New-York tribune., 1911-10-04
MYSTERY IN DEATH
OF SCHOOL MANAGER
Miss Anita KetChum Found Dead
in Home of Her Cousin,
Mrs. Edwin ThOrne.
CORONER HINTS AT SUICIDE
Burglary Theory Is Unfounded,
Say Police-Autopsy Fails to
Prove That She Expired
from Natural Causes.

Both the Coroner and police decided
last evening that Miss Anita Ketchum,
who Was found dead yesterday morning
in the home of Edwin Thorne. No o3S
Nadiron avenue, had not been killed by
. ;-~-'ar. as was at first supposed.
Ucllcnstein was of the opinion
tblt "A chemical analysis of the
cost mis- If the stomach. which was
taken away by Or Leblanc, Coroner's
physician. after an autopsy had been
performed might suggest suicide by
means Of some poison.
Miss Ketchum, who was fifty-hve
years old. was a cousin of Mrs. Thorne
and was business manager of the Brear-
lev School. at no. Il West 44th street
She and woman caretaker were the
only persons in the Thornc house on
McnGav night
Tron leaving the Thorne home Dr.
Leblanc said that he had found traces ol
some narcotic poisoning and OF a state
Of chronic diffusc nephritis.'
Il found most Of the organs normal
no added, and 1 am quite sure that
death was not due TO apopleXy or TO
heart disease. Certain internal organs
showed slight congestion but this had
nothing 10 do with the heart, lungs
or, kidneys. Before her death Miss
Ketchum ate a very hearty meal, and
this was absolutely undigested which
may have had something TO do with her
Death"
The police conclusion that Miss
Ketchum did not meet with any vio-
lcnce was verified by Inspector Hughes.
Of the Detective Bureau, who arrived at
the house shortly after the body had
Teen discovered by Mrs. Emma Peter
sen. the caretakor. Nothing was missing
from the room or the house. Miss
Ketchum wore her rings and her dia-
mond studded watch was lying under
her pillow. Some valuable toilet articles
were found scattered on rug near the
bed Finger print experts were sent
from Police Headquarters, but Inspector
Hughes said they had found nothing TO
Indicate that a stranger had been in the
house i'm the night.
Miss Ketchum had been staying in
Babylon. Long Island with the Thornes,
but on Monday she came TO the city and
went TO the Madison avenue house. Mrs
Petersen prepared for Miss Ketchum a
room on the second floor Of the house
which is a four story structure. The
latter then went out and deposited 500
fl. her bank. She also went to her own
apartment. No. 1O4 West 10Th street,
which is being renovated.
II was somewhat late in the evening
when Miss Ketchum returned to the
Thorne home. She asked Mrs. Petersen
10 call her at : o'clock yesterday morn
ing. When Mrs. Petersen went to the
room she found Miss Ketchum lying
face downward on her bed. When Mrs
Petersen tried TO arouse her she found
that she was dead. There was q slight
!. abrasion ON Miss Ketchum's neck, near
~ right Jaw hut the detectives said
ter that this was caused 10y little rib
~ steel. support of her collar, rub
liug against her flesh.
Mrs. Peterson notified tho police and
Captain O'Conuor. Detective Sergeant
Won Twistor and Detectives Cooncy
barbour and Mcintosh went to the
house. There followed talk of murder
Of suicide. Of burglary, Of many things
but tho days developments proved none
II these. The suicide theory viii have
10 await the chemical analysis of the
contents of the stomach for voriGcation
or denial
The Coroner also tool, with him two
small bottles. one empty and the other
containing a small quantity of some
whitish liquid. lie said that he himself
was ignorant of the nature Of the liquid
hut did not think it was any deadly
poison.
Julien r. Davies. jr, Of 80. 81 Nassau
street. a lawyer and "a friend Of Mr..
'ruornc. VITO visited the Madison avenue
house Ias. evening. said that he had
known Miss Ketchum, and that after a
,,lE with Alr. Thorne he knew Of no rea-
SON iu thc world why She should have
committed suicide lie also was Of the
,uipion. he said. from what ne had seen
in the house and from what he had
learned from Mr.. Thorne, that neither
burglary Tor nurder had been COM
mittcd.
GrcuviIIa Parker of 80. 3 Wall street
Who said hc was a personal friend Of
Mr.. Thorrc. and who was at the house
:t :hc same time. expressed similar
opinion.
Mrs. Thorne was Miss Phebe Ketchum.
Nlr. Thornc is a son Of Samuel Thorne,
Of No. 914 Fifth avenue and brother
Of Jonathan Thorne, Of No. 1O2S Fifth
avenue. The Thornes are Of the Mill
brook. Duchess County, family Of
which Oakleigh Thornc, a banker is the
most prominent member Edwin Thorne
is president Of the Federal Terra Gotta
Company. No. 43 Cedar street.
GIMBEL BROTHERS CELEBRATE