The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-10
Testimony Introduced to Prove that
Found in the Sausage Makers Vat.
TWO WITNESSES TESTIFY
VIEWS OF MEDICAL EXPERTS Glib
son AND DELAFONTAINE.
Their Evidence Not Very Valuable to
of Acquiring the Prisoner.


and afternoon sessions of the court in the
trial of Adolph Luetgert were occupied in
the taking of expert testimony. Through
chemical analysis the state must establish
not only the possibility of a human body
being dissolved by the action of caustic
potash heated to the boiling point, but also
the fact that the bits Of bone, hair and flesh
and the scrapings of pinkish brown ma
terial from the interior of the vat in the
sausage factory are portions of the body
of human being. If it can demonstrate
these two propositions beyond a reasonable
doubt, one of the most important portions
of its case will have been accomplished.
By circumstantiaI evidence the state en-
deavored to prove that Luetgert was anx-
ious to rid himself of his wife and that
he enticed his wife to his factory on the
evening of May l. BY expert testimony it
expects 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 B. Gibson and Pro-
fessor Mark Delafontaine. DR.. Gibson,
whose direct examination was begun
Wednesday, offered further testimony for
the state and was turned over to the de-
tense for cross examination. Professor
Delafontaine was examined by Assistant
State Attorney McEwen, the direct exami-
nation occupying the remaining time of the
morning session and the entire afternoon
session.
MORE WOMEN THAN MEN
For the first time in the history of the
trial, no curious crowd to-day blocked the
entrance to the Criminal Court building or
Judge TuthilPs courtroom prior TO the
morning session of the court. The public
seems to have learned after several tire
some lessons that it is useless to seek for en-
trance without a reasonable excuse other
than curiosity. In the courtroom the usual
crowd of spectators gathered, the women
far outnumbering the men, as usual. The
big prisoner was brought into court early
and was in his seat in front Of Bailiff Reed
before judge or jury entered the courtroom
Luetgert plainly showed the effects OF con-
fnement and warm weather, and his fea-
lures were more wan than usual. The jury
also seemed to feel the effects of the sew
eral days of hot weather and the two
weeks of confinement which they have en-
dured.
The first witness called was H. f. Kru-
ger, the druggist who sold Waterman
FRANK Bialk the medicine which LUetgert
ordered his employe to purchase. The
testimony was intended merely as corrobo-
ratiVe of the watchman's statement as to
time, for the purpose of showing the hours
between which the alleged murder was sup
posed to have been committed.
The second witness was DR.. Charles B.
Gibson the chemical expert who was
placed on the stand for redirect examina-
ton in regard to his analysis of feshy sub
stances and slime removed from the vat
where the state is attempting to prove the
wife murder was committed. Professor
Gibson testimony proved to be of little
value to the state. Although the witness
freely admitted that the bits of ieshy sub
stance and organic matter taken from the
pollution were similar to human flesh, he
cross-eXamination by Attorney Vincent,
chief counsel for the defense. that the flesh
was as similar to the flesh of any other
animal it was to the human. Professor
Gibson testified that body could be disin-
tegrated in the manner charged by the
prosecution, but denied that the bones
would be affected in the manner that the
state has endeavored to establish. The wit
ness testified that the bones would be mere
ly softened at the ends, but would not be
dissolved. The lawyers for defense We're
highly pleased at the result OF their cross
examination, and felt that their case had
gained as result of the evidence.
A CHEMISTS TESTIMONY.
Prof. Mark Delafontaine, Swiss chem
ist, was next put on the stand. Professor
Delafontaine was educated only in the tech
nical terms of English, and it was impos-
sible for him to couch his answers in Ian
guage that the jury could comprehend. In
addition to this defect in the manner of his
testimony, the witness was possessed of a
very faulty delivery, and his low tones
could hardly be distinguished by the court
and lawyers who were very near him. How
ever, his testimony was necessary to the
case of the state, as without this story of
experts neither the manner of Mrs. Luet-
gert's supposed murder nor the fact of her
death can be established Testimony COR
corning bones was the chief portion of the
evidence submitted by Professor Delafon-
tame The bits Of bone which the police
gathered from the refuse pile where the
ashes of the furnace were said to be
dumped were subjected to the scrutiny Of
the chemist, who readily answered yes
when questioned as to whether they re-
sembled human bones. Others of his an
wers were so vague and uncertain as to be
valueless as evidence. Several times the
court attempted to have the witness define
himself as to to certain terms and express
sions, but such attempts were futile. The
chemist gave as his opinion that a body
could be dissolved in caustic potash heated
to the boiling point in the space of two or
three hours, nothing but the bones and
some of the igamentS and carriages re-
naming. However. he would not commit
himself further than had Dr. Gibson, who
preceded him on the stand.
The prosecution could not draw from
Professor Delafontaine the assertion that
the bits of flesh were 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 tomorrow morn
ing be turned over to the defense for cross
examination.
At no time during the day did the de-
PENDANT display emotion, not even when the
big dry goods box with its grewsome con-
tents Of flesh and bone was placed a few
feet from him near the jury. He handled
the gunny sacks and inspected with curious
giances the bits of flesh and bone which
were passed gingerly from attorney to at
torney, but at no time did his hand tremble
or the look of ordinary interest give way
to pallor or an averted glance. Innocent or
guilty. the verdict of all is shat 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 defense continue
in their confident attitude and assert that
when their prisoner IS acquitted and they
declare that when he is free a number of
damage suits are to be commenced. They
intend that those who have 'manufac-
tured evidence as they put it, shall suffer
done their client.
The prosecution tomorrow will introduce
evidence to prove that fully 80 per cent. Of
the bones which have so far been introduced
into the trial are those of dogs and sheep.
Then it will be shown that the remaining
10 per cent are human bones. 1t will be
shown that the dog and sheep bones were
taken from the place where the bones were
usually thrown The human bones, it will
be shown, were taken up from the street.
claims it will show, that extra precautions
were taken TO place the human bones where
they would not readily be found. The state ;
attorney has in his possession what bears