The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-10-21
LUETGERTs LAST DAY AT BAT
Attorney Vincent Closes for the Big
Sausage Maker


Sausage Maker.
Chicago, Oct 15-Adolph L. Luet-
CERT began his last battle this morning.
And an assembly which was limited by
the all too small confines of the court
room was on hand to hear the final
rounds Ito watch the defense draw
down its curtain and leave Luetgert's
life in the hands of the twelve earnest,
grave men who sat in the jury box.
Many of the prisoners friends were
present when court opened. The resi-
dents of the subdivision, arrayed in
tawdry finery, sat in attentive groups.
Women of fashion, in smart frocks,
watched the final act in the great
drama Of life-more stirring, more in
tensely interesting than product of
the theatres. Lawyers caught each
word of Attorney Vincent's last plea.
Scientists listened to the grand finale
ia the mighty battle which had drawn
upon all the learning and knowledge of
musty volumes, the creation of savants,
who had called upon the facts cleaned
for ages to solve the problems Of the
age.
Adoiph L. Luetgert, stolid and un-
moved, sat we'll back in his seat watch
ing the men who had been called from
their vocations to judge whether he
were guilty or innocent of one of the
most atrocious crimes ever laid at mans
door. When at $50 o'clock Attorney
William A. Vincent stepped before the
jury they turned their eyes toward him
and settled down to determine the
weight of his words.
Mr.. Vincent placed a dozen great
books before him. One by one he took
them up and read cases in which cir
cumstantial evidence had been relied
upon. de drew upon the annals of the
criminal history of England, the record
of CALIFORNIA; early days, and the his
tory of the present day. ImpressiYely
he told of a man named Shaw who had
been hanged in chains for the murder
of woman. Afterward it developed
that he was innocent; that he met his
death to shield the very woman whom,
it was charged, he had killed.
All cases, of course, reflected upon
circumstantial evidence. The lawyer
put down his books. /" / do not mean
to say" he declared, that innocent
men have never been hanged on direct
evidence. But before signing the
death penalty / want you to be sure
beyond q reasonable doubt that Mrs
Luetgert will not appear alive this
month, next month, or in the years to
come.
The lawyer looked directly at Juror
Harley. Some of you," he said, sig
nifcantly, f." may have had experience
with the states attorneys Office
He defended William Charles from
the attacks made upon him, CA
friend in need is a friend indeed Is
Charles here for poreos-1- esain2 No.
He is here because he is a true friend.
If you had q true friend who stood by
your side in the hour Of affection,
would you like TO hear some hard
lCtlt lCC CCfClC dGlOl uCJ hOuGO 1tII4I!
The lawyer had turned with these last
words full upon Mr.. Deneen.
" How easy it is for one to disap
pear. This is a great world, " he con
tinued. Gentlemen of the jury, did
we show about her treatment of her
children to defame her? No! We
brought this out to charitably account
for her disappearance. Who was it
who detained this woman? 1t was this
busy body of a brother, who went to
Luetgert and said, Louis, do you think
she has run away with another manY
" You will find no such statement in
the record" interrupted Mr. McEwen.
Judge Vincent referred to the record
and read from the testimony of Died
rich Bicknese where he said he had
asked Luetgert if there was possibil-
ity of an elOpement.
" What did he say to Judge Good
rich? Luetgert said he did not want to
let it go into the newspapers
Mr.. Vincent made an attack on Mrs.
Luetgert's relatives. Diedrich Bick
nese and Fred Mueller sat near by and
struggled to conceal the feeling of sor-
row and resentment caused by the law
yer's words.