davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
THE HAcKMAN's STORY.
Says the Bridegroom was a HLittIe
Sawed Off Fellow"

Chicago Nov. 19.-Statements made
by Tom Riley. the Milwaukee hack
man. who drove Mrs. Minnie Wallace
Walkup to Rev. J. p. Roberts to be
married on the morning OF September
"a last. tend to strengthen the claim
of John 3. Ketcham's relatives. that
he was not the groom of the occasion.
According to his story, which is cor
rObOrated by Miss Mary ATiersch and
Mrs. w. A. Hunsberger, the woman
with the dark hair married a man
much shorter than she is. Riley de-
scribed the groom in the strange af-
fair as "a little sawed-on fellow a foot
shorter than the woman"
Miss Anna Aiersch, who witnessed
the ceremony, declared too, the man
was much shorter than the woman, so
much shorter than she exclaimed to
herself: What little man to marry
such a large, fine looking woman"
John B. Ketcham was not a little
saWed-Off man" He was fully feet
10 inches in height, Minnie Wallace is
not more than 3 feet inches. Ac-
cOrdingly, between the description of
the groom of September "a and the
true Ketcham. there is a difference of
over one foot in size.
Mrs Hunsberger describes the
groom as a small man, certainly small
er than the woman.
1t is almost certain, however, that
Keller, the butler, was not substituted
for John 3. Ketcham.
All agree the principal In the secret
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
LOOKING FOR POISON.
Ketcham Inquest is Again Postponed
Until Tuesday

Chicago, Nov. 19.-When the inquest
upon the body of John B. Ketcham was
resumed today another continuance
was taken until next Tuesday. This
was done in order to allow the coroner
and the police time to go to each of the
drug stores at which medicine was pro-
cured for Ketcham. when he was i'll to
compare the prescription file with those
now in the possession of the physician
who issued them. This is done to de-
termine if the prescriptions were in any
way changed after they left the hands
of DR.. DeVeney.
Dr. Noel, the coroners physician has
as yet made no report either verbal, or,
written on the Ketcham case. After
making a superficial examination on
the day of the postmOrtem operation
on the stomach, DR.. Noel remarked
that there was a slight trace of aka
lOid. He said it was probably due to-
the medicine Ketcham had taken. 1t is
to settle this point that the examina-
tion of the prescriptions in the different
drug stores is to be made.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
ED LITTLE'S PLANS.
Reported That He Will Succeed
Chancellor Snow.

What would the people of Kansas think
of this?
Z. c. Little. chancellor State University
of Kansas, successor to F. H. Snow.
That Mr.. Little will sign his name in
that manner within a year is not i'm
probability 1t has leaked out at the
with that end in view, and if the reports
be correct he will have the support of
the administration and certain members
of the board of Hegents of the institution
nave already promised to use their intiu-
ence to secure the position for him
w hateVer work has been done up to
date has been very quietly carried on. 1t
Mr- Little who are working in his inter
ests to accomplish their work without in
reference from the public
Yet, in an unguarded moment. one of
the men who is doing all in his power
to aid Mr. Little, today gave the secret
away for newspaper men, and unfOrtun-
ately for him. failed to swear the re-
porter TO secrecy.
Mr.. Little is graduate of the univer-
S1ty. He was a leader in his classes, and
by his extensive travels and study has
become one of the most epunent men in
Kansas. He is of literary taste and has
always been prominent in the educational
circles OF this state.
He was superintendent of the city
schools at LeavenWOrth and achieved
much success. He was one of the leaders
a the university and aspireS TO become
the head of that great institution
There is some question. not perhaps of
personal criticism of Mr.. Little. among
the people of this state, to the advis-
it would be a calamity to lose the serv-
ices of Chancellor Snow.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
mrs. KEroHAM's STORY.
Gives a Detailed Account of Her Trip
to Milwaukee, and the Marriage.

