The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-25

CHICAGO, Sept, 24.-The testimony
for the defense in the Luetgert trial to-
day was for the most part that of Wit
nesses who said that they had seen Mrs
Luetgert in the vicinity Of Kenosha,
Wis, within few days after the date on
which 1t has been claimed by the state
that she was murdered.
An effort was made to introduce evil
dence regarding threats that Mrs. Luet-
CERT is said TO have made OF leaving her
home. When this question was first
brought up, the court ruled that threats
OF this kind, when made not longer than
one week prior to the disappearance OF
the woman would be admissible, but
that he would not permit testimony on
this point dating back farther than
week. The witnesses for the defense
who were to testify regarding the intent
of Mrs. Euetgert TO leave her home had
heard her make the threats several
months prior TO May /, and the court
threw out their evidence. Tomorrow
the defense will make strong effort TO
get the court to alter his ruling on this
point.
The fact that Juror William Harley
was indicted in 1887 for conspiracy and
bribery In connection with the Cook
county commissioners scandal, was
dragged to the front to-day. There are
now no cases pending against Juror Har-
ley, and he was never put on trial on the
indictments against him. States Attor-
ney Deneen stated tonight that he had
known for a month all about the former
charges against the Juror Harley.
Had been fully advised at the time
he was chosen, might have objected to
him." said the states attorney u have
spoken TO ex-state's Attorney Long
necker. who had charge OF the county
commissioner Doodle cases, and he as
sured be that Juror Harley was per-
fectly honest, honorable and reliable
man. and that all the charges against
him had been wiped out. He was iadict-
ed at a time when all men holding any
kind OF county contract were looked
upon with suspicion. The state Is per-
fectly satisfied with the makeup Of the
jury"
States Attorney Deneen was appar-
entity not disturbed by the evidence of
the witnesses from Kenosha, Wis, who
identified the picture of Mrs. Luetgert
as that OF strange woman they saw In
the Wisconsin town on May 3, 4 and 8.
"Wait until we put on our rebuttal evil
dence," said the states attorney. Eve
will show this defense up in way that
will be surprising"
Tomorrow witnesses will be called 20
show Luetgert's treatment OF his wife.
II will be sought tobe shown that he was
n model husband and that his home life
was pleasant, or reasonably so, and that
there was no unusual pickering or quar-
rellng between himself and his wife.
Next week the testimony of the experts
in regard to the bones found in the fac
tory will be heard.
The defense this morning devoted IT.
self to strengthening the story that Mrs.
Louise Luetgert who. according to the
story of the prosecution, was murdered
May /, had been seen In and around
Kenosha, Wis, on May 3, 1 and 8. Twd
witnesses, one Of whom had known Mrs.
Luetgert for seven years, positively lden-
tifed photograph Of Mrs. Luetgert, an
the picture OF the woman they saw al
Kenosha on the dates mentioned
Mrs. Matte Scherer, Miss Maud Scher-
or and Miss Gertrude Miller testified this
morning that Emma Schimpke, since she
had testified for the prosecution, had said
IN their hearing that her evidence was
entirely fnlse. She said the only reason
she testified falsely was to support the
evidence OF her sister Gottlieba, whd
had first lied
Frank Schlebe, a farmer. who lives
near Kenosha, Wis, and who had known
Mrs. Luetgert for seven years, testified
that he met her on a country road near
that town on May 1. He said he did not
recognize the woman by her worn and
generally exhausted appearance After
ward, when he learned that Mrs. Luet-
gert was missing and read a description
OF the clothing she wore when she dis
appeared. he was confident he had seen
her, and that the strange woman he met
on the road was she.
Policeman William Smith, OF Kenosha,
told of seeing a strange woman at the
Northwestern depot In Kenosha at 2
o'clock on the morning of May s. He
positively Identified the photograph OF
Mrs. Luetgert as the woman he saw at
the depot. The policeman described the
woman and her attire.