New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-04
MRS. KETCHAM STRUCK.
INJURED By HALLBOf.
Wife of Congressman dubbed and
Clicked an Apartment House.


In spite of police effort to suppress informa-
ton il became known yesterday that robbery
had been followed by a desperate assault IN the
apartment house, No. 316 West Eighty-second-
st. on Saturday Mrs. Augusta Ketcham. wife
of General John Henry Ketcham, Congressman
from the XVIIIth District, Amsterdam, N Y,
was knocked unconscious by Harry Miller,
negro, employed as a hallboy in the house.
Miller esca ped, and was still at large yesterday.
Mrs. Ketcham's collarbone was broken. her
head was cut severely and her body was
bruised. Besides striking her with a piece of
gaspipe fourteen inches long, the hallboy took
Mrs. Ketchams collarette, stock. from her
neck, and choked her with 1t, leaving her lying
on the floor insens!ble
The negro was in the act of robbing the
Ketcham apartment, on the third floor, when
discovered by Mrs Ketcham. She had gone
to the Garfield National Bank. and. returning
to her home shortly before noon she saw the
negro searching the bureau drawers of one of
the bedrooms.
why Harry" Mrs Ketcham said. what
are you doing?"
The boy retorted with an oath, and, before
Mrs. Ketcham could make an cutlery, seized her
by the throat with one hand. Then he struck
her several times on the head with the gaspipe.
LEFT UNCONSCIOUS ON FLOOR.
1t is not known how long Mrs. Ketcham re-
manned unconscious on the floor. but when she
recovered she managed to crawl to one of the
front windows and call for help. Her cries
were heard by George Peterson, the janitor. and
several other persons living in the house Patrol
man McGinty, of the West Sixty eighth-st. sta
tion was called, and he was about to summon
ambulance when Mrs. Ketcham said she did
not wish any medical attendance. She is, it is
said. a Christian Scientist, and she made light
of her injuries. A private physician sum-
moned, however, and he ordered that Mrs.
Ketcham stay in bed.
The negro, it was learned, had been employed
at the apartment house only two days. He was
hired. it was said, because he could wear the
clothes a former hallboy had worn. The police
learned that he was eighteen years old and had
served a term in the House of Refuge. He had
gained access to the Ketcham apartments by
climbing over an airshaft from vacant apart
ment.
General Keteham and his daughter Ethel are
staying at Nantucket Harry b. and Charles
B. Ketcham. the sons, have been living tenn
porary at their mothers apartments. The
former is a lawyer at No. 50 WaI-st. and the
latter is a broker at No 20 Broad-st. Charles
B. Ketcham yesterday made the following state
ment:
Ny mother was injured severely. She is suffering
from shock besides being bruised all her BODY
and her coiarbone was broken, About two weeks
ago my wife and children went 10 Massachusetts,
and left my apartment in Fffty-eighth-st. to
morning left the city to visit my wife and family
and returned to the city to-day. went straight
on my mother :,l until ! was told by a newspaper
that my mother had Tequested the police not to
give out any information about the case. and even
II IS the last thing j would expect to happen
IN page 16 IKE TINS, II savors more OF the last
would be safe to stay alone in the house during
families in the house, and felt sure nothing. of
this kind would happen Ny mother is sixty-iye
s a HG Whgn W9nt away my mother gave me
the house when she was assaulted.
DETERMINED TO KEEP CASE QUIET.
Mrs. Ketcham, it is said, told the police that
even if the hallboy was arrested she would re-
fuse TO make any complaint against him. She
told the police to do their utmost to keep the
case from becoming public Patrolman McGinty
reported the assault and robbery TO Captain
Kear at the police station. and Detectives Cole
man and Douglas were detailed on the case.
Captain Kear went on his vacat ton yesterday,
and Sergeant Patrick McGirr was made acting
captain during his absence. McGirr was asked
! yesterday if the detectives had obtained any
/ clew to the hallboy
Il don't know anything about It," he said
! They are working on some kind of a case
! don't know what it is"
Wasn't there an entry made on the blotter
concerning tie case?" McGirr was asked
| Oh no." he replied; Il wouldn't put that on
| the robbery book"
| a gold watch, valued at $50, and So in cash.
! II was learned. stolen from the Ketcham
| apartments Clothing and other things had
! been packed UP ready TO be taken away In
! the opinion of tenants In the house, Mrs.
! Ketcham would have been killed if it had not
| been that the hallboy, in his haste to get away
! knotted the tie around Mrs. Ketchams neck
| loosely. AS ii was, she was nearly strangled.
! hn lhcNr txEroc
! the House of Refuge last June, after having
| served Term of six months for stealing a gold
| watch and a mans overcoat He lived with
| his mother in the basement of No. 343 West
! Fifty-eighth-st. The woman was Frustrated
| yesterday by the news Of her sons act. She
! said she did not know where he was