Chicago, Nov 19.-Mrs. Minnie Wal
lace Walkup, with an evident purpose
OF divesting her marriage to John B.
ketcham of all mystery and sweeping
away once for all the stories, inSinua-
tions and theories OF those who would
discredit her, today told of the whole
transaction.
I need not speak of the incidents
leading up to my consent to become
John Ketcham's wife. That is an old
story now" she said, but of our trip
to Milwaukee, the butler, the hack
man, the police, the minister and the
newspapers. have all told their stor-
les, while L alone have remained 81
lent. 1 understand that the composite
result is that mebody-anybO body but
John B. Ketcham-acted as bridegroom
and that 1 obtained my marriage GER
tifcate by fraud
DO I need to explain why we de-
cided on a secret marriage? Simply
because Of the danger of a sensation
Mr.. Ketchams divorce from a former
wife and my own unhappy experience
would undoubtedly have been revived
in connection with a public announce
ment of our marriage. We therefore
decided to wed secretly, and to go to
Milwaukee for the purpose
Mr.. Ketcham and I, accompanied
by Butler Joseph Keller, who acted as
Ketcham's valet, went to Milwaukee
on the evening u September %. We
went to the PlankingtOn house where
we secured a suite of rooms, being reg
istered as Mr. and Mrs Young and SER
want. This was done simply to insure
the secrecy of our errand. Mr.. Ketch-
am arose before l was awake the next
morning and called me. I protested
against getting up so early, but he had
not slept and wanted to get out. When
We were dressed we started out to find
a minister, intending to travel in
street car. so that our movements
might not be known at the hotel. Mr..
Ketcham wanted to take Keller with
us, but I was afraid he would gossip
when we got back to Chicago and I
insisted on leaving him behind. When
we had gone some distance from the
hotel we met a cab. which we engaged
to take US to the minister's.
ARRIVING at the parsonage, I applied
at the door and learned that the min
lister was away from home, but his wife
had a neighbOring clergyman called in
to perform the ceremony. When we
were married we ordered the driver to
take us to the railway station. This
was for the purpose of misleading the
hackman as to our destination. When
he had left US we walked back to our
hotel where we breakfaSted and left
for Chicago on the IL o'clock train.
Contrary to my wishes Mr.. Ketcham
told Keller when he returned to the
hotel that we were married"
Mrs. Ketcham went into other details
of the Milwaukee trip and reiterated
her willingness to answer any ques-
tionS that remained a subject of doubt
or mystery.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19

nuptials was really a very sick man.
His face was thin, drawn and haggard
He looked as though he had suffered
for months. Keller, as near as can be
ascertained, has for months past look
ed well and healthy.
Further, from available Information,
the butler stayed behind at the Plank
inStOn House during the ceremony. It
was not until all was over and the
couple had been driven to the depot,
that he left the hotel. He settled the
bill for "A. 3. Young, wife and serV-
ant Boston as the trio appeared up
on the register. But whoever was the
groom he was apparently completely
and wholly in the power of the Wom-
an The evidence of Riley as to
Ketcham's actions, if it We're he, fur
nishes al the elements for a story of
hypnotism. The man seemed dazed and
obliVious to everything and spoke only
in the house when answering the nee
essary questions In the hack while
waiting outside he did not say a word,
although Riley tried several times to
engage him in conversation.
Friends of the dead club man have
little hope of being able to prove But
Ter Keller, or any other man, took the
place of Mr.. Ketcham in the marriage
ceremony.
According to Attorney Purnen, the
main contention will be that Mr..
Ketcham was of unsOund mind.
I'VE don't care whether there was
legitimate marriage or a fake one by
proxy" said Attorney -Purnen, ''wheth-
er there is a marriage certificate or a
will, we will prove that John B.
Ketcham was of unsOund mind and
thoroughly incapable of being a party
to any agreement, or contract, that
would hold in law"
Attorney Purnen, nevertheless, has
representative in Milwaukee inVesti-
eating the marriage.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
LOST IN THE BAY.
Fierce Storm Rages on the Pa
ciffc Coast.
Blows Down the Custom House
at Portland.
RECORDS ARE LOST.
Whereabouts of Four Big
Steamers in Doubt
Great Damage Done on the
Land and Sea.
RECORDS ARE LOST.

