The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-09-23

house and visited for few minutes |
withstile proprietor, Eugene Hatha'
way Proceeding toward Cambridge |
Ketchanl says that he stopped at one
OF the three farms owned by Frank
Fraser and stole buggy from one OF
the barns. There was a. damaged
wheel on the wagon he had taken from
Elwell and he wanted a better vehicle.
He left Elwell's buggy at the Barn.
Monday Ketcham traded horses with
trader who works in that section of
the country. He snapped fairly good
horse for small mustang and gave in
boot Elwelrs suit of clothes that had
been carried away from the Jensen
tailor shop. One of the reasons for
the exchange of horses may have been
| the fact that the animal owned by El-
we'll had in some manner cut one OF 1t
| legs soon after Ketcham drove out of
| Bennington. The horse was bleeding
considerably when Ketcham stopped
| at the Chickencoop Inn
Ketcham was soon arrested for the
| theft OF the buggy from Mr., Fraser,
was given hearing and sentenced to
three months in Jail. The justice be-
fore whom the hearing was held said
| that he would give the thief three
months, six months or year, as Mr..
Fraser thought Ketcham deserved,
The owner of the buggy said three
months was satisfactory to him and
the sentence was made accordingly
The trader, whose name is said to
be Center, disposed of Elwell's horse
soon after the trade was made with
Ketchum and has not yet been locat-
ed. The suit of clothes, however,
has been recovered.
News of Ketchum's arrest and con-
yiction were reported while the in
quest was in progress. The fact that
there was blood on the wagon which
was left by Ketcham at Fraser's barn,
and which it later developed came
from the wound in the horses leg,
and that a revolver was found in Ket-
chams possession when arrested were
suspicious circumstances that led TO
some investigation. The officers,
however dwere not much improsse
| WIN tutSt utftIOpuitnNo anu IL No9
not until after the suspension of the in
quest Thursday afternoon that new
Developments pointed in the direction
OF Ketcham, the testimony Of per-
sons who saw Costello on Depot street
and also sitting on the steps OF the
Columbian house after o'clock. This
was proof that Costello must have re-
turned over Depot street after going
TO the house OF Victor Young on Coun.
ty street instead of going directly to
: the crossing where he was killed as
had all along been the supposition
: This fact made it more plausible in
the minds Of the officers that Ketcham
may have been concerned in the
crime and led to the trip to Cambridge
with its conclusive results.
Deputy Sheriff Nash and Officer
= Hurley ever since the commission OF
the crime had urged States Attorney
Archibald net 10 turn the investiga
tion over to men from a detective
agency. These two tficers insisted
4. that the slayer of Costello would
eventually be captured without out
side assistance and their conviction
. has been realized. Both men have
l previously demonstrated that they
possess that peculiar instinct neces
l sary in successful trailer of Grim
! inals and to them is due the larger
5 amount of credit in fixing the Grim,
S upon ketcham.
All three men state that the break
ing OF Ketcham was a grewsome per
$ formance. After the confessed slayel
0 broke down his recital of the crim'
was characterized by cold bloodet
l attitude that made the officers shiveT
5 Ketcham said that Costello hit hin
e once on the chest and that he re
turned two blows himself before draw
u ing the revolver. One OF the las
c questions asked him was, you want
ed to be sure you had killed this man
v did you?" Yes Ketcham replied, "
G wanted to be sure he was dead
The revolver with which the crim
, was committed is a cheap liver John
c son weapon OF 32.calibre center fir
u double action pattern. The empt
shells found at the soldiers hom
c watering trough the morning afte
II the crime fitted the chamber:
n Ketcham said he bought the revolver
e which was considerably rustcd. fror
n John Lane of SALISBURY six week.
e ago. Friday afternoon he purchase
% cartridges for the revolver at tn
e Griswold store.
o When Ketcham's confession ha
" progressed to a point that convince
Ie Corporation Attorney Bennett that tn
u guilty man had been located, tel,
Ie phone message was sent State
II Attorney Frank c. Archibald of Mai
T. chester who left Immediately by autt
le mobile for Salem. In the mean tim
Is Mr. Bennett had secured a stenogral
u, her and as soon as the states attome
oi arrived the second and official confc
It. sion was taken. II is probable IN,
'e ketcham will remain at the Salem in
N for the present and may not /
m brought to Bennington until Decemb,
le to 20 before u special session of II
Us grand jury. .G
Al ketoham is a slightly built man
he about five feet and seven inches
height with sharp features and rath,
er expressive eyes.
r. .' ------