Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-20


Ketcham Their Marriage in Sep
TENDER Followed by Ketcham's
Death in November.
Chicago, November 19-The claim
set up by Mrs. Wallace, to be the wild
ow Of the late John B. Ketcham, has
attracted a great deal of attention to
her career.
Mabel Estelle Wallace was born in
New Orleans, of Creole parentage, and
is the daughter of lawyer. She grew
up to be beautiful girl, and became
we'll known about town, numbering
among her admirers many prominent
business men. One of these was bank
cashier, who wrecked the institution in
supplying her luxurious tastes.
Her first matrimonial venture was
July rs, 1885, when she became the
Emporia, Kansas. She was then only
16 years Of age Mayor Walkup's early
death after marriage aroused suspicion,
and his child-widow was put on trial
for poisoning him.
In describing the trial of Mrs Wal
kup at Bmporia, Albert Phenis, who re-
ported the case for a Kansas City pa
per, says: GAS reporter for the Kan
sas City Times I attended the trial Of
Minnie Wallace Walkup, the woman
who now calls herself Mrs. Mabel Es-
telle Wallace, when she was charged
with the murder Of her first husband,
James X. Walkup, exMayor of En-
poria, Kansas On account Of the mar
velous beauty Of the young girl-widow
the case attracted degree Of interest
which set the little city of Emporia all
agog, and in all of that section of the
west and portions Of the south the trial
was the absorbing topic Of discussion.
"The trial had been On day or two
when I arrived, and l found a kind Of
hypnotic influence to have been exert
ed by the fascinating creature, which
the trial, which had been sent out by
the susceptible young members of the
local press. And although loyalty to
my profession compelled me to take an
entirely different view from that enter
tanned by these reporters, l must con-
fess that I could hardly blame the fell
i,,fo CT "a
was a most bewtching beauty. Al
though only 16 years old, she had rip
ened in the south, and she was as fully
developed as most northern girls at ~.
Her form was the perfection OF plump
ness, her head was well shaped, and the
coil of raven black hair, wore low, hall
hid. half revealed an alabaster-like
neck. Her every feature was alluring.
Pink. shell-like ears; large. black de-
mure eyes, with long dropping lashes;
full red lips and perfect teeth of pearly
whiteness, these combined with COM
plexion which reminded one of roses in
milk. made a picture which was cal
culated to arouse the interest and gain
the championship Of those even who
believed her guilty of the crime with
which she stood charged.
"The story of her life, her marriage
and her husbands death was all
brought out in a trial lasting over two
weeks. The court house was packed
to suffocation at every session; coun-
try people came in early, brought their
lunches and remained all day; travel
ing men went out of their way to catch
a glimpse of the beautiful girl. The
girl was defended by half dozen law
yers of more than local fame, some
of whom were friends of her family,
who went from the South and voiun-
teered their services The State was
also represented, the principal attor-
ney for the prosecution being a young
attorney named Lambert, who had
been a protege of Bob Ingersoll while
the latter had law Office at Peoria,
Ills. A very wealthy Emporian nam
ed William Jay had ardently espoused
the young woman's cause Immediately
following her arrest, and he gave lib
orally of his means in her defense,