The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-19
MARRIAGE OK NO MARRIAGE
Heirs of Ketcham VIII Contest on thu
.sUnsound Mind Theory


Chicago, Nov. fS.-Statements made
by Tom Riley, the Milwaukee hack
man VINO drove Mrs. Mabel Wallace
Walkup to Rev. J. P. Roberts TO be
married on the morning of September
"a last, tends TO strengthen the claim OF
John B. Ketcham's relatives that he
was not the bridegroom on the occa-
sion. According to his story, which is
corroporated by Miss Anna Miersch and
Mrs. A. W. Hunsberger, the woman
with the dark hair married a man much
shorter than she is. Riley today de-
scribed the groom in the strange az
fair as little saIwed-off fellow foot
shorter than the woman"
Miss Anna Miersch, who witnessed
the ceremony, declared, too, that the
man was much shorter than the wo-
man, so much shorter that she ex-
claimed 10 herself:
What little man 20 marry such a
large. fine-looking woman"
john Il. Ketcnam was not "a little
sawed-off man." He was fully 5 feet,
10 inches in height. Mabel Wallace is
not mora than feet. inches. Accord
ingly. between the description OF the
groom Of September "a and the true
Ketcharn there - difference Of over
one foot in size.
Mrs. Huns3ergcr describes the groom
as a small man, certainly smaller than
the woman.
1T IS almost certain, however, THAT
Keller. the butler, was not substituted
for Ketc1am.
All agreed that the principal in the
secret nuptials was certainly a very sick
man. His face was thin. drawn and
haggard He looked as though he had
suffered for months. Keller locks. as
near as can be ascert aimed, has, for
months past, looked well in health.
Further, from all available laforma-
ton, the butler stayed behind at the
Plankington house during the ceremony.
II was not until ali vas over and he
couple had been driven 10 the depot that
ne left the hotel He settled the bill
fo- "A p. Young. wife AMI servant,
Boston, as the trio upon the register.
LIKE ONE HYPNOTIZED.
But whoever vas the groom. he was
apparently completely and wholly IN tie
power % the woman. The evidence %
Riley as TO Ketcham's actions. II u were
ne. furnishes all the len9enis f1r
story % hypnotism- The man seemed
dazsi and 05Hvlous 70 everything. and
spoke 0nly IN the house wien answer /
ing the necessary QUESTIONS. IN the (
hack while waiting outside he dii not I
say a word. aitho1gi1 Riley tried several /
times 70 engage hin fn Conversation.
Friends o. the dead csuhn1sn. howev- /
er. have Httle hope OF being able % /
prove tzst Butler Keller. % any o;ne- /
man. took the place 81 Nh. Kefchan n
SIrs marriage ceremony. According 70 I
Pu-neIl. the main contention !
wif % tast Mr. Ketchan Vas .. M \
souaf mind
I'VE Do 10. care whether rslere vas
= legitimate marriage o. fake one ~ !
proxy" said Attorney Purneii To-Day. 4
4" rsastas- there IS a u1zrrfaxe csr:lG- 4
cate % xiT. We All prove that Joan = /
Re.chsn Vas % snSeunt n.nd AMI
iscsp.Sss % beng party
- any agreement o. contract that <ozl9
hold IN law"
Attorney Parns!l nevertheless aas a
in Milwaukee invest
eating TIE marriage,
Paris. Ssy- Is-Tze c5cIsls nave a.
res. Fl a mar. supposed - - Z German
Spy. a. PAzry- SS--M=elie. vilhre
a soz; Twelve rusie- from Mstz. Ga re
pz-Ss ard st-zs5grg rsil-ozA
Les Asxeses. Cal. Nov. fz-Tsse sun
srn PscsHs srgin ESQ L5ns Bes1h -
iais rfSy Fza irsS <sgon ss.is rsssrasnE.
izst iris SIDE q Compton. killing II
= a., s.r--4-s za.5 Af- 4.srs