The San Francisco call., 1897-10-16
DWellS Upon the Doubt
as to the Wife'S
Death.
Police Scored for BroWbeating
the Witnesses for the
Defense.
Condemning a Human Being to Die
Upon Circumstantial Evidence
Declared DANGEROUS.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

CHICAGO. ILL, Oct. 15.-The intensely
hot weather of TO-DAY had but little effect
upon the attendance at the Luetgert trial.
The courtroom was packed and hundreds
otpersons were unable to gain admitIance.
Attorney Vincent, chief counsel for the
defense. continued his address to the jury.
His arguments were principally directed
toward the reasonable doubt as to the
death OF Mrs. Luetgert. He vigorously
attacked the police officials for their al
legged browbeating OF witnesses, particu-
lGrly in the case of Mary Siemmering, who
he declared the defendant had treated
more like daughter than an employe.
The witnesses for the prosecution were
held up 10 scorn, and Vincent declared
that the prosecution had done nothing but
throw mud at his client while the defense
had been engaged in scrsping it off.
Vincent will probably conclude his ad-
dress al to-morrow's session. On Monday
States Attorney Deneen will make five
hour speech and the case will doubtless
be given 10 the jury late Tuesday.
Gentlemen OF the jury" said Vincent,
81 intended reading to you some zen or
twelve cases on circumstantial evidence,
but owing to the oppressive heat. and In
deferenc ce to the wishes and suggestions
of the court, 1 shall curtail my readings
considerably. But before l enter upon a
further discussion of the evidence in this
case l shall read you two or three cases OF
interest,""
Vincent thereupon read from law books
definitions of circum tantial evidence and
the weIg ht that was due and should be
attached to Ii.
II will not say that circum stances do
not seem to point to guilt" observed
Vincent, but l will say-aye, and affirm
with emphatic warning TO you twelve
meu-that condemAing to death a human
being on purely circumstantial evidence
is a dangerous proceeding. Can any juror
in that jurybox say that Mrs. Luetgert
will not return before l have ceased this
argument? Can any OF you say she will
not come back to her home and her chill
d-en next week, next month, next year or
in the dim future? Unless you can, a
reasonable doubt exists in your mind, and
you must give this prisoner the benefit
OF It, Throughout your deliberations, re-
me ber that this prisoner Is entitled 10
every reasonable doubt"
During all the hot aftern oon session of
court Vincent pleaded with the jury 10
spare the life OF his client. He argued
that there was nothing in the alleged
the pretty servant girl, that would aspire
the sausage maker to commit such a dia-
boical crime as was LAID at his door.
Mary SiemmeriDg is a relative of Mrs.
Luetgert and had been in the family for
years, and was regarded as mem Der of
the family rather than in the light uf a
servant, the speaker declared. Then he
read the testimony of Mary Siemmering,
who had said that Mrs. Luetgert was her
friend and had often paid her extra wages,
warning her not to let Luetgert know this
fact. He also recalled that the two
women exchanged presents on Christmas,
1896, and were apparently on the best of
terms. With bitter invective Luetgerts
chief legal defender attacked { Police
Department Tor alleged cruel, brow beat
ing treatment, which had not only been
heaped upon Mary Sic erng, but W hich
hal also been accorded other witnesses for
the defense.
Vincent seemed to realiz. that this was
the one last plea and appeal for the big
man who sat within the touch of his
hands, and this fact inspired the orator
with eloquence and fire. In one of his
outbursts he shouted, turning sud-
denly toward Luetgert; They have for
months been throwing mud at him, and
mud at him, and mud at him." At each
repetition of the phrase the speaker
reached down and dashed an imaginary
handful of mud in Lue gert's face. Then
he stopped suddenly. Facing the jury he
stood silently for a moment and then
added: And We have been scraping it
off,"
States Attorney Deneen was sharply
criticized for the attack upon the -eputa-
tion OF w. A. Charles, and then tie law
yer declared that Mrs. Luetgert had been
veil treated at her home.
He recalled the fact that Luetgert and
his wife had lived to ether eighteen years
aud had got along as well during their
married lie as people of their station and
mental development usually do-no better
and no worse.
Witnesses who had testified for the de-
tense were praised, while those who had
appeared for the State were declared to
have been for the most part the periured
dunes of the police. Vincent declared IT
wes his first conviction that Mrs. Luet-
CERT had wandered away while demeated,
and ii she was dead her death was not
due to any act of her hus band.
Tomorrow Vincent will speak about
The rings. the experts and the soap
making States Attorney Deneen will
not be heard until Monday. Tue case
will probably go to the jury Monday.