The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-18
ETCHAM'S WIDOW IN A NET.
ACCUSED OF HAVING MARRIED
kELLAR, THE BUTLER.
teriOus Wedding Of Last Septem-
ber-A Bogus BridesFoOm at Mil
! waukee-The Will to be Contested.

CHICAGO. Nov. E.-Relatives Of the late
John B. Ketcham will contest his will IL
such instrument exists. on the grounds
that he was not only Of unsound mind at
the time he may have signed It, but had
been mentally unbalanced for ten months
previous. Mrs. WaIlace's butler, Joseph
Keilar, has suddenly become very impor-
tant factor In the impending litigation.
keIlar says he accompanied Ketcham and
Mrs. Wallace TO Milwaukee September s.
and was a witness to the marriage. Rev.
Mr.. Roberts. OF Milwaukee. who performed
the ceremony. OPENS up rather startling
possibilities by saying. when shown a pho
tograph OF kellar. that the picture more
resembles the man whom he married to
Mrs. Wallace than does the picture OF
Ketcham.
Additional mystery Is thrown about the
case with every development brought forth
by the police in their efforts to ascertain
the facts surrounding his death at the
home Of Mrs. Minnie Wallace Walker
Ketcham. kellar. disappeared Tuesday
evening. after having been held for some
time by Police Lieut.. Creighton. under
cross-examination Of the most severe char
acter regarding the circumstances Of the
alleged marriage Of Mrs. Wallace to
Ketcham last September. The policeman
declared that he had been questioned and
allowed to depart at 10 o'clock. while as a
matter OF fact kellar was locked up on
suspicion aroused by his own story. The
suspicion has been growing upon the po-
lice as the result Of rumors which started
role OF bridegroom at the wedding. and
that he and not Ketcham, stood before
the minister. with his face concealed under
the folds of a scarf.
As the result of this suspicion he was
held over night. and at II o'clock this MORN
ing was driven away In charge Of an officer.
He IL now held by the police, who are able
to produce him at any time he may be
needed.
The alleged wife Of Ketcham is Ill in
bed with nervous prostration. thss ordeal
which she has undergone since the 4eath
of ketcham having been too much for her
strength Criminal proceedings are threat
ened against Mrs. Wallace and several 9TH
er persons. whose names have not been di-
vuiged. but whom Ketchams relatives will
charge with what they call a conspiracy.
Mabel Wallace's First Trial.
EMPoRIA, Kan. Nov. 1.-THE death in
Chicago of John b. Ketcham shortly after
marrying Mabel Wallace. the widow OF
John Walkup, the man for whose murder
she was tried here twelve years ago, recalls
the sensational ending Of the case, IN
which Mrs. Walkup's powerful testimony
secured an acquittal Just as everything
seemed to be against her. The prosecu-
ton claimed that Mrs. Walkup had pur-
chased arsenic while en- route to Empor!a
on her wedding trip. and that she pur-
chased quantities OF the poison while in
Emporia. The sentiment of the town was
for conviction. The climax of the case
was reached when Mrs. walxup was placed
on the stand. She was very beautiful and
wei schooIed and before she finished CIV
ing her testimony the lawyers, jurymen
and Judge wept and the steuographer's eyes
were blinded SO that he could not see to
write. The girl, who had been befriended
by only one man. had captured the hearts
of all who were not directly interested.
verdict Of acauittal was returned.