The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-10

Chicago, Sept 9-The entire morn
ing and afternoon sessions of the court
in the trial of Adolph Luetgert were
consumed in the taking of expert testi-
mony. Through chemical analysis the
state must establish not only the posi-
bility of a human body being dissolved
by the action of caustic potash heated
to the boiling point, but also that the
bone, hair and flesh and the drippings
of pinl1ish matter from the interior of
the vat in the sausage factory are por-
tons Of the human bod-- 1f they can
demonstrate these two propositions be-
yond a doubt, one of the most impor-
tant portions of their case win have
been accomplished. BY circuEnstantial
evidence they have erdeayored to prove
that Luetgert was anxious to rid HIM
self of his wife. and shat he enticed
his wife to the factory on the evening
of May 1. By expert testimony they e1-
pect to prove that Mrs. Luetgert's re-
mains are now represented by the bits
of flesh and hair.
Two expert witnesses have been
called, DR. Charles 3. Gibson and Pro-
fagsor DeQofontaine. Dr. Gibson, whose
direct examination was begun Wednes-
day, offered further testimony for the
state and was turned over to the de-
Tense for cross examination Professor
Delofontaine was examined by Assist
ant States Attorney McEiwen, the d.
rect examination occupying the re-
naming time of the morning session
and the entire afternoon session.
The first witness called was H. F.
Kruagar, the druggist who sold Watch
man Frank Bialh the medicine which
Luetgert- ordered his employee to pur-
chase. His testimony was intended
merely as corroboratiVe of the watch
mans testimony as to time. for the
purpose of showing the hours between
which the alleged murder was sup
posed to have been committed.
EXPERT GIBSON'S TESTIMONY.
The second witness was DR.. Charles
B. Gibson. the chemical expert who
was placed on the stand for redirect
examination in regard to his analysis
of fieSlAy substances and slime removed
from the vat. where the state are at
tempting to prove the Wife-murder was
committed.
GibSon's testimony proved of little
value to THE state Although the wit
NESS ITttl9 dUI1llIICu THAT TIle DGIS OIL
f1esihy substances and organic matter
taken from the solution were similar to
human flesh, he was equally candid in
his admission, upon cross examination.
that the flesh was as similar to the flesh
of any either animal as it was to the
human. Professor Gibson testified that
g. body could be disintegrated in the
manner charged by the prosecution. but
declared that the bones would be
tI-- 7
net be dissolved. The lawyers for the
defense felt that their case had gained
as the result of the evidence.
An UNSATISFACTORY WITNESS.
Professor Mark Delafontaine, a Swiss
chemist, was next put on the stand.
Professor Delafontaine was educated
only in the technical terms of English,
and it was impossible for him to couch
his answers in language that the jury
could comprehend. In addition to this
defect in the manner of his testimony,
the witness was possessed of a faulty
delivery, and his low tones could hardly
be distinguished by the court and law
yers, who were very near to him. How
ever, his testimony was necessary to
the case of the state, as without the
story of experts, neither the manner
of Mrs. Luetgert's supposed murder
nor the fact of her death. can be es-
tablished-
The bits of bone gathered from the
refuse pile where the ashes of the fur
mace were said to have been dumped,
were submitted to the scrutiny of the
learned chemist, who was questioned as
to whether they were human bones
His answers we're SO vague and uncer-
tain. as to be valueless as evidence
Several times the court attempted in
vain to have the witness define him
self as to certain terms and express
sions. The chemist gave the opinion
that a body could be dissolved in caus-
tic potash, heated to the boiling point
in the space Of three or four hours
nothing but the bones and some Of the
ligaments and carriages remaining.
However, he would not commit him
self further than Professor Gibson.
The prosecution could not draw from
Professor Delafontaine the assertion
that the bits of flesh we're human flesh.
They might be human. but they might
also be the flesh of an animal. The
bones, he was sure, were human bones,
but regarding the flesh he was very
guarded and careful in his statements.
He will. in the morning. be turned over
TO the defense for cross-eXamination.
a GRUESOME EXHIBIT.
At no time during the day did the
defendant display emotion not even
when the big dry goods box with a
gruesome contents of flesh and bones
was placed q few feet from him near
the jury. He handled the gunny sacks
and inspected with curious chances the
bits Of flesh and bones which were
passed gingerly from attorney to at
torney. but at no time did his hand
tremhle or the look of ordinary inter-
est give way TO pallor or an averted
glance. Innocent or guilty, the verdict
of all is that Luetgert is possessed of
more nerve than any other man who
has ever been tried for murder within
the precincts of the criminal court
building. The attorneys for the de-
Tense continue in their confident atti-
tude and assert taat when their client
is acquitted number of damage suits
are to be commenced.
They intend that those who have
"n1anuf injured evidence" as they put
it, shall suffer for the wrong which
4. L liz. IL