The Final Day of General Ketchum, and How He Died (AFRTS)

Good evening. This is crime classic. I am Thomas Highland. I'm going to tell you another true crime story Listen the general just fell out of bed His name William Scott Ketchum major general United States Army retired So that there'll be no mistake. This is the same William Scott Ketchum who led the famed

and the one who did such a bang-up job of recruiting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War, the general is in agony. In protest against the quick ab of his life, he's taking the floor. The general is dead. And tonight, my transcribed report to you on the final day of General Ketchum and how he died.

on the final day of General Ketchum and how he died. Crime Classics, a series of true crime stories taken from the records and newspapers of every land from every time. Your host each week, Mr. Thomas Highland, connoisseur of crime, student of violence and teller of murders.

Now once again, Thomas Highland. Here is 1871. The place is Baltimore, Maryland, the month, June. No poet in the world, who mine always has ever written a poem about this month in Baltimore.

It is hot, it is humid, and the oysters are not in season. And any almanac will show you that in June 1871 had oysters been in season with eggs and breadcrumbs they could have been fried on the sidewalks.

For most Baltimore-eings, it was the season for dipping hands into tepid scrub water to wash the marble stoops. It was the season for sleeping on back porches and druid hill park, the time of sweat on the hand-fan, and the usual quota of elderly stout folk dropping dead from the heat.