Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09
Testimony in Lustgert Case Rather
Favorable to Defendant.
CHEMISTS CALLED TO TIE STAND
Could Not Say Positively Solution
Contained Human Remains.
LUETGERT LOOKS HAGGARD

CHICAGO, September 9.-For the first
time in the history of the Luetgert trial no
curious crowd today blocked the entrance
to the criminal court building or Judge
Tuthilrs court room prior to the morning
session of the court.
The public seemed to have learned. after
several t!resome lessons, that it is useless
to seek for entrance without reasonable
excuse other than curiosity. In the court
room the usual crowd of spectators gath
cred, the women far outnumberins the
men, as usual. The big prisoner was
brought into court earlier than usual, and
was in his seat in front of Bailiff Reed be-
fore judge or jury entered the court room.
Luetgert plainly showed the effects of
confinement and warm weather. and his
features were more wan than usual.
The jury also seemed to feel the effects
Of the several days of hot weather and the
two weeks of confinement which they have
endured.
The first witness called was H. F. Kru-
ger. the druggist. who sod Watchman
Frank Bialk the medicine which Luetgert
ordered his emoloye to purchase. The
testimony was intended merely as corroo-
orative of the watchman's statement as
to the time, for the purpose of showing the
hours between which the alleged murder
was supposed to have been committed.
Dr. Gibson on the Stand.
The second witness was DIR. Chas. B.
Gibson the chemical expert, who was
placed on the stand for redirec: examina-
tion in regard to his analysis of heshy
substances and slime removed from the
vat, where the state is attempting to prove
the wife murder was committed.
Prof. Gibson's testimony proved to be of
little value to the state Although the wit
ness freely admitted that the bits of fleshy
substance and organic matter taken from
the solution We're similar to human flesh.
he wars equally candid in his admission up
on crcSs-eXamnation by Attorney Vincent
chief counsel for the defense. that the
flesh was as similar TO the flesh of any
other animal as IL was TO the human. Prof
Gibson testified that a body could be disin-
tograted in the manner charged by the
prosecution, but denied that the bones
would be affected in the manner that the
state has endeavorcd to establish. TIE
witness testified that the bones would be
merely softened at the ends, but would net
be dissolved. The lawyers for the defense
were highly pleased at the result of their
ss-eXamnaton, and felt that their case
lad gained as the result of the evidence
Swiss Chemist Called.
Prof Mark De Laiontaine. a Swiss chem
lst, was next put on the stand. Prof De
Lafontaine was educated only in the tech
nical terms Of English and it was impos-
sipie LOT MIN 10 cOucn Ills answers in lam
guage that the jury could comprehend In
addition to this defect in the manner of his
testimony. the witness was possessed of a
very faulty delivery, and his low tones
could hardly be distinguished by the court
and lawyers, who We're very near him.
However. his testimony was necessary 10
the case of the state, without this story
of experts neither the manner of Mrs
l-uetgerts supposed murder nor the fact
OF her death can be established
Testimony concerning bones was the
chief portion CT the evidence submitted by
Prof. De Lafontane. The bits of bone
which the police gathered from the refuse
pile where the ashes Of the furnace were
said to have been dumped We're submitted
to the scrutiny of the learned chemist who
readily answered yes when questioned as
to whether they resembed human bones
Other of his answers were SO vague and
uncertain as to be valueess as evidence
Several times the court attempted to have
the witness define himself as to certain
terms and expressions, but such attempts
were futile. The chemist gave as his opin-
ion that a body could be dissolved in caus-
tic potash. heated to the boiling point and
in the space of three four hours moth
ing but the bones and some of the liga-
ments and cartilages remaining However.
he would not commit himself further than
had Or. Gibson, who preceded him on the
stand.
At the afternoon session Prof De La
fontaine was crosS-eXamined by the de-
fense.