Portland, Oregon, Nov. 19-=FOr the
past "a hours, a furious wind and rain
storm has prevailed over the entire
north Pacific coast. The wind reached
a velocity of so miles per hour and the
rain fall for "a hours has been about
31a inches. The weather has been warm,
which has melted the snow in the foot
hills, causing rapid rise in the streams
The storm played havoc with trees, Dill
boards, awnings, signs and electric
wires in the city and telephone and
telegraphic service was seriously inter-
rupted.
A message from Yauquina Bay says
a heavy storm is raging there. The
custom house was blown down and the
records of the Office losf in the bay. The
telephone wires are prOstrated and con-
siderable damage has been done to
small craft on the bay.
San Francisco, Nov. ia southwest
hurricane is raging along the coast
from Eureka. to Cape Flattery, having
moved south from Oregon. The steam
ers State of California, Umatilla, Pres
ident, and Truckee are over due. The
Humboldt, after considerable trouble in
crossing the bar, succeeded in reaching
the port of Eureka.
Tacoma, Wn., Nov. .19.-ChinOOk winds
and rain are playing havoc throughout
western Washington Telegraph lines
are down in all directions, rivers and
small streams are swollen, railroads are
suffering from WaShOutS and Hooded
tracks.
The government telegraph wires have
been Frustrated between Port Angeles
and TattOsh, and Cape Flattery.
The Ledger specials say mountain
streams swelled the SHdkOmish river
beyond the highest mark ever known.
Traffic has been abandoned on the Ev-
erett and Monte CristO road. Ranch
ers along the bottom land are hurrying
to places of safety.
Everett, Wash, Nov. 19.-The water
in the SkikOmish and StillQuamish riv-
ers is higher than ever before known.
The Great Northern track between
Sultan and Index is practically all
washed away. At Admiralty Head the
new wharf for the government fOTtifi-
cations was wrecked by the wind
The White river started to rise on
Wednesday afternoon. BY morning il
had risen nine feet and was climbing
up its banks at the rate of four inches
an hour. A mile above Humboldt, the
water broke out of the river banks and
Overrun the lOwlands.
The Stick river is going up at the
rate of ten feet every "A hours. All the
bottom lands on both sides are sub
merged.
At Lowell the wharf of the paper mill
is submerged and the river is rising
rapidly.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
THE SHERRY FAILURE.
Henry Sherry Makes Seven Assign
ments Amounting to $5o5,O 900.

Oshkosh, Wis. ,Nov19.-At $50 o'clock
last evening. the extensive interests Of
Henry Sherry, scattered throughout
northern Wisconsin, passed out of his
possession and control and into the
hands of James w" Cameron of Mil
waulee, to be conserved and managed
for the benefit of Mr.. Sherry's credi-
tors
There were seven assignments filed.
that of Mr.. Sherry individually and
those of six companies, whose financial
ability was closely interlinked with Mr.
Sherry's estate, namely. IngersOl Land
and Lumber company, Elan Wis; Park
Falls Lumber company, Park Fails,
Wis; Park Falls Paper and Pulp com
pany; Sherry Lumber company, Aniwa.
Wis; Mineral Lake Lumber company.
Mineral Lake, Wis. Sutton Manufac-
turing company, Parks Falls; The Ma
tionaI Surety company of New York is
security for the assignee in the full
amount of $500, ,00O.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
BANKERS GRIEVANCE.
Express Companies Charge Too Much
for Carrying Money.

There is trouble ahead for the ex-
press companies in Kansas The Kan
sas bankers have declared war upon
them and in case of failure to receive
the concessions they think they are en-
title to, it is claimed, that they viii
ask the legislature to make some laws
governing express companies as well
as banks.
The agitation is the result of a move
ment on the part of the bankers assO-
citation which was held at Wichita to
have the express companies reduce
their rates for carrying currency.
There is but one officer of the assO
citation in Topeka and he is Frank NJ.
BOnebrake, assistant cashier of the
Central National bank who is secretary
Of the state association. He said:
THE association thinks that the ex-
press companies charge too much for
carrying currency. A few years ago the
charge per thousand between Kansas
City and Topeka was 40 cents. Right
in the hardest times the companies
without any warning raised the rates
to so cents a thousand. We consider
this unfair and we will make some eff
fort to secure some reduction in these
charges.
THE express companies do Il money
order business The banks cash their
orders everywhere for the companies
do not go to the trouble of carrying
any money to meet their orders. They
say to a man who asks for money on
an order. Just take it to a bank.
They Will cash it for you and the
banks do It Then they charge US so
cents thousand to bring the money
from Kansas City which is used to pay
their own orders. They do a banking
business without any capital we
would not object to their doing the
business but let them use their own
money
Mr. BOnebrake says that many
bankers are sending their currency by
registered mail They insure the de-
livery with a certain insurance com
pany and the charges for insurance,
postage and all are but 40 cents per
thousand dollars. He says that he has
heard nothing about a boycott or what
measures viii be taken when the leg
islature meets.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
TWO NEW COUNTERFEITs.
Bogus Silver Certificate and National
Bank Note Discovered.

