Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
Attorney Says Mrs. Luetgert Went
Crazy and Wandered OF.
SHE HAS BEEN Seen Since MAY |
Claims That the Bones Are Not of
a Human.
LU ETC ERT TO TIE STlFY

CHICAGO. September 22.-Judge Vincent
sprung a surprise on the prosecution in
the Luetgert murder trial in his opening
statement today by reference to man
named Robert Davey, who, he said. was
the original medium through which all of
Luetgert's trouble arose. and whose actions
resulted in Luetgert being arraigned before
the bar of justice today charged with MUIR
der. He said:
"A little over year ago Satan, in the
shape of a medium-sized, well-dressed and
educated Engiishman named Robert Davey,
came to Luetgert, and was the cause of all
his trouble. This man came with forged
letters of introduction, representing HIM
self as man of great means. Luetgert
has always carried his heart on his sleeve
as you will see when he goes on the wit
less stand
This was the first official notice that
Luetgert would testify in his own benalf,
ard the announcement was received with
a show of interest by the prosecution and
the spectators
Would He a Sausage King.
Continuing, he said: .'Davey told Luet-
gert he could be the sausage king of the
world And Luetgert believed him, for
Davey was an artist in painting glowing
pictures of wealth and fame. He told
Luetgert he represented an English syndi-
cate, and that a company would be organ
lied with capital of 100000 and bonds
for an additional 100000 would be issued.
The company would be known as the a. l..
Luetgert Sausage and Packing Company,
Davey said. and Luetgert would be given
s20D.OO cash and $10OoO0 worth of stock.
Out of the cash he could pay off $4,000 of
Indebtedness, which was covered by a mort
gage on his factory.
Mrs. Luetgert was delighted over the
visions of wealth revealed by Davey's pic
ture, and LuetSert, uneGucated, honest ana
without suspicion, was pleased over the
prospect of ranking with the Armours,
the Swifts and Nelson Morris in the meat
world. Davey had expenses during the
time he was negotiating with LUetgert,
whom he had induced to close his factory
preparatory to the change. which was to
have taken place January /, 1897. He call
ed upon Luetgert for money and got it,
in all about $1,000. Finally Davey told
Luetgert the money and bonds We're in
the custody of the Continental Bond Com
pany IF New York Luetgert and Judge
Goodrich. to whom Luetgert had told his
story. went 10 New York but Zone OF the
bankers or bond companies of that city
had ever heard of Davey ard Luetgert
had been swindled.'
Luetgerfs Subsequent Troubles.
The attorney told of Luetgert's strug-
giles after this How his business had
been injured by the closing of the factory,
and, in addition TO the loss of $25,O 10
Dayey, he lost by the failure of E s.
Dreyer & Co.'S bank. Then he borrowed
10000 from Foreman Brothers, bankers
placing another mortgage on his factory
Finally the failure came and the disaster
drove Mrs. Luetsert to the verge of in
sanity Later the woman became insane
the lawyer said, and wandered away
The life of Luetgert was briefly sketched
lie arrived in America thirty-two years ago
withou; dollar, counsel said and by indus
try and thrift had built up an enormous
business Nineteen years ago Luetgert
married Miss Louise Bicknese the woman
he Is said 10 have killed She was his
second wife. They had four chldren-two
boys and two girls: the latter are now dead
Ex-Judge Vincent denied that the couple
lived unhappiy. He said their lives were
not continuous honeymoon but the couple
lived as happily as people In their station
usually do.
Prosecution Was Startled.
Attorney Vincent startled the prosecu-
ton by the magnitude OF his claims in the
last Few minutes of the morning session
That Mrs. Luetgert is alive, he said, he
would prove by witnesses who have seen
her since May ], and he would also prove
that the bones found in the vat were not
human, but were put there by the police
authorities. As for the rings claimed to be
Mrs Luetgerts, the attorney said he would
snow that they were not hers, and that she
had never seen them. The attorneys $
speech made All impression on those in the