The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-18
EETCHAN SENSATION.
New Developments in the Death Of
the Chicago Millionaire.
PERHAPS A FAKE" MARRIAGE.

Intinntions That joe Keller. Mrs.
WaIknp's Butler, Personated John
h. Ketoham In tho Milwaukee Mar
rIage eCeremony-Wiilt TO bo Contested
Chicago, Nov. -18.--Relatives of the
late John B. Ketcham will contest his
will, II such an instrument is in exist
ence, on the ground that he was not
only. Of unsound mind at the time he
may have signed 1t, but for ten months
previous. Ketcham's two brothers and
two sisters will also deny that their
brother was legally married TO Minnie
Wallace Walkup. They will claim that
he was entirely incapable of making
any kind of contract at the time OF
the alleged marriage, or indeed for
year previous. Attorney James Il. Pur-
nell, who has charge of the case for
the Ketchams has already served no
tice on the Illinois Trust and Savings
bank to restrain Mrs. Walkup from
having access to the safety box in
which tile dead clubman kept his Sc
curlties.
Mrs. Walkup's butler. Joe Keller, has
suddenly become very important
factor in the pending litigation. Keller.
John Ketcham and Mrs. Walkup to
Milwaukee on Sept. "a and was wit
ness to the ceremony which made them
man and wife. Rev. Mr.. Roberts. of
Milwaukee. who performed the cere=
mony. opens W rather startling PCS
gibilities'by saying, when shown pho
tograph Of Keller, that the picture
mach more resembles the man whom
he married to Mrs. Walkup than did
the picture Of John B., Keteham.
Eeveral Of the buffers prominent feat
ures, including a small mustache,
which was not popularity of Mr..
Ketcham, were carefully noted by the
Rev. Mr.. Roberts. as common to both
kellar and the bridegroom Of Sept. "a.
To add to the sensation caused by
the statement of the Milwaukee min
lister the butler. Keller, has dlsap-
peared.- Keller left the Thrty-fifth
street police station Tuesday night
about 10 o'clock, after having answered
numerous questions with what the po-
lice claim were evasiye replies. with
permission to return to the Ketcham
house at 1921 Indiana avenue. He md
not return there, however, and inquiry
ut the different police stations de-
veloped the fact that he had not been
seen since his departure from the
Thirty-f1fth street station house Tues
day night. The police profess to be-
lieve that Keller, implicitly trusted as
he was by his mistress, has left tho
-lA. L., ~, hat I, - hi II
involve her in further trouble.
1t was said today that the police
knew more about the disappearance
of Keller than they were willing to ad-
init. After being put through the
"sweat box" process by Lieutenant
Creighton he was held at the station
until II o'clock, 1t is said. 1t is claimed
that the police are holding Keller some
where in Hyde Park, and will guard
him until he Is wanted. The police
refuse to make any statement in re-
gard to the story, but from the fact
that LIEUTENANT Creighton yesterday
doubled the number of officers detailed
On the matter 1t is believed some new
developments have been reached.
The death of Mr.. Ketcham. shortly
after his alleged marriage to Mabel
Estelle Wallace, the widow Of John r..
walkup, the man for whose murder
me was tried at Emporia, Kan. 10
4. years ago, recalls the sensational end
Ing of the case, In which Mrs. Walkup's g
powerful testimony secured an ac-
auittal Just as everything seemed to
be going against her.
The prosecution claimed that Mrs.
Walkup had purchased arsenic while
On route to Emporia on her wedding
trip, and that she purchased quanti-
ties of the poison In Emporia. The
sentiment Of the town was for con-
viction. The defense did not deny that
walkup was poisoned with arsenic, but
said he took an overdose while taking
the poison for medicine.
The climax of the case was reached
when Mrs. Walkup was placed on ths
stand. She was very beautiful and well
sciooled, and before she finished giving
testimony the lawyers. jurymen and
audge wept and the stenographer's eyes
were blinded so that he could not sec
to write. The girl who had been be"
friended by only one man had cap
tured the hearts of all who were not
directly interested and they were ready
10 swear that she was innocent. A yer.
dict Of acquittal was returned.
Shortly after the trial Mrs. Walkul
left Emporia. The three children OF
MI. Walkup all live In Emporin. They
are Mrs. John Martin, wife of ths sor
Of sx-United States Senator Martin
Mrs. Harry Hood, whose husband is Q
son Of Major Hood, and a wealthy ant
prominent stock man, and w. r. Walk
Np. q farmer.