Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-25
MORE WITNESSES SWEAR THEY
SAW MRS. LUETGERT ALIVE.
PROSECUTION NOT DISTURBED.
SAY THEY WILL SPRING SOME SUR
PRIsEs II REBUTTAL.
Defense VIII Attempt to Prove To-day
That Euetscrt Was ~ Model sHus-.
band-A Juror Fepnd to
Have nm Unsaserys 49,, 2
Record.

Chicago, Sept. 24-The testimony for the
defense in the Luetsert trial to-day was,
for the most part, that of Witnesses who
said that they had seen Mrs. Luetgert in
the vicinity of kenosha. Wis, within a few
days after the date on which It has been
claimed by the state that she was muir
dered. r4-l
Two witnesses, one of whom had known
Mrs. Luetgert for several years. positively
identified photograph of Mrs. Luetsert as
the picture of the woman they saw at Ken
osha on the dates mentioned.
Mrs. Matte Scherer, Miss Maud Scher-
er and Miss Gertrude Miller testified this
morning that Emma Schimpke since she
had testified for the prosecutions had said
in their hearing that her evidence was
entirely false. She said the only reason
she testified falsely was to support the
evidence of her sister, who had first He'd.
Frank ScheIeb, farmer who iiyes near
Kenosha, Wis. and who had known Mrs.
Luetgert for seven years, testified that he
met her on a country road near that town
on May 4 He said he did not; recognize
the woman, but he was attracted by her
aaa Wsen he eahsaIssa Mfs
Luetgert was missing, and read q descfip-
ton of the clothing she wore swhen-fshe
her and that the strange woman he met on
Policeman william Smith, of Kenosha,
Northwestern depot at Kenosha cat
o'clock on the morning of May D he pos
itively identified the photograph, of Mrs.
Luetgert as the woman he saw at the de-
pot. The policeman described the Woman
and her attire. ~ fstfFs.ss9s fs
An effort was made to introduces evidence
regarding threats That Mrs: Lnetgsrt is
said to have made of leaving her home.
When this question was first brought up,
the court ruled that threats Of this kind,
xrh nad de n ur aelc
to the disappearance; of the woman, would
be-admissible,. but that he:coufd not permit
than a week. The witnesses for the de-.
fense who were to testify regarding the
intention Of Mrs. Luetkert to leave her
eral months prior to May i. and the court
threw out their evidence. Tomorrow. the
defense win make strong effort to get the
The fact that Juror William Harley was
indicted In 1857 for conspiracy and bribery
In connection with the Cook county COM
missioners scandal was dragged to the
front to-day. There are now no cases pend
ing against Juror Harley, and he was never
put on trial on the indictments against him.
that he had known for month all about
the former charges against Juror Harley.
Had I been fully advised at the time he
was chosen. 1 might have objected to him.
said the states attorney. II have spoken
to ex-State's Attorney Longenecker. who
had charge of the county commissioner boo
Harley was perfectly honest, honorable
and reliable man, and that all the charges
against him had been wiped out. He was
indicted at time when all men holding
any kind of county contract were looked
upon with suspicion. The state is perfectly
satisfied with the makeup of the jury"
States Attorney Deneen was apparently
not disturbed by the evidence of the wit
nesses from Kenosha, Wis, who identified
the picture of Mrs. Luetgert as that of a
strange woman they saw in the Wisconsin
town on May 3. and 5. wait until we
put in our rebutta1 evidence" said the
states attorney. I'VE will show this de-
fense up in a way that will be surprising"
Tomorrow witnesses will be called to
show Luetgert's treatment of his wife. It
will be sought to be shown that he was
model husband. and that his home life was
pleasant, or reasonably so. and that there
was no unusual pickering or quarreling
between himself and his wife.
Next week the testimony of the experts
in regard to the bones found in the factory
will be heard.