The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-28
PERJURY CHARGED.
Threats to lndiet M ary Siemer-
ing Is Luetgert's
Wife Alive !?

CHICAGO, Sept. 2S, 1S97-Intimations
that perjury had been committed by wit
nesses for the defense in the Luetgert
murder trial were heard around the Grim
inal Court building today, coupled with
suggestion of Grand Jury investigation.
1t was said that the prosecution seriously
contemplated seeking the Indictment of
Mary Siemmering before the Grand Jury
now in session. During the time Mary
Siemmering was on the witness stand she
was questioned sharply by Assistant
States Attorney McEwen relative to her
testimony before the Grand Jury which
indicted Luetgert. She admitted that her
story before that body as well as the
evidence she gave before Justice Kersten.
who held Luetgert for trial, was different
gave at the present trial. Her explana-
ton of the discrepancy was that Inspector
Setback had threatened her when she
her that if she did not testify against
Luetgert she would be punished.
Inspector .Schaack denounces this state
ment as utterly, false. During her story
on what took place in the East Chicago
avenue police station, after her arrest,
Mary Siemmering related incidents IN
which Assistant States Attorney Nc
Ewens name figured unpleaSantly. The
narration aroused the blood of the Off
ciai who plainly says the witness falsi-
fed and he intimated this morning that
Mary Siemmering might have another
would be perjury.
The daily crowd at the entrance to the
Criminal Court building today was even
larger than usual. It was about equally
divided as to sex.
The court proceedings opened today
with the appearance upon the witness
stand of DIR. Clarence Rutherford, the
Luetgert family physician. He testified
as TO Mrs. Luetgert's physical condition,
stating that she was in fairly good
health. Attorney Phalen inquired as to
the woman's mental condition. States
attorney objects to the question unless
the witness qualified as an expert upon
mental diseases. DR.. Rutherford could
not do this, and after stating that he
visited the. Luetgert family twice each
ness in the family he was released from
the witness stand.
An interesting witness was Armadale
Opdyke a fruit vender from near James,
vile. Wis. Opdyke was positive. He said
that in May he was in the vicinity of Lake
Zurich, near GAINESVILLE, with a horse and
wagon; On the night OF May ne campeo
small grove near him he saw two women.
They were lying on the ground and said
theywere going to remain there during the
night. Opdyke said he carried an armful
of hay from his wagon to the women and
they made a bed of it. The witness posi-
lively and Internationally identified q
the women he saw in the woods near Lake
Zurich the night of May 8. Opdyke said
he could not be mistaken. He was abso-
lutely sure that one of the women was
Mrs. Luetgert.
On cross-examination he acknowledged
that his Identification was based purely
upon the resemblance of Mrs. Luetgerts
picture to one of the women.
Maggie Shaughnessy, of No. 1,24S North
Robey street, was put on the witness
stand to strengthen the impeachment evil
dence against Emma Schimpke. Witness
was with Emma Schimpke and Rose
Gleich at the dance in Westig Hall oppo-
site Luetgerts sausage factory the night
of May l. She said she saw Luetgert in
the barroom of the place and that she
and Emma Schimpke left the hall about
nine o'clock and went home. Subsequent
ly Emma Schimpke could not have seen
Luetgert and his wife at eleven o'clock.
Marcus Heinneman added the weight OF
his testimony to that of others who have
told how Mrs. Luetgert had frequently
said she was going away from home be-
cause Luetgert had failed On April 2S,
the witness said, Mrs. Luetgert told him
she was going away.