The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-28

examination OF Mr.. Ketcham's brain be
made to establish an insanity basis for
\ breaking the viii.
| All these controversies did not take
place, however, without police inierfer-
ence. Officers We're placed in charge OF
the house, and the valet, Joe Keller. was
arrested and put through sweat box
proceedings, which resulted in disclos-
| ing the most OF the story as II is now
told. But his testimony was favorable
to the wife. and 1t proved to the satisfac
ton OF most people that the marriage
! actually took place in Milwaukee. Il
also established the actions and doings
Of Mr.. Ketham during the period of the
few months preceding his sudden death.
WILL CONTEST TO COME.
1t is not at all likely that the family
OF the dead clubman viii sit idly and see
his property go to the woman whom
i they are all said 10 dislike. Mr.. Ket-
cham's real name and personal property
is considerable, perhaps s50o.oo0, and
| lawyers have been retained 10 fight the
will. That the document exists there can
| be no question. The action Of the 0ppos-
J ing party viii take one of two directions.
| Tney max seek TO invalidate the will
| on the ground that Ketchan's mind was
affected at the time it was drawn and
that he was not capable OF handling MS
property. Then again, they may at
tempt to prove that it was not John B..
Ketcham at all who went through the
| marriage ceremony at Milwaukee. Their
attorney. j. E. Purnell, has insinuated
= har II
Ketcham did not go through the GER
emony at all, and that ne was out %
his mind for several weeks preceding
1t. 1t is hinted that the valet, Joe Kel-
Ter, acted as his employers proxy, but
this obstruction is likely to prove OF
little avail, as people VINO were present
, at the Hunsoerger home in Milwaukee
have identified Mr.. Ketcham by photo
graph.
However, the courts will be asked TO
untangle the complications. Mrs. Ket-
cham's demand 20 be the sole executor
OF the win will be made or Tuesday
and then will begin a struggle for su-
premacy between the dead mans rel
atives and the woman who has been
pursued from childhood by the dark
shadow of destiny which she seems
unable 30 shake off.
LEGAL POINTS IN CASE.
Mrs. John B. Ketchams case from the
beginning has been one continuous the
atrical performance, largely consisting
OF tragedy, but occasionally intermixed
with everything from melodrama TO
fare comedy. When the curtain falls on
<pa o,~f ha vii fpg ha
have so far appeared and any that may
come upon the stage hereafter will have
received their just deserts, as they gen.
orally do, to the entire satisfaction OF
the audience-Thich in this case is the
public.
There has been nothing deep or mys-
teripus about this case and all the dark
and sensational accusations made in GER
tain quarters against a woman standing
almost alone in the world are without
the slightest foundation.
Is there anything strange about a man
marrying a woman he loves, and then
making a will leaving her his property?
Why, then, ali this sensation? 1t can
be easily explained by using the old
biblical quotation: where the carcass
is there shall the vultures be ga .hered
together"
Ny observations 80 far in this extra
ordinary case necessarily suggest a few
important points:
First: Coroner-Regardless OF the fact
that a certificate OF death by natural
causes had been issued by a physician
of the highest standing. the coroner
summariiy took possession OF the body
of Mrs. KetchanIs husband. and who
can imagine the ordeal and suffering
she passed through following such an
arbitrary course? 1 think the medieval
power and authority vested in the cor
oner should be abrogated or changed 10
conform 10 the demands OF modern civ
iliZation.
Second: Police-Without any author
ity, warrant o- process of Ia " the police
kidnapped the butler from Mrs. Ket-
c1am's residence and kept him a pris-
oner hidden in different cell for one
night and two days. subjecting him to
the most coarse and brutal treatment.
He was taken from one police station
u another, where he was subjected 10
the outrageous "sveat-box' treatment,
corpus had been ordered by Judge
Payne. Such unconstitutional infringe
ment upon personal liberty is simply
outrageous and should be punished
promptly and severely. and in different
way than the present law permits.
Concluding 1 will say in regard TO |
points mainly discussed by the opposi- /
ton:
First: Marria ge-Afr. and Mrs. Kst +,
cham were legally married. ard where I
a man mas no one but his wife imme- /
diately dependent upon hinn. no matter /
how long they have been married; and |
where. although ne has other relatives. /
they are amply provided for and have /
not lived with 81 sssocia ted with the 4
testator. a gift by him % MS wife OF ali 4
his property is 80 reasonable and natural i
that s1ch VIII could never be regarded /
as the pro5uct either OF fraud or undue !
influence.
Second: Irsanity-It Is hardly posi-
Bile to imagine a case OF a person not ab-
Confined On Sixth Pase)
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