Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-10-09
aArrLg oE DRY BONES ENDS.
Close OF the Expert Testimony in
the LuctGcrt Cnsc.

Close OF the Expert Testimony In
the Luctgert Cnsc.
Chicago, Oct. 5.-For the time being
counsel for the defense in the Luetgert
case assumed that the bones offered by
the state as evidence were human Mon
day, and then showed that If the theory
Is correct the murdered or missing
woman was but 40 inches in height. At
torney Vincent had planned the effect
with great care, and, although the
state ridicules the proposition, tho
bold, fiat statement created no little
furry in the courtroom. This dis
tinctively new point in the threadbare
tale of the bone Juggling was brought
out in the examination of DR.. Samuel q.
Piummer, an expert anatomst. He de-
clared with great confidence that if the
states exhibit No. 10 is really human
and the femur of Mrs. Luetgert, the
woman was but 40 inches in height
three feet and four inches. DR.. Plum
mer has previously stated as scientific
fact that the human femur is always
one-fourth as long as the whole body.
Such noted authorities as Gray and
Quaine supported the statement. The
alleged femur offered in evidence by
the state was at the most ten inches
long.
"'The most liberal estimate would
Place the height of the possessor of that
bone, assuming it to be human, at 40
inches," said DR.. Plummer. positively.
Mrs. Luetgert is said to have been
about five feet three inches tall.
Louis Gottschalk, a chemist and ex-
lynr tha ct
by the defense to knock out the claim of
the state that Luetgert had enough
| potash in the vat to make 1000 pounds
of soft soap. The witness declared that
| 37s pounds of crude potash used as the
| state asserts Luetgert used his the night
| of May 1 would make between 900 and
| 1900 pounds.
DR.. Vernon ]. Hall, professor of chem
| istry at Northwestern university, also
| took the stand for the defense and
swore that an average aluminium plate
| for artificial teeth weighed but five
and one-half grains. The purpose was
| 10 show that there was so soinconsiderable
an amount of aluminium in the vat that
it was impossible to detect its presence.
Other witnesses at the morning session
|
Richards and Sergt. Spangler, who tes-
titled to receiving samples of the saw
dust collected at the smoke house at the
| factory.
An unexpected turn of affairs oc-
Cured in the Luetgert trial during the
afternoon session of court. The de-
fense suddenly dropped it's line of ex-
pert testimony, and put on witnesses to
| impeach the evidence of witnesses for
the state. 1t was apparent that eX-
Judge Vincent, chief counsel for the de-
Tense, had at last tired of expert evil
dence. The testimony of each succeed
ing witness was practically a repeti-
tion of that of the proceeding witnesses.
Nothing was being gained, while the
record of the case was being swelled
with volume of technical medical verb
iage.
David Victor, carpenter, who lives
in the vicinity of the Luetgert sausage
factory, was called upon to tell whether
he had ever observed Mrs, Luetgert in
sad or morose condition of mind. He
said he had not. She was always cheer
full and happy when he saw her.
Druggist II. +. Kruger, at whose
store, at Clybourn and Ashland avenues,
Frank Bialk bought bottle of Hun
yadi water on the night of May /, ex-
planned that there were six different va
rieties of this mineral water, and that
Bialk called for bottle of variety for
which Luetgert had expressed prefer
ence. Thus it was sought to be shown
why Luetgert sent for water when he
had 40 bottles of the water in his fac
tory.
Frank Geisler, who was employed in
the grocery department of Luetgert's
sausage factory, told of seeing Luetgert
around the factory during the forenoon
OF May as usual. The sausage maker
seemed to be in his usual frame of mind
according to the witness.
turn taken in the proceedings per
mitted counsel to get line upon the
probable length of time it will require
TO finish the trial. States Attorney
Deneen said that three weeks more
ought to see the end of the case.