Washington, Nov. 19.-The secret
service bureau announces the discov-
cry of a new counterfeit ten dollar sill
YER certificate, and also a counterfeit
national bank note. The silver certifi-
cate is Photographic production
printed on two pieces of paper and
pasted together No attempt has been
made to color the back of the note.
which is a shade of brown instead of
green The seal is cOlOred a bright
pink. The note is badly printed and
the lathe work is blurred and indis-
tnct- The national bank note is one
on the First National bank Of Joplin
Mo. series of 1882 1t is also printed on
two pieces of paper and the silk fiber
in the genuine is initiated by pen and
ink marks.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
POOL ROOMS MAY RUN.
Cubbison Law is Declared Unconsti-
tutionaI at Kansas City. Kan

Judge H L. Fisher of Kansas City,
Kan, who presideS over one of the
courts of WyandOtte county, created
by the legislature to do away with the
courts of justices of the peace except
in cases where less than $1.O0 is in
volved, has decided that the section Of
the CubbisOn anti-gambling law per-
tanning to pool rooms in uncOnstitu-
tiOnal
A popularity of the law creating this
new tribunal leaves the state no ap-
peal as the decision of the court is
made final To secure any further
hearing the county attorney must bring
a new case and institute proceedings
in the district court.
Under Judge Fishers decision pool
rooms may be conducted in this state,
although the Cubbison law was framed
especially to prevent that practice. The
case in point was against four writer's
in a Kansas City, Kan, pool room.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
KILLED PIGS IN TOWN.
Secretary of State Porter of Nebraska
Arrested on an Odd Charge.

Lincoln, Neb., Nov 19.-Secretary of
State w. F. Porter was arrested last
within the city limits. He was re-
leased on his own recognizance and will
have his hearing in police court to-
morrow.
Secretary Porter followed agricul-
tural pursuits before being elected and
raised his own supply of pork on his
Merrick county farm. He saw no rea-
son to discontinue this practice since
coming to Lincoln. and today, with
General Kelsey. the Omaha common
veal leader, an employe in his office
had nearly finished the work of slaugh-
tering four hogs at his home, when City
Health Officer Rhode appeared and
caused his arrest.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
PERMANENT KANSAS SHOW
An Exhibit of Agriculture and Min
eraI Products Established in
Kansas CITY.

H. c. Owens of BeIoit is in Kansas
City having secured in the Nelson
building a central office for the exhibit
of Kansas agricultural and mineral
products. This exhibit viii be contin-
ued in Kansas City during the winter
for the purpose of attracting attention
towards this state.
It was planned at the annual meeting
Of the Kansas real estate agents asso-
citation at LeavenwOrth October IL. The
membership Of the ASSOCIATION IS pleds-
ed to secure exhibits and forward them
to Kansas City where the public viii be
given an opportunity to inspect them
Mr. Owens will be there to tel the pee
DIe about the state and the price Of
land
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
NANSEN'S NEXT TRIP.
The Explorer Will Head a Larger
and Better Equipped Expedition.

Christiania, Nov 19.-Hjalmar Jo-
hannes, the Norwegian army officer,
who was with DR.. .FridtjOf NanSen in the
latter's recent Arctic expedition, re-
ferring to the plans of the doctors
next trip north, says arrangements
have already been made for a sojOurn
in Franz JOsefland.
The Fran, Nansen's ship, will be ac-
companied by a large vessel called the
Shareholder.
There will be many more dogs and
more scientific men and one of the
ships will advance through the ice un-
til it becomes ice bound. From there,
sled expeditions viii start north. The
other ship viii go along the ice bor-
der, making scientific researches in the
ice, in the water and at the bottom of
the sea.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
YALE-PRINCETON GAME.
Odds of 2 to on the Tigers-Great
Rush for Sents.

New Haven, Conn, Nov. 19.-Nothing
but foot ball is talked of here today. In
preparation for the great match which is
to be played on Yale field tomorrow be
tween the Princeton Tigers and the sons
of Eli, the most exorbitant prices for
seats are asked and in many cases paid.
The prevailing flgures are SO for y seats
lieved al least 5000 persons will be turned
away. 1t has been discovered that quite
a number of counterfeit tickets have
reached the city, and trouble is anticipat-
ed at the field tomorrow. Princeton: it
Tigers.
David A. Twitchell, president of the
Yale Foot Ball association has issued an
official statement which says:
The gates at the field will be opened
at II O'Clock noon, the game will be
called sharply at p. m, and no simple
admission ticket. providing for standing
room will be sold. Every spectator must
occupy q reserved seat"
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
Herbert Fish Getting Well Though
Minus Sight and Smell.

