The San Francisco call., 1897-09-04
.CROVDIuG TO
SEE LUETGERq
Guards Turn Away the
Curious at the Noted
Murder Trial.
Police Trying to Fasten the
Charge Against the Saus-
age-Maker.
Rings Found In the Vat at the Fac
tory Identified as Those of the
Missing Wife.

CHICAGO, Ill, Sept. 3-The number
of persons striving to be present at the
Luetgert murder trial to-day was so great
that guards were stationed on the stair
ways to turn back every body not in some
way connected with the case.
The cross-examInation of Police Can
tain SchuettIer was resumed ATTORNEY
Vincent, for the defense, asked to have
stricken from the case the captains state
ment that he did not go to New York to
find out whether Mrs Luetegert had been
seen there alive, but 10 look up the repu-
tation of Gretty, who said he had met her
on Broadw way. Attorney Vincent said the
statement was prejudiclal. The court re-
fused to sustain the motion. CapIain
Schuettler told of his trip to New York
and his investigation of Gretty's reputa-
ton. He said the State wanted to be pre-
pared to prove Gretty periurer if he ap-
peared as a witness for the defense.
Captain Schuettler was asked about the
visit of Attorney Vincent to the East
Chicago avenue police sta ton on the day
of Luetgert's arrest but the State OBJ
iected. Mr.. Vincent stated that he ex-
pected to prove by Luetgert that when he
was arrested Inspector Setback refused to
permit any person to see HIM until the
next day. The attorney said he was not
allowed to see him, and was compelled to
begin ha beas corpus proceeding.
Judge Tuthill refused to admit any eyi-
dence regarding the matter. Inspector
Schaack is not on trial here" said the
court.
Police Lieutenant George Hutchinson
corroborated the testimony of Captain
Schuettler as to the visit made by him and
Schuettler ON May to Luetgert at the
latter home, to secure from him a state
ment regarding the disappearance of his
wife. He said Luetgert stated that he
hired two detectives to look for his wife,
although he had previously told Bicknese
that be engaged two private detectives.
Officer Walter S. Dean OF the Sheffield
station, who found the two gold rings in
the middle vat in which it is charged
Mrs Luetgert's body was dissolved IN
caustic potash, testified concerning the
discovery.
He was followed by Mrs. Ida Harris,
who was the first of series of witnesses
who identified the rings as having been
worn by Mrs. Luetgert.
Mrs Harris said she had known Mrs.
Luetgert seven years, and had often
visited her at her home. She was positive
that the large gold band with the initials
IL. L." and the mark "1S-k' in the in
side was Mrs. Luetgert's wedding ring.
About five years ago, she said, while sit
ting with Mrs. Luetgert in her kitchen,
the sausage-makeTs wife took off her
rings and showed them 10 her. The
smaller ring was worn as guard 10 the
wedding ring on the finger. The guard
ring had milled edges, but the milling
was more distinct i've years ago than it is
now. The witness could not tell when
she had last seen the rings on the hand of
Mrs. Luetgert.
On cross-examination Mrs Harris said
that when shown the rings at the East
Chicago avenue police station after the
arrest OF Luetgert, she remembered that
the initials al. /" were in the wedding
ring in German script. She said she bad
never seen large ring with cameo in it
in Mrs. Luetgert's hand. She was asked
if Mrs. Luetgert did not wear large gold
ring with chain and heart attached, but
she said she had cever seen it.
Mrs. Sophie Traby identified the rings,
which, she said, Mrs. Luetger had worn
for years. From her own finger she took
a small guard ring somewhat resem bling
that found in the vat ana said she had
bought it of jeweler on Lara bee street.
near North avenue, on the advice of Mrs,
Luetgert. Attorney Vincent objected to
Mrs. Traby said she had a conversation
with Luetgert May 8 regarding the dis
appearance of his wife. He tod her he
had paid $40 to two private detectives and
had told them there was more money for
them il they needed it. Luetgert said his
wife did not have much love for her chill
dren. He said her brother. Bicknesse, was
angry because the disappearance was not
reported to the police, put Bicknesse did
wrong in getting angry.
Mrs. Alvina Stanger was the last wit
ness before the court took a recess. She
identified the rings as the previous W.T.
ness had.
Carl Voelker, a chemist who had been
at one time engaged with Luetgert when
he manufactured permanganate of potash
and who was at one time shipping clerk
in the factory, testified during the after
noon session that he was familiar with all
of the number of processes of making
sausage and he did not have any caustic
potash around the place. The defendant
could not, he said, have secured it for the
making OF sausage. During all of the
time that Voelker was around, he said.
the vats were never used.
Voelker told the jury that on one occa-
sion he saw Luetgert use violence toward
his wife. She and another woman came
into the Office OF the factory one afternoon
and Luetgert appeared to be in rage
The witness was not in the office, but he
saw LuetgerJ push his wife and her COM
panion out of the door of the tfice Mrs.
Luetgert and the lady with her hurried
away much excited, and he heard Mrs.
L1etgert say, He has revolver and will
kill u.s. The witness said he did n OF see
the revolver.
The proceedings were cut short in the
afternoon by an early adjournment or
dered by the court. Judge TuthiIl, ac-
com panied by Assistant States ATTORNEY
McEwan, and Judge Vincent for the de-
tense, visited the Luetgert sausage fac
tory and made an examination of the
premises. Judge TuthiIl, in ad jour ming
court, said he desired to see the factory
and the points in and about it involved in
the evidence. A personal knowledge of
the d ace, he said, would enable the court
TO rule fairly on questions brought up as
the witnesses give their testimony.
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