Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-24
KETCHAM FREE.
Served Sentence for
Wrecking vergennes Bank
Will Now Tour Vermont in Play
Of Own Writing
To Show People He Suffered for
Anofher's Wrongdoing.

Middlchury. VT. June 23.-Dcclaring
his intention Of going on the stage and
appearing in the star part of drama
Of his cwn production to right his al
legged wrongs. John Winslow Ketcham.
who has been serving sentence of
seven years for completely in the
wrccking # the Farmers National
Bank of Ncrgennes. was released to-day
from the Addison county Jail. Ketcham
occupied the position of teller in the
bank and assistant 10 the cashier,
David II. Lewis who. like Kctcham.
was sentenced to seven years impriS-
onmcnt following the discovery Of q
shortage of about $50 600 In 1902 Ketch-
am has served five years and two
months the remainder of his sentence
having been cancelled through general
good behavior. particularly through his
bravery in preventing the escape Of
fellow prisoners.
1t has been said that In all the his
tory sc criminal affairs in Vermont
there has never been a federal prisoner
in whom 50 much public interest has
conferred as has ben shown in the case
of kctCham. In spite of his incarccra
tion he has managed to keep closely in
touch With outside affairs. Bv mail and
by telephone, he has conducted I'M
dauntedly 4 campaign against political
interests which he asserts were rcspon-
sihlc for his downfall. He has busted
himself with efforts to prove that his
conviction was miscarriage of JUS
ticc.
In addition he has written book
giving his version of affairs which
brought about the failure Of the bank
and attacking prominent persons of
tho state ana he has also complied and
published a volume Of laws relating to
the duties of police officers. shcriffs
and court officials Of Vermont The
proceeds of these books he used to pay
the cost Of 4 divorce suit which he
prosecuted successfully from his cell
ana afterward to pay for the support
and education of his young son.
Lately his activity has found cX-
preston in the writing of a play based
on what he alleges to be the true story
Of the bank wrccking. and it is an
nounccd that next fall he will tour the
state as the principal in this drama.
his object being to rchabiliatc himself.
if possible, in public esteem. and to
impress the people with the idea that
he was made to suffer for the wrong
doing of others.
kctcham was one Of the younger
men in Vermont politics and had Scrv-
cd two terms in the state LEGISLATURE.
In December, 1898, he accepted a posi-
ton in the Farmers National Bank
and April /, 1902. the doors Of the in
StitutiOU were closed nv pr1nr ,f tho
bank examiner Lewis, who had been
cashier for II years, ana Kctcham
were arrested and convicted. Lieut..
Coy. Martin !. Allen, who was vice
president Of the bank, was also ar
rested but WAS subsequently absolvcd
from blame.
The first part If Kctcham's sentence
was served at the Chittcndcn county
Jail in burlington, ana il was while
there that on two different occasions
he prevented Jail breaks. When three
years Of his sentence had expired All
effort was made to secure Il pardon, on
account Of tn" bravery ne had dis
played on thcS" occasions, but the
move WAS unsuccessful.
Upon leaving tn" Addison county
Jail today. K"tcham went to the homo
Of friends with whom he will remain
until his plans for his histrionfc cam
paign is CumplCtrd