Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-04
RINGS FOUND IN VAT IDENTIFIED AS
HIS WIFE'S.
THREE WOMEN SWEAR TO 1T
A CHEMIST ALSO GIVES DAMAGING
TESTIMONY.
Suys There Was No Need for Caustfc
Potash in the Sausage Factory
Judge Tutliill Visits the
FactOry-Crovvd Is
increasing.

Chicago, Sept. 3.-Three women gave
damaging evidence against the detendahl
in the Luetgert trial to-day. They posi-
lively identified the rings found IN the
vat as being the property of Mrs. l.uet-
CERT, and said that they had seen them on
her hands, and one of them had talked
with her about the rings at one tlme' ana
so felt sure that the rings found IN the
vat and those she saw on Mrs. Luetserts
fingers were the same. The defense mace
a desperate effort to break down the eVi-
dence of the three women, but they all
stuck to their stories and swore that the
rings were those which the wife of the
sausage maker had worn before she dis
appeared.
officer Walter S. Dean, of the Sheffield
station, introduced the subject of the rings
found in the vat in the sausage factory. II
was Officer Dean who found the two gola
rings in the middle of the vat in which II
is charged Mrs Luetgert's body was , dlS,
of the examination of the vat and the
discovery of the trinkets in the same man
ner it had been related by other witnesses.
He was followed by Mrs. Ida darrls, VINO
was the first of a series of witnesses VINO
identified the rings as having been worn
by Mrs. Luetgert. A.,
Luetgert for seven, years: and mad otten
visited her at her home. She was poSltlTe
that the large gold band, with the inltlais
IL. L." and the mark rs K'' in the inside
was Mrs. Luetgerts wedding ring. About
five years ago, she said while sitting with
Mrs Luetgert in her kitchen. the sausage,
them to her. The smaller ring was worn as
a guard to keep the wedding ring on tie
finger. The guarding had milled edges,
but the milling was more distinct nVe V,s years aps
tell when she had last seen the rings on
the hand of Mrs. Luetgert.
Carl Voelker. chemist, who had been at
one time engaged with Luetgert When ne
manufactured permanganate of potash ana
was at one time a shipping clerk in the
factory, testified during the afternoon ses-
gert's processes for making sausage, and
that he had never had any occasion to use
any caustic potash around the place. The
it for the purpose of using it in the MAX
ing of the sausage. During all of the time
that Voelker was around the factory, he
said, the watts were never used.
Voelker told the jury that on one occasion
he saw Luetgert use violence toward his
wife. She and another woman came into
the office in the factory one afternoon, and
Luetgert appeared to be in a rage. The
witness was not in the office. but he saw
Luetgert push his wife and her companion
and the lady. with her hurried away, much
excited. He heard Mrs. Luetgert say: HE
has revolver and will kill u.s..
The session of court was short in the
afternoon. as Judge Tuthill said that he
desired to make a personal visit to the
factory and see for himself where the muir
| der is said to have been committed. He
| took with him one attorney from the side
of the defense and one from those engaged
| in the prosecution, and during their visit
| to the factory no other person was allowed
The crush around the court room has
| increased to such proportions that it was
! found necessary. to take active measures
\ to-day to keep the crowd away from the
| trial. The court room is on the third floor
| of the criminal court building, and orders
1 were given that none of the passenger ele-
vators should stop except at the second
and fourth floors. Officers were stationed
| at the stairways, and nobody who did not
| have business in the court room was al
lowed to pass.