The herald., 1897-09-09
HIS WIFE's CORSET sTEELs
FOUND IN THE REFUSE FROM
THE VAT
Altogether the Case Against the Ac-
cused Sausage Maker Grows
Very Strong
Associated Press Special Wire.

murder was somewhat surprised b!
| move of the state today. What Is con
sidered to be one Of the strongest pieces
Of evidence in the trial was introduced
Mrs Christine Feldt, Luetgert's one
time sweetheart. was called to the stant
by the state for the third time. AS
sistant States Attorney McEwen handed
her an ugly appearing pocket knife, the
blades of which were stained and rusted
and asked her If she had ever seen Il
before. She testified that the big sau-
sage manufacturer had given her this
knife for safe keeping on the day of hi'
arrest. The prosecution asserts that II
was with this knife that Luetgert muir
dered his wife before placing her body In
the boiling potash, where it was dis
solved.
The ugly-looking object was handed tc
Luetgert, who opened and closed tha
blades. gazing curiously at the weapon
and trapping the blade with his finger
as if to feel the stains which covered the
blade.
He evinced no emotion, though he
knew that every person in the court
room, including court, jury and specta-
tors, were closely watching and taking
note of his evry action. In talking with
his attorneys, he admitted that the knife
was his property
The court opened with the usual crowd
clamoring for admission at the door.
Within the court room the members OF
the fair sex predominated among the
spectators and the little room was
crowded to its utmost capacity.
ct,N Nv-k1 he
fore the court was opened he repeated
his manner of Tuesday and emilingly
nodded to the jury. He attempted to
catch the eye of Judge Tuehim, but that
official refused to notice the prisoner.
Luetgert held familiar conversa-
ton with the newspaper reporters and
then settled down to consult with his at
torneys. He seemed in unusually good
spirits despite the damaging evidence
heard during yesterdays session.
A greater crowd than ever congregated
today at the huge stone entrance of the
Criminal Court building, and a score of
bailiffs and many Of Inspector Schaack's 8
officers were required to keep open pas
sage way. The spectators continue to be
principally women.
Eugene B. Palmer, reporter for the
Chicago Journal, testified to having held
small bottle under the stream of pink
ish matter which flowed from the sluice-
way vat when the police opened the
valve.
w. H. Stuart, also Journal reporter,
corroborated the testimony of his con-
frere, and also testified to having de-
livered the same bottle of pinkish slime
into the hands of nexpert, who will be
called later in the case.
Bernard Preuss identified two bits of
steel pieces he found in the ashes where
the supposed residue Of bones and other
material scooped from the vat was
dumped.
Policeman Fred Taloritz testified to
having found a hairpin in the same pile
of refuse, and the hairpin was introduced
in evidence after objection by Attorney
Vincent to the effect that it was improper
to introduce evidence Of any and every
object which, owing to the similarity of
objects worn by any and every woman,
could never be identified as the property
Of Mrs. Leutgert
Then came the sensa ton Of the day. J.
H. Odebrett and w. G. Cady, corset
makers, were placed on the stand in
succession and positively identified the
two alleged corset steels as the product
of their factory. Certain marks on two
bits Of metal shown corresponded with
similar marks Of new steels produced in
court The witnesses testified positively
to the similarity and also to the fact
that the new steels were the pattern
usually sold by the factory. This is GER
sidered by the State great blow at the
defense and was unexpected by the lat
ter, who hoped to prove that the pieces OF
steel were scale bands.
Carl Klein, Jr., employed by dentist.
described set of false teeth which he
sold to Mrs. Luetgert. Klein seemed
burdened with sense Of his own i'm
portance in the case. He continually
objected to questions asked and refused
to answer until the court ordered him to.
His conduct on the stand caused con-
siderable meriment among the lawyers
and spectators
Emma Schimpke, sister Of Gottlieb
Schimpke, who testified that he had seen
Luetgert and his wife enter the fac
tory on the fated evening, was placed on
the stand to corroborate the latter's tes-
timony. She was very faltering wit
ness and suffered under the scathing
cross-examination to which she was
subjected. She was apparently imbued
with the idea that she must testify only
to those matters which hurt the cause
Of the defense.
Judge Tuthill administered a kindly
but firm lecture to the trembling girl.
From her the defense secured the admis-
sion that she was not sure she saw Luet-
CERT and wife enter the factory and the
defense also forced her to admit that
she could not remember anything that
happened on another particular night
than May 1st. When asked the day of
the week upon which May 1st fell she
hesitated and then said: Saturday,
was it not?"
Police Sergeant Spangler, who has
been active in procuring evidence for the
prosecution, testified that he secured
either from the officers or the factory or
vicinity corset steels of celluloid, hair
pin, half tooth, particles Of bone scrap
ings from both the interior and the ex-
terror of the vat In which it is alleged
Mrs. Luetgert was dissolved, and slime
from the sluice leading from the vat.
Vickerick Bicknese, brother of Mrs.
Luetgert, Identified two photographs of
his sister. The pictures were passed
around among the attorneys. and Luet-
CERT attentively compared the two and
consulted about them with his attorneys.