The San Francisco call., 1897-09-10
Chemists Are Cautious
in Giving Their
Testimony.
That Shiny Substance in the
Luetgert Vat a Matter
of Speculation.
Grewsome Exhibits In the Court
room Fall to Move the Big
Sausage M aksr.

CHICAGO, Ill, Sept. 9.-The entire
morning and afternoon sessions OF the
court in the trial of Adolph Luetgert was
consumed in the taking of expert testi-
mony. Through chemical analysis the
State must establish not only the possl-
bility OF human body being dissolved by
the action of caustic potash heated 10 the
boiling point, but also that the bone, hair
and flesh and the drippings OF plnkish
matter from the interior of the vat in the
sausage factory are portions OF human
body. II they can demonstrate these two
propositions beyond a doubt one. of the
most important portions OF the case will
have been accomplished.
By circum mstantial evidence they have
endeavored to prove that Luetgert was
anxious to rid himself of his wife and that
be enticed her to the factory on the even
ing of May /. By expert testimony they
expect to prove that Mrs. LuetGerts re-
mains are now represented by the bits of
flesh and hair. Two expert witnesses
have been called, DR.. Charles B. Gibson
and Professor Delofontaine. Dr.. Gibson.
whose direct examination was begun
Wednesday, offered further testimony for
the State and was turned over to the de-
fense for discrimination. Professor
Delofontaine was examined by Assistant
States Attorney McEwen, the direct ex-
animation occupying the remaining time
of the morning session and the entire
afternoon SeSsion.
The first witness called was H. F. Krue-
ger, the druggist who sold Watchman
Frank Bialk the medicine which Luetgert
10 n
testimony was in; n;ended merely as corrob-
ora tive of the watchman's testimony as 10
time for the purpose Of showing the
hours between which the alleged murder
was supposed to have been committed.
The second witness was DR.. Charles B.
Gibson, the chemical expert, who was
placed on the stand for redirect examina-
tion in regard 10 his analysis of heshy
sub stances and slime removed from the
vat, where the State is attempting to
prove the murder was committed.
Gibson's testimony proved oflittle value
to the State. Although the witness adj
mitted that the bits of hesny substance
and organic matter taken from the solu-
tion were similar to human flesh, ne was
equally candid In his ad ssion, upon
cross-e1amination, that the flesh was as
similar to the flesh of any other animal as
it was to the human. Professor Gibson
testified that a body could be disin tegrated
in the manner charged by the prosecution,
but declared that the bones would be
merely softened at the ends bul would
no. be dissolved. The lawyers for the de-
tense felt that their case had gained as the
result of the evidence.
Professor Marx Delo!ontaine, a Swiss
chemist, was next put on the stand. Pro-
fessor Delofontaine was educated only i'll
the technical terms of English, and it was
i'm possible or him TO couch his answers in
language that the jury could understand.
The prosecution could not draw from
the professor the assertion that the bits
Of flesh we're human flesh. They might
be human, he said, but they might also
be flesh of an animal. The bones he was
sure were human, but regarding the flesh
he was very guarded ana careful in his
statements. He will in the morning be
turned over to the defense for cross-eXam-
lnatlOn.
At no time during the day did the de-
fendant display emotion, not even when
the big dry oods box with its grewsome
contents of flesh and bone was placed
lew feet from him and near the Jury. He
handled the gunnysacks and inspected
with curious glances the bits of flesh and
bone which were passed gingerly rom at
torney TO attorney, but at no time did his
hand trem bic or the look of ordinary in
terest give way 10 pallor or an averted
glance. Innocent or guilty, the verdict of
all is that Luetgert is possessed of more
nerve than auy other man who has ever
been tried for murder within the precincts
of the Criminal Court bu lding.
The attorneys for the defense continue
in their confident attitude and assert that
when their client is acquitted mum Der of
damage suits are to be commenced. They
intend that those who have 'manuiac-
tured evidence as they put it, shall suf-
fer for the wrong W hich they say has been
done their client.