Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-28
LUETGERT'SPARTNER
MIlIlaM CnARLES TESTIFIES FOR
THE DEFENSE.
HELPS ACCUSED MATERIALLY.
SAYS popAsH WAS BOUGHT FOR
MAKING suET SOAP.
sIary sicmmerinE ON the stand Again
and Admits That She Lied
Before the Grand Jury
Great Crush Mt
the Trial.
HELPS ACCUSED MATERIALLY,

the evidence of William Charles, Luetgeft
business partner. He explained why, as he
claimed. the caustic potash, in which the
body of Mrs. Louise Luetgert Is alleged by
the prosecution to have been dissolved, was
bought. According TO Charles story, the
potash was purchased as the principal In
gredient of a quantity OF soft soap, TO be
used In Cleaning up the big factory, prepar-
atory TO its sale to an English syndicate.
The witness said ne suggested this method
of putting the factory in shape himself, and
that Luetgert. acting upon the suggestion
ordered a barrel of caustic potash, weigh
ing Sl5 pounds, sent TO the factory in March.
last. This was about the time the prosecu-
ton claims the negotiations were pending
between Luetgert and Davey, the myste-::-
rious Englishman, Who is said to have rep
resented the syndicate, and who borrowed
something like S25, 900 from Luetgert. 49,
The Bnrricaded Door.
Charles also offered an explanation of the
apparently barrfcaded door to the basement
stairway by telling about a chase for rats
in which n small dog was an active partic-t
ipant. He said that the factory had been
an effort had been made to get rid of them.
On the evening of April 50 he and Luetgert,
with others, were in the basement. when a
terrier, which belonged to the witness, got
after a rat. Charles. Luetgert and the
others moved boxes, barrels and other OBJ
stacles TO aid the dog in his chase, and the
boxes and barrels were hurled in a pile
ha har
door was unintentional, he said. 1t just
happened that the articles were thrown
there, without thought of the door at all.
Charles says that besides the caustic pot
ash, two or three barrels of tallow, GUAM
tity of grease and some> chipped bone,
which was to be used in making the soft
soap. were delivered at the factory. He said
that he aided Odorofsky and Levandowski,
the two Iaborers employed in the factory,
to place some of the stuff in the middle vat.
He also saw Frank Bailk in the factory at
the time The cahstic potash was put in
the vat and Luetgert said he would see to:
turning or the steam and boiling the stun..
Charles said he met FLuetgert in saloon
opposite the factory on the evening of the
night Mrs. Luetgert7 disappeared, and Luet-
CERT said he was going over to- the factory
:, and turn on the steam. At % o. clock the
same night, Charles said he went to the
basement of the factory and feand Luet-
gert there and the steam turned !on.
Denied s-Doc1of1nSs the =RDbks.
ON eross-exaniihajian By States attorney
Deneen, Charles denied he had "doctored''
the books of the concern so as to show
yearly profit of $4,000. This line of cross
examination was objected to by the de-
,fense.; but the court permitted it for time,
Hi, TllDfa in hyr
Charles. He acknowledged that it was he
who introduced Promoter Davey to Luet-
CERT but he said he was deceived by the
man as well as Luetgert.
Frank Dittler told of seeing Mrs. Luetgert
wringing her hands on one occasion. 1t
was during the latter part of April, and the
witness declared Mrs. Luetgert said the
business was broken up, everything was
gone and that she was going away also.
Later the witness said Mrs. Luetgert prom
ised to attend the wedding OF his daughter
in June and make the prospective bride
present. --..e SSt.,< -
AT, the close of the afternoon session Of
court, ex-Judge Vincent and Attorney Pha-
len were much pleased over the evidence
of Witness Charles.
He told a pretty fair story" acknowl-
edged Assistant States Attorney McEwen
at the close of the trial. "It was one of
"
left to cross-examine. First he sought the
opportunity. He says he was in the base
ment of the factory that night and that
Luetgert began to make soap. He and
Luetgert are .the only ones who know the
real object for which that caustic potash
was bought. They.are not going to tell any
other story than the one told by Charles.
So what is the use to crosS-eXamine at
length on that point? But we have some
other evidence on this point that will
change the complexion of Charles evidence
when ii is submitted"
Mary Siemmering Again.
Mary Siemmering, the servant girl, whose
cross-examination was in progress Satur-
day, when court adjourned, was recalled.
Around this Witness according TO. the the
ory of the prosecution, the motive for the
attempted murder of Mrs. Louise Luetgers
centers. Luetgert's infatuation for his
pretty servant girl is claimed by the pros
ecution to have been the melting motive
to this celebrated crime.
When she went on the witness stand to-
day TO again endure, as she supposed, the
cross-examinatien of States Attorney
Deneen, which is electric in its rapidity,
Mary Siemmeriug appeared composed and
defiant. Her checks were flushed, which
indicated apparently SHINE mental excite
dent, had made up her mind to control her
feelings and not permit the states attorney
TO confuse her. Greatly to her surprise and
apparent relief. Assistant States Attorney
McEwen asked the questions, and did not
keep her on the witness stand long. His
cross-eXannation was not severe.
Did you not say before the grand jury
that Mrs. Luetgert was n good and kind
mother?" asked Mr. McEwen.
Il did" confessed the Witness
Now you say she beat her children and
was cross with them?"
when | went TO the grand jury room
to testify, Inspector Schaack was there
He told me If l did not say what 1 did he
would punish me-" said the witness.
The photographs which were identified
by witnesses from Kenosha were handed
to the witness and she identified them
The picture, which included Mrs Luetger1
and her two children, was taken two year.
ago, the witness said. Several question.
OF an impeaching character were asked
and Mary Siemnlering was excused Sh,
left the witness stand with a smile ant
took a scat within the Enclosure and re
mained to listen to other witnesses.
Mrs. Luctgcrt's Depression
Charles Boehnke, who had worked fo
Luetgert for sixteen years testified tha
on April Is he had a brief conversation
with Mrs. Luetgert. She seemed much de
pressed. the witness said. and remarke,
that things were going bad in the house
She said. according to the witness tina
she would so to the country and go t,
work 4 servant. We are about ruined
and j will go TO. the country and worl
out; cannot stay here" the witness sal
were the words of the apparentlv distract
pl tnl hgr hat n