The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-16
SCORED BY MR.. VINCENT
CHICAGO POLICE DENOUNCED BY
LUETGERT'S CHIEF COUNSEL.
Prosecution Accused of Doing Nothing
but Throw Mud at the Big
Sausage Maker.

| CHICAGO, Oct 15.-The intensely hot
weather of to-day had but little effect on
| the attendance at the Luetgert trial. The
courtroom was packed and hundreds of
| persons were unable to gain admittance.
Attorney Vincent, chief counsel for the de-
Tense, continued his address to the jury.
| His arguments were principally directed
toward the reasonable doubt" as to the
death of Mrs. Luetgert. He vigorously at
tackled the police officials for their alleged
browbeating of witnesses, particularly in
the case of Mary Siemmering, whom, he de-
clared, the defendant had treated more like
a daughter than an employee. The witnesses
for the prosecution were held up to sccrn
and ex-Judge Vincent declared that the
| prosecution had done nothing but throw
mud at his client while the defense had
| been engaged in scraping it off. Mr. Vincent
will probably conclude his address at to-
n.orrow's session. On Monday States At
| torney Deneen will make five-hour speech,
and the case will doubtless be given to the
| jury late Tuesday.
More than half the number of the crowd
that surged, pushed, pulled, gesticulated,
| demanded, beseeched and otherwise sought
| admission to Judge Tuthins court this
morning was composed of women. They
| came attired in matinee costumes and when
| their fans were put in operation the court
room was a huttering sea of many-hued
waves Luetgert came into court looking
much improved in personal appearance,
owing to a visit to the Jail barber shop. He
also appeared to have had better nights
rest than on Wednesday night. The big
sausage maker greeted his son, Arnold
/ I,fes hrref
partner, with hearty handshakes. Then he
turned and faced the large audience pres
ent. His heavy eyebrows were contracted
and the habitual scowl deepened as Luet-
| CERT gazed about him. apparently il search
| of the presence of friends.
Ex-Judge Vincent, fresh and confident in
physical appearance and in good voice. re-
sumed his argument where he had left off
| Thursday afternoon. Gentlemen of the
! jury" said he II had intended reading to
| you some ten or twelve cases on circum-
stantial evidence. But owing to the oppres-
| sive heat and in Difference to the wishes
| and suggestions of the court, | shall cur
/ tail my readings considerably. But before L
enter on a further discussion of the evil
dence in this case | shall read to you two
or three cases of interest.
"a REASONABLE DOUBT
Luetgert's chief counsel thereupon read
from law books definitions of circumstan-
| tial evidence and the weight that was due
and should be attached to such evidence.
Il will not say that circumstances do not
sometimes point to guilt" observed ex-
| Judge Vincent 'but l will say, aye, and
| affirm with emphatic warning to you twelve
| men, that condemning to death a human
| being on purely circumstantial evidence is
a dangerous proceeding. Can any juror in
the jury box say that Mrs Luetgert will
/ @1.sA
ment? Can any of you say she will not
come back to her home and her children
/ next week, next month, next year, or in
| the dim future? Unless you can reason
! able doubt exists in your mind and you
| must give this prisoner the benefit of it.
| Remember throughout your deliberations
| that this prisoner is entitled to every rea-
| sonable doubt"
J the case and discussed it at length He de-
Tended William Charles Luetgert's partner
whose evidence was impeached and prac,
tically admitted that the story charles tod
| was the story Luetgert would nave told
had he gone on the stand. The bone eX-
| pertS were discussed and those OF the pros
| ecution were ridiculed, while the experts Of
the defense were extolled to the skies.
During all of the hot afternoon session OF
| court eX-Judge Vincent pleaded with the
jury to spare the life of his client. He ar
! gued that there was nothing in the alleged
| love of Luetgert for Mary Siemmering, the
pretty servant girl, that would inspire the
| sausage maker TO commit such dlabolical
crime as was laid at his door The atti-
| was declared to have been that of rather
toward his daughter rather than as an en-
| plOyer toward a servant. Mary Siemmer-
| ing is a relative of Mrs. Luetgert and had
| been in the family for years, and was re-
| garded as a member of the family rather
| than in the light of a servant, the speaker
| claimed. Then he recalled the testimony
| of Mary Semmering, who had said that
Mrs. Luetgert was her friend and had often
| paid her extra wages, warning her not to
| let Luetgert know this fact He also re-
called that the two women exchanged pres
entS on Christmas, 1896, and were apparent
| ly on the best of terms.
| With bitter nvective Luetgert's chief
| legal defender attacked the police Depart
ment for the alleged cruel, browbeating
| treatment which had not only been heaped
! upon Mary Siemmering, but which had also
| Tense. Ex-Judge Vincent seemed to fully
realize that his was the one last plea and
| appeal for the big man who sat within
| touch of his hands and this fact inspired
| the orator with eloquence and fire.
During one of his outbursts he shouted,
turning suddenly toward Luetgert: They
/ have for months been throwing mud at
| him, and mud at him, and mud at him.
| At each repetition of the phrase the
| speaker reached down and dashed an i'm
| aginary handful of mud in Luetgert's face.
| Then he stopped suddenly. Facing the jury
| he stood silently for a moment and then
added: And we have been scraping it
! Off"
/ States Attorney Deneen was sharply
| criticised for the attack made upon the
reputation of William Charles, and then
/ the lawyer declared that Mrs. Luetgert had
| been well treated at her home. He recalled
| the fact that Luetgert and his wife had
| lived together eighteen years, and had got
along as well during. their married life
as people of their station and mental de-
| velopment usually do-no better and no
worse. Witnesses who had testified for the
| defense were praised, while those who had
| appeared for the state declared to
have been FOR the most part the perjured
dupes of the police. Ex-Judge Vincent de-
clared it as his firm conviction that Mrs
Luetgert had wandered away while de-
mented, and if she was dead her death
was not due to any act of her husband
| Tomorrow ex-Judge Vincent will speak
| about the rings the experts and the soaD
| making. Only one session of court will be
held, and States Attorney Deneen will not
be heard until Monday. The case will prob
ably so to the jury Tuesday