Valparaiso. Ind. Nov. 19.-Herbert J.
Fish, a candidate for the Valparaiso
postoffice, put a thirty-eight caliber
bullet through his brain November 4,
in a fit of insanity, and is still alive and
getting well.
The bullet passed through the right
and left anterior hemispheres of the
BRAIN lodging finally in the posterior
bone wall of the left eye socket. In
it's course the ball destroyed a large
amount of brain matter, destroying the
sense of smell and cut the optic nerve
of each eye. The physicians think
his mental condition will be weakened.
right. At times he is rational, but
does not believe that he shot himself
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
STEAMER GOES ASHORE
The Truckes, Lumber Laden, Aground
Up the Umuqua River

MarshfieId, Oregon, Nov. 19.-News
has reached here that the steamer
Truckee, bound from Tillamook to San
Francisco, lumber-Iaden, went ashore
on the north spit of the Umuqua river.
The Umuqua life saving crew made
three unsuccessful attempts to reach
the steamer.
The sea. was very rough and was
did not appear to be breaking over her.
The Umuqua river is 20 miles up the
coast from here and has no wire COM
municatiOn.
The Truckee has a register of 342 tons
and is owned by the Truckee Lumber
company of San Francisco.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
ROLLED DOWN THE BANK.
Horse Goes Over the Side of the"FiIl"
at the New Bridge.

Today at the new bridge where the
''flr' on the south bank is being made a
teamster drove his wagon too near the
edge of the bank and his horse fell down
nearly to the edge of the water. The
animal was unable to get up, so Superin-
tendent Gaines had a rope tied around
the horses body and team of horses
was hitehed to it and they pulled the ami
NAL up the incline to the street level.
The III will have been completed by
this evening, when work will be begun at
filling the valleys between the spans
and bringing them to a surface for the
roadbed. The new bridge is now prac-
ticauy finished except for this work.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
THE FREE HOSPITAL.
What Should be Done to Keep it Go.
ing

After January the Salvation Army
hospital viii be operated with a capacity
of Is patients. Until that time. ac-
count of the shortness of funds, the num-
Der of beds will be reduced. It is an
iron-clad rule of the SalvatiOnists not to so
in debt for anything. and this viii be
observed in the anagement of the hos
pitaL From now until January l only
emergency cases viii be received, as the
subscriptions viii only warrant this much.
An appeal will be made to the people of
Topeka to subscribe funds sufficient for
the maintenance of this free hospital
The city ought to help support the in
stitution 1t really supplies the place of
the free hospital which most cities sup
port,
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
Peru wants to Arbitrate.

Washington, Nov. 19.-The Peruvian
minister. DR.. Eguigeren- was among
Secretary Sherman's callers today. He
came to talk over the last demand of
our government for a settlement of the
McCord claim, and he has now in re
turn proposed to arbitrate the case.
This proposition is not acceptable to
our government and the negotiations
oonfinT1o
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
SLOT MACHINES.
Declared to bs Legal by Judge Cox
of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis, Ind, Nov 19.-Several
days ago the police authorities, in war
ring upon all kinds of gambling. gave
orders that the slot machine must go.
and many stores hastily removed the
Objectionable device to the cellar. P.
J. O'Meara, tobacconist, rebeIed
against the order, and his arrest fol-
lowed.
To-day Judge Cox ruled that the slot
machine was not a violation within the
meaning of the law, inasmuch as
O'Meara gave something for every
penny invested in the device. The case
may go to the supreme court.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
New Fruit Steamers for Jamaica.

Boston, Nov LIT is reported that
the Cramps are building four 270O-ton
boats for the Boston Fruit company.
a syndicate of bankers in different cit
les viii own the vessels and charter
them to the above company, which will
be able to obtain a subsidy in carrying
the mails between this country and ia
naica as American vessels. They will
be 29O feet long and SO feet beam. with
a passenger accommodation for 100
each
The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-19
"THE WIDOW JONES"
May Irwin's Great Success is Booked
by Manager Crawford.

Manager Crawford today booked '"The
Widow Jones' one of Charles FrOhman $
productions. for the Crawford theater in
Uhis city next month. This is the piece in
which May Irwin made a decided hit
when it was first produced, and her place
is now filed by Flo Irwin. her sister. The
date of the production has not yet been
settled, but Mr.. Crawford is endeavoring
to make it Christmas night.
Manager Crawford has also booked
James O'Nen and Walker Whiteside for
this citV