The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-20
MRS. wALKUP's STORY.
She Tells of the Marriage to ketch-
am mt Milwaukee,.

am at M1AWuukce.
Chicago, November 1S.-Mrs. Minnie
Wallace walkup, with an evident purpose
of divesting her marriage to Millionaire
John b. Ketcham Of all mystery and
sweeping away at once and for all the sto-
ries, lnslnuations and theories Of those
who would discredit her. today told Of the
whole transaction.
She said; II need not speak Of the in
cidents leading up to my consent to become
John b. ketchams wife. That Is another
story now. But as to the trip to Milwaukee
the butler, the hackman, the police the
minister and the newspapers have all told
tneir stories, while | alone have remained
silent. understand that the composite
result is that omebody-anybody but John
Is. keicham-acted as bridegroom and that
obtained my marriage certificate By fraud
10 need to explain why we decided
on a secret marriage? Simply because of
the danger of sensation. Mr.. Ketcham's
divorce from former wife and my own
unhappy experience would undoubtedly
nave been revived in connection With a
pubic announcement of our marriage. We
therefore decided to wed secretly and to go
10 milwaukee, for that purpose. Mr.. Ketch-
~ :, ana 1, accompanied by Butler Joseph
Meier VINO acted as Mr.. Ketchln's valet.
went TO milwaukee, on the evening of Sen
tember %. We went to the planlineton
lsouse, where We secured a suite OF rooms
'oeihg registered as Mr. and Mrs. Young
aha servant This as done simnIv to
insure the secrecy of cur errand.
MT hetcham rose before was awakened
~ me morning and called me. protested
as, e, nI getting up so early, but he had
not slept well and wanted to get our v,ban
dressed wa f-ta
minister, intending to travel in a straetr..
~ tiat our movements might not he krown
at the motel. Mr.. Ketcham wanted "a t6La
Meier with us, but was afraid ba ,,o,iS
GOSSIP when We got back to Chicaro ana
insisted on leaving him behind. When We
nau gone some distance from the hotel We
~ edo, Which we engaged to take us TO
au ,n'i.ster mouse Arriving at a par
sohage. | applied to the coon. ana ,oorna,
mat the minister was away from home ~
ms wife had neighboring clergyman, caiIas
III 10 perform the ceremony. VVbon No
were married we ordered the driv,r ~ ,aI,s
US 10 the railway station. This was far ,hs
purpose OF misleading the hackrnan no tn
uur destination. When he had left MS he.
nihu we walked back to the hotel whers
~ ,o.a ahlas.ea and left 'or Chicago on The
II o'clock train. Contrary to mn w.s,,es
Mr.. hetoham told Keller when We retnrno,
" the hotel that we were married.
=, MIS-. htteham went into other data;is re
ny MiI"aukoc trip AMI reiterated her viii.
,nsness 10 answer any questions that re-
'na'hcu subject OF doubt or mystery.
Emporla, Kan, November 1.-THE dea,,
OF John B. Ketcham in Chicago shortly
after marrying Mabel Estelle Wallace mo
widow Of John R. Walkup. the man for
whose murder she was tried here t,ve,ve
years ago. recalls the sensational ending
OF the case which Mrs. walkups powerful
testimony secured an acquittal lust nc
everything seemed 10 be going against her
The prosecution claimed that Mrs. WaIkun
had purchased arsenic while en- route ~
Emporia on her wedding trip and that sbs
purchased quantities of the poison in EN-
poria, The sentiment OF the town was for
conviction. The defense did not DEM that
Walkup was poisoned with arsenic. hui
SAID he look an overdose while taking the
poison for medicine
The climax OF the case was reached when
irs' Waikup was placed on the stand She
was very beautiful and well schooled. and
before she finished giving testimony The
lawyers, 1urymen and judges wept, and the
sterographers eyes were blinded 10 that
ne could not see 10 write The girl who
had been bcfriended only by one man had
captured the hearts of all who were M,
directly interested. and they were ready 10
swear that she was innocent OF the he,nS
Gus crime laid at hsr door. A verdict of
acquir'al was returped y
Shortly after the trial Mrs. Walkup left
Einporia, and very little has been heard 30
her. The three children OF Mr. Waitnn
All live in Emporia, They are Mrs iohp
Martin. wife OF the son OF ex-Unitsd s,a,ss
senator Martin. Mrs. Harry Hood wbose
husband Is ssn Of Major Hood ana ver,
wealthy steckman, and w. r.. Walkun,