The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-16
KILLED BY DRINK.
Post Mortem Examination Of
Millionaire Ketcham
Removes Suspicion From Min
ME Wallace Walkup.
PROOF OF MARRIAGE.
Records in Milwaukee Show the
Wedding
To Have Taken Place Septem-
ber "a.
The Young Widow Will Have
Money to Burn.
PROOF OF MARRIAGE.

-
examination held by DR.. E. T Hail, OF
the coroner's office, on the body OF
John B. Ketcham, the millionaire bank
er. who died Sunday morning, revealed
the fact that death was due to CHROME
alcoholism, no trace Of any poison Dells
found ,
win be made to the coroner aftef Ii;
Hall has examined the stomach anu
liver.
An inquest will be held by the e,,5G,a cor
One- TODAY at No 3421 Indiana avenue
where Mr. Ketcham died, and II IS
probable that the verdict VIII entlTely
remove the cloud from the young anu
beautiful widow, who was married TO
Mr. .Ketcham September "a, IN MllWau-
kee and who. by the provisions OF his
viii becomes heir to his estate.
At the examination Mrs ketcham
was represented by Dr. DeVengt the
family physician, Dr. J. T. kleron ana
Lawyer d. c. Hansen, who drew the
The post mortem revealed the fact
that the stomach, liver and kidneys
We're all badly diseased, the organs pc
ing reduced to a state where 1t ap-
peared that recovery or even pfOIoA-
cation of life, was impossible.
Dr. Deveng explained that the de-
ceased had for long time been a VIC
tim of alcoholism, and against the eN-
pressed wishes of himself and others
who took an interest in him, he drank
intOxicants steadily and perslstently.
pected and at no time during the last
two months would the news OF his
death have caused him surprise.
George Ketcham, a brother who re-
sides in Toledo is in the city. stopping
at the Auditorium and he was among
those at the Ketcham home. He was
not surprised at his brothers death,
his greatest concern being that
the newspapers took so much in
terest in the affair.
Joseph Keller. the butler employed
toll fr7r4
tody by the police and sharply inter
rogated He said he had always
thought Ketcham and his mistress
We're married until he heard they had
been married in Milwaukee. He said
Ketcham was rational when he made
his will. to which Keller was witness.
Coroner Berse said his reason for in
Vestigating the death Of the million
aire was that some reports of his de-
mise, contained innuendOes of sufficient
strength to warrant a search for their
foundation. No member of the family,
he said, had asked that the death be
investigated, but he thought for the
benefit of the public, all questions of
the nature of Mr.. Ketcham's illness
and demise should be settled.
Milwaukee, Wis, Nov. 16-Minnie
Walkup and John B. Ketcham were
married at the residence of the Rev.
W. A. Huns berger in this city by the
Rev. I. P. Roberts, September q. The
Rev. I. P. Roberts. who was acting for
the Rev. w. a. Hunsberger during the
nothing about the marriage, but the
records snow the ceremony to have
been performed.
According to the story learned from
his widow and from other sources, Mr.
Ketcham was married on September
"a in Milwaukee. 1t had been the in
tentiOn to take wedding trip to the
east but his illness forced him to re-
turn to Chicago and he went at once
to the home of his bride. who has lived
for several years at the Indiana ave
nue. residence.
The malady, cirrhosis of the liver.
which had attacked Mr.. Ketcham some
time before his marriage, again grew
worse. He was out occasionally for a
short drive. but was not seen at the
clubs. and his friends remained in ig-
norance of the change in his residence
and life 1t was only on Tuesday that
his complaint was considered serious.
and not until Saturday that it became
a question of life and death. He failed
rapidly, and died at 11:30 p. m.
His brother, George Ketcham. of To-
ledo, Ohio. was in the city three weeks
ago, and had a talk with him. but none
OF his family was present al his death.
They We're notified by telegraph
The widow has lived at her present
home for nearly five years. and has
been a widow for that time. She is a
handsome brunette, about 26 years of
age MT hetcham had known her for
at least two years before his narriag ge
The name of John B. Ketcham was
well known among the clubs and fash
to Chicago in the spring of 1892 and
took up his residence at the Lexington
hotel From there he removed TO the
Auditorium, where he had lived for
nearly three years.
He was a member of the Calumet.
Chicago, and Chicago Athletic clubs
ana was known wherever wealthy men
congregated He had an office in the
IOnadnOck block and carried on some
business as a capitalist and dealer in
seeuIl3es 3es His stable was the equal
OF any in the city in point of horses
and vehicles, and he took especial
pride in it, He had intended 10 ex-
h1b1t his horses at the recent show. bu+
was prevented by illness
Mr. ketcham was first married to n
dauShter OF V, w. Granger of Toledo
who died about ten years ago. he
then welded Nettie Poe of, the Same
city They were divorced a wear ago
The case attracted much attention st
the time, and Mr.. Ketcharn vas cold
to nave settled $4,000 upon her as the
terms of securing the decree She is
sun llVlng IN Toledo, and was a prouli-
uent figure at the horse show
Mr. Ketcham was the eldest of the
children of Valentine H. Ketcham who
was reputed the wealthiest man in To-
ledo, and a prominent banker faara
At his fathers death he came into nos
session of $500, O0O with which IL
started a private bank on Summit
street, Toledo. This was afterwards
merged into the Ketcham bank. owned
by him and other members of the fam
Ay- He retired from active connection
with this institution when he came to