Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-05
PRODUCED LOVE LETTER WRIT.
TEN TO HER BY LUETGERT.
Mrs. Luetgcrt Referred To in the Let
ter as Il "Carcass"-CuriOsity
seekers Barred From Court
H0Om-Croyvd of He
pOrters.

Mrs. Christina Feldt, n widow with Whom
the prosecution alleges Luetgert was IN
fatuated, and to whom II is claimed he
has written a number of love letters since
he has been confined in the Jail. Mrs. Feidt
said that OH various occasions Luetgert
said to her he didn't care for his wife. and
once said that he thought more of the
domestic in the house than of Mrs. Luet-
CERT. lie also said that he had many
Quarrels with his wife. and when Mrs.
Feldt asked him why he did not secure
divorce he said that soon as his fin-
ancial troubles were over he would settle
with her.
He repeated this several times. and called
his wife Carcass and other names
equally pleasant. 1t was said to be the
object of the prosecution In having Mrs.
Feldt on the stand to show that Luetgert
was desirous of getting rid of his wife for
the purpose of marrying the widow. but
this was not made clear. Mrs. Feldt said.
however, that he had made threats against
his wife many times.
She produced q bundle of letters written
to her by Luetgert in his cell in the jail
and carried to her home by Luetgerts son
Arnold. The letters were filled with en-
dearing terms. They began Beloved, Dear
Christine or Beloved Christine" and in
them Luetgert told of SufferingS he was
Jail.
inspector ScnaaCk ana his OTnCerS were
referred to as the gang that was after
him and the police were frequently re-
ferred to as dogs" Luetgert over and
over again assured his correspondent that
he would overcome the police and ''be with
her again a free man."
Mrs. Feldt testified that Luetgert. few
months ago, said that he cared more for
Mary Simmering, the servant, than he
did for his wife. She said she visited his
house May 8 and asked Mary Simmering
where Mrs. Luetsert was. Mary replied
at Ehn hah ynnn NUN ffaxt+ and
be back shortly.
The witness then asked Luetgert about
ana that t his W wife had disappeared. @ red ! Iuet- let.
gert said his wife had on former occasions
left him for several days without any ex-
had gone. He then made the statement
that he cared more for Mary than he did
The witness told of visit to Luetgert at
the jail. The prisoner sent her request
through Judge Vincent, his attorney. to
to persuade her to loan him money 20 pay
for his defense He asked her, she said. to
put a mortgage on her house in order to
Mrs. Feldt said she told Luetgert to ap-
ply to his other friends for money and he
told her he had been unable to find anyone
IF you go back on me- he said, "I viii
take my life" The witness said he ought
to be ashamed TO talk that way on account
of his children, and he replied that even
his children did not care for his life. She
said she then left him.
A niece of Mrs. Luetgert and two other
women identified the rings taken from the
vat as being the property of Mrs. Luetgert.
The niece said she at one time had borrow
I'd the rings and worn them.
Gotlieb Schimpke. II years of age. testi-
led that on the night of the disappearance
" Mrs. .Luetgert she saw about IL o'clock as
lhe was returning from dance, the de-
iendant and his wife enter the factory.
This was at the time when the watchman
Was absent, Luetgert having sent him on
IN errand to the drug store. On cross
Examination. the girl broke down badly and
aenied several things she had previously
said.~i
She was given time 10 compose herself
and took the chair again. She broke down
matters into his own hands and asked her
If she saw Mrs. Luetgert enter the fac
tory that night in company with her hus-
band. She was very positive that she had
seen them.
The state, II is said. will in short time
produce as evidence the portion of hui
Joint which were found in the factory and
will endeavor TO show that they belonged
10 the missing woman.
One of the features of the sensational
trial is the flocking in from all portions of
the country of newspaper correspondents
who crowd the regular press seats and
improyised desks have been placed for
them. The majority find all the features
necessary in the stirring incidents of the
trial. but some of the reporters nave found
IL necessary to call upon their imagination
for striking scenes and coloring. Luet-
gert's4 most prominent character is his
atolid. unflinching hearing. his face rarely
showing more expression that the back of
his massive neck. yet, in his blank counte-
nance enterprising journalists find daily
depicted all the human passions from
desire for a glass of beer 10 abject terror
and soul torture.
At "a recent session. an outIantish street
band, short on melody and long on breath
stopped beneath the court room windows
and turned loose n stream of popular airs
1.uetgert. with everybody else present was
amused at the temporary interruption. but
IN the incident "A melancholy correspondent
Dr TWO saw scene of morbid interest.
out of the ravishing strains of Sweet
Rosy OGrady' and My Girl Is High
born Lady they conjured funeral march.
and with narrowing mnuteness of detail
described the convulsion of fear which
swept across the prisoners palid couIte-
nance To the average spectator the coun-
1cnance was rather red and moist as a
rest OF high temperature of the crowded
room, but for all that IL was none the less
paid in the correspondents reports.
The big defendant reads these graphic
tales with great interest, and seems 20 be
highly amused by them, Frequently indulg-
ing in hearty laughter NJ the discovery that
he has broken DOWN or is ION the verge
OF a COLLAPSE
Curiosity seekers who attempted to gain
admission to-day to Judge Tuthill's court
where the Luctgcrt murder trial is being
held. found themselves intercepted al the
main entrance 10 the criminal court build
ing on Michigan street. There Il Gordon OF
officers had been established and only
those known TO have busineFs in the build.
ing were permitted 10 enter. Hundreds wer,
turned away and the crowd in the court.
room WAS kept within bounds successfully
Seyer;s letters alleged to have been writ,
ten by Luetgert for Mrs. Christine Field
were made public tonight and will tn,
prosecution announces. he submitted TO ths
Jury, Monday. They abound in such en-
beloved. Dear Christine" and the like anC
were written at various times since Luet
Eert's arrest He frequently asserts his in
nocence and his belief that there is no evi
He believes there is no evidence to con
vict him. severely condemns Attorne,
Tripp who WIS formerly his counsel an,
urges Mrs. Feldt 10 assist him in raisin;
He several times declared that he vii
soon be free 'and with you'' and saws
we will then have all the money W,
want" To one letter he adds this post
be glad of hereafter. that you have fulillIe,
my wishes. for your faithfulness will b
recognized 10y your loving Louis when w
need not think of this time any longer
Yours LOUIS
and ihriftiuess: "But now beloved Chris
tine. one thing is in the play and that /
the need of money and much money, an,
all the money ] have Is In your possession
] believe 1t Is Just rs good in your hands a
forted. The factory is closed. that doe
not matter. We have got fifteen months
time TO keeD possession OF the same con
sequently time enough 80 make money ou
of 1t.
II have two people on hand who wan
to buy the place for S15O,OO0. The entir
debts amount to $4,000. Certainly, the
only want the business. l should run
for them. That will leave us a nice sur
plus Now my beloved friend, these tw
hlonHSnpSars 10 t-o