The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1897-09-03
Chicago's Sensation.

for the alleged murder OF his wife on
May rst, began in earnest to-day. Two
witnesses were eXamined-Diedrich
Bickness, brother of Mrs. Luetgert,
the 12-year-old son of the accused.
The testimony Of Bicknese tended in
the main to show the alleged indilfer-
ence of Luetgert to the fate of his wife
and his alleged disinclination to report
the matter of her disappearance to the
police department.
Louis Luetgert, who is remarkably
bright lad for his age, produced some
thing of sensation in concluding his
testimony and it is believed, caused
counsel for the prosecution to regret
having placed him on the stand. The
boy testified that his mother came to
his bed room after he had retired and
some time after he heard his father
descend the back stairs into the fac
tory,
Contrary to the expectation of the
State, the jury will be asked by the
defence to witness an experience in the
vat in the basement of the saugage fac
tory. This is to be the result of an ex-
pertinent conducted by Luetgert's at
torney Saturday and yesterday.
The body of man Of about Mrs.
Luetgert's age and weight, who met
his death by violence Thursday, was
taken to the factory at 6oI Diversey
avenue and immersed in solution of
caustic potash. The result exceeded
their expectations. The experts relat-
ed that after boiling the body in is
per cent. solution of potash for the
same length of time, three and a half
hours, and under the same cirCum-
stances as the State alleges Luetgert
disintegrated the body of his wife, the
complete skeleton. of the cavedar re-
naming intact and that the solution
had had but little effect on the cloth
ing As result of the test the defence
will it is said, ask Judge Tuthill to re-
move his court and the jury to the base
ment of the blg sausage factory for
few hours and witness another expert
ment, which the defence claims will
completely disprove the States theory
OF disintegration.
Luetgert was calm and confident
looking when brought into court and
had apparently been greatly refreshed
by Sundays respite from the daily
court ordeal.
District States Attorney McEwan
formally opened the case for the State.
On the wall close to the jury box
were hung large maps of the Luetgert
sausage factory, the Luetgert home
and all the surroundings of the place
where it is charged the prisoner killed
his wife and then destroyed her body. |
The attorney for the State began with
the disappearance Of Mrs. Luetgert on
Nav Ist, and next described the visits |
on May 4th of Diedrich Bicknese,
brother of Mrs Luetgert, when he
called and discovered that she had |
disappeared. He dwelt on the ap-
parent Indifference of the husband, |
his statement that he had not informed |
the police, but had hired two detec
tiyes, and his invitation to Bicllnese to
call again in about a week, when he
would tell him if anything had been
discovered concering the whereabouts
of his sister.
Attorney McEwan told the ejury tnat
Luetgert's statement that he had hired
two detectives to search for his wife
would be proven false. Mr.. McEWan
Mrs. Luetgert accompanied her hus-
band into the factory between 1880
and II o'clock. About 1880 her little
son, Louis, returned from the circus
and saw her sitting in the kitchen The
conversation Of the boy with his mother
was interrupted by Luetgert, who
came in and ordered the boy to bed.
Before going to bed the boy heard his
father descending the back stairs to
ward the factory, where he had slept
for years. Mr.. McEWan said that it is
the theory of the State that Mrs.
Luetgert descended the stairs at the
same time and went to the factory.
The boy did not hear her steps becau'e
she wore house-slippers, which made
no noise. Luetgert and his vie were
seen in the alley in the rear Of tie
house few minutes later. They were
seen going through gate which led
to no place except the factory.
The attorney for the State then de-
tailed the movements of Luetgert in