The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-02
FELL DOWN ON A GORILLA
SAID HIS TEMPORAL BONE WAS
THAT OF A MAN.
LEUTGERT GOES ON STAND NEXT WEEK
Many Requests Coming in"FOr Passes on
"Leutgert Day., Or. Airport Ratified and =
District Attorney Tells Him He
is Too Fresh.

Chicago, Ills, Oct. 1.-The monotony
of the scientihcic and painfully techni-
cal proceedings of the Luetgert murder
trial today was relieved by n hearty
laugh at the expense of DR.. Airport, the
chief astrological expert of the defense,
during the afternoon session. DIR. AL
port had identified a piece of bone as
the temporal of a human being. He OBJ
served that the bone would indicate that
the person had been large and strong.
"Yes, l suppose he was" observed
Assistant States Attorney McEwen.
HE was a gorilla" This announcemnt
rather staggered DR.. Airport, but he
joined in the general laugh among law
yers, experts and spectators. There was
a warm tilt between the witness and
Assistant States Attorney McEwen
during the afternoon. After answering
q question, DIR. Airport proceeded to give
little explanatory lecture DEPRESSING
somewhat from the subject under con-
sideration. When he paused, Assistant
States Attorney McEwen gazed at the
witness a moment and remarked: you
are little too fresh"
Ex-Judge Vincent was on his feet in
moment appealing for protection for
the witness.
"A little rebuke like that is good for
some people," remarked Assistant States
Attorney McEwen. "One small head
doesn't contain all there Is to know
about bones"
Ex-Judge Vincent continued to de-
mand that his chief anatomist be pro
tected by the court.
Judge Tuthill put a stop to the dis
pute by leaning over his desk and re-
marking:
Gentlemen, proceed with the trial Of
this case
DIR. Airport never worked harder while
delivering lecture on descriptive and
comparative anatomy before class in
the Northwestern University than he
did in his descriptive talk before the
jury in the Luetgert case today. He
drew diagrams and pictures of bones
including human sesamoids, temporals
phalanges and others and described
them. Then he drew more pictures of
the same bones in the lower animals
and compared them, pointing out the
difference. Few in the crowded court
room appreciated the remarks Of the
demOnstrator. 1t was Greek to nearly
all except the attorneys and the experts
The jurors followed the descriptive talk
dreamily. The severe cr0ss-examinatiOn
took considerable degree of positive
ness out Of the witness. The question
put to him by Assistant States Attor-
ney McEwen, but framed by Prof. Dor
sey, tested his knowledge of bones Sc
verely. After falling into several clever
ly laid technical pitfalls, DIR. Airport be-
came wary. His answers were not so
prompt decisive and terse as at first.
He hesitated and explained and when
the ordeal was over the witness was
much pleased.
The battle of the bones will continue
tomorrow.
Prof. Eckley is to be called to tell
the jury what he knows about bones,
both human and lower animal. The ex-
perts are not expected to finish before
the middle of next week. When they
get through Luetgert is expected to go
on the stand. Already States Attorney
Deneen is receiving requests for passes
on "Luetgert day"
1t is now asserted that the
prosecution will produce upon the
witness stand three of the women
whom witnesses have identified as Mrs.
Luetgert. One Of these is the woman
who was seen by half a dozen persons
in Kenosha, Wis, on May 4th and 9Th.
She is now in Chicago and is being
watched constantly by n detective. This
is the woman who left one of her slip
pers in the Kenosha police station. She
was described by several witnesses who
saw her at the Northwestern railroad
station in Kenosha and at two Of the
leading hotels of the town and identified
by means of a photo as Mrs. Luetgert.
This woman viii be put on the witness
stand. She win relate all conversations
she had with the police officials and
others in Kenosha. IL is said