage and tried to procure an
enga cement with Henry Greenwald Of
New York, who refused to take her
Ex-Governor William Pitt Kellogg of
New Orleans with whom her name had
been linked before her wedding to
Walkup, took her to Washington.
Mrs. Ketcham came to Chicago di-
rect from a European trip two years
ago, with her fortune, it is said, pretty
much depleted, though she still had left
sufficient to buy the cOmmodious house
at 3421 Indian avenue.
Mrs. Ketcham denied everything con-
nected with her former career except
her trial for murder
1.-The stories of my conduct in New
Orleans are lies gotten up to injure
me-" she said. 4 have got plenty of
friends there who Will refute them.
Why, 1 can show telegramS from the
best people in New Orleans and from
the members OF the supreme court con-
graduating me on my acquittal at En-
poria. [ was only a young girl then,
and my husbands relatives were jeal-
Gus of me and wanted his property. 1
have nothing to say against my treat
ment by Mr.. Ketcham'S s relatives. They
have treated me fairly, and 1 am glad
the inquest is to be held. [ expected
there would be something like this talk
as soon as it was known Mr. ketcham
had left his property to me"
To add to the sensation caused by the
statement of the Milwaukee minister,
Keller left the Thirty-fifth street police
station Tuesday night about 10 o'clock,
after having answered numerous ques-
tions with what the police claim, were
evasive replies with permission to re-
turn to the Ketcham house at 3421 In
diana avenue. He did not return to
his mistress home however, and inquiry
by the different police stations today
developed the fact that he had not been
seen since his departure from the Thir-
ty-fifth street station last night The
police believe that Keller, implicitly
trusted as he was by his mistress, has
left the city in order that no words of
his may involve her in further trouble.
1t was said this afternoon. that the
police knew more about the disappear
ance of Keller than they are willing to
admit After being put through the
''sweat box process by Lieut.. Creigh-
ton, last night, he was held at the sta
ton until IL o'clock, it is said.
It is claimed that the police are hold
ing Keller somewhere in Hyde Park
and will guard him until he is wanted.
The police refuse to make any state
ments in regard to this story. but from
the fact that Lieutenant Creighton to-
day doubled the number of officers de-
tailed on the matter, it is believed some
new developments have been reached.