The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-23
1t Will Explain the Caustic
Potash and Bones.
PRISONER TO TESTIFY.
His Attorneys Announce That
He Will 60 on the Stand.
Defense viii Maintain That
Mrs. Luetgert is Alive.

OF evidence tending to prove his innocence
before the attorneys in the case COM
mence their final arguments. Attorney
Vincent, for the defense, made the open
ing statement for Luetgert, and accord
ing to him, the defense will be simple 1t
will consist chiefly of a general denial
of all the expert evidence submitted by
the state, proof that the caustic potash
USED IN the vat was purchased by Luet-
CERT for the purpose of making soap, and
evidence tending to show that Mrs Luet-
CERT is alive and in all probability in
Germany. Concerning the rings found
IN the vat, Attorney Vincent said they
were not those of Mrs. Luetgert and that
he would prove that she had never seen
them, much less worn them He also
declared that he would bring witnesses
to show that many of the bones identi-
hed by the experts for the prosecution
as human bones are in reality those of
lower animals. He will also show, he
said, that Mrs. Luetgert has been seen
alive and well, save for her mental trou-
bles, since May 1, the night which
it is claimed that she was murdered. He
also asserted that Luetgert will go on
the stand in his own defense.
A warm legal fight arose in the course
of the opening statement by Attorney
that he would prove that Mrs. Luetgert,
nervous and discouraged by the business
reverses of her husband, had told several
of the neighbors that she intended to run
away from home. The state pro tested
with much earnestness against the ad-
mission of such evidence, and the court,
after listening to the arguments of the
lawyers, said that he did not think that
he could permit such testimony to go in.
fAI@
Vincent, in the heat of his statement,
had said that without such evidence as
he had just alluded to his client might
be hung.
He fought with desperate energy for
the admission of the testimony, and final
ly Judge Tuthill said that he would per-
nit the Introduction of evidence relating
to conversations with Mrs. Luetgert held
a week prior to her disappearance. but
he said that the testimony must be alb
solutely direct and unquestioned.
During the afternoon session of the
court four witnesses were heard. The
first witness called was ex-Judge A A.
Goodrich, a law partner of eX-Judge
Vincent, chief counsel for the defense
The witness said that on May 3 Luetgert
came to his office, with tears in his eyes,
and informed him that Mrs. Luetgert had
disappeared. 1t Monday and
Luetgert said his wife had left the
Saturay night previous-May 1. Luet-
CERT told the witness that his wife was
angry because Luetgert had lost his
money and had left him.
81 advised him to keep the matter out
of the newspapers said ex-Judge Good
rich. 81 told him if his creditors, to
whom he owed some $30. 900, heard of the
disappearance Foreman Bros. would fore
close Immediately"
RaInh r Rra0l6V. another law partner
of Attorney Vincent, testified in a simi-
lar strain.
ST saw him in my office May A. said
the witness. "Luetgert was very much
depressed and shed tears as he related
his troubles to me. He said he was not
only in deep financial distress, but that
his wife had left him. He feared his
business would be ruined
what reason did he give for not max
ing search for her?' demanded States
Attorney Deenan.
None except that he desired to avoid
publicity
Adolph Delant, a drayman. testified
that May l he took three barrels of
grease and tallow to Luetgerts factory. |
He understood the stuff was to be used |
in making soap. One day towards the |
close of April, the witness said, he was
at the Luetgert factory and saw Mrs
Luetgert who seemed to be depressed.
She remarked during a conversation that |
nearly everything was gone and thought |
she would go too, pretty soon, and work |
on farm. where no one knew her.
Rosa Gleich of 1859 North Paulina street, |
Lake View, a young woman with an |
original dialect, was called to the wit |
ness stand to impeach the evidence of |
Emma Schimpke, who testified for the |
prosecution and said she saw Luetgert |
and his wife going from the Luetgert |
residence to the sausage factory about |
10 o'clock on the night of May 1. Gott- |
lfeba Schimpke, a younger sister of EN- |
ma, also testified to this fact, but the |
child afterward admitted that she did |
not know what state or county she was
living in, her evidence was of little value
Rosa Gleich said that she was with the |
Schimpke girls on the night of May l. |
They had all been to a dance. She de- !
clared positively that neither of the |
Schimpke girls had seen either Luetgert |
or his wife that night, and that since |
she testified Emma Schimpke had admit |
ted to the witness that she had sworn |
falsely and tried to get her to do the |
same telling her she must not be ION |,
Iuetgert's side.'
Emma Schimpke said to me that it |
was the pratt1e of her sister that got her |
into the case'' said the witness, land |
she testified to suit the side that called |
her.
Luetgert's attorneys will prove, they |
saw that the caustic soda in the base |
ment was procured weeks before Mrs.
Luetgert disappeared for the purpose OF
making soft soap, and that Luetgert
bought talIow and various ingredients to
put into this soap, which was to be made
in the watts in the basement
T. A. Peak, Dentist. over Crosby's store |