The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-23
DEFENSE .oUTLINED

' must pe -dpsolulely Qlrect and
unquestioned.
DEFENSE OUTLINED.
Ex-Judge Vincent sprung a surprise
on the prosecution in his opening
statement today, by reference to a man
named Robert DaVey, who, he said.
was the original medium through
which all Of Leutgeft's trouble arose,
and whose actions resulted in Luet-
CERT being arraigned before the bar of
justice today, charged with murder
"a little over a year ago, Satan. in
the shape of "a medium sized, we'll
dressed and educated Englishman
named Robert Davey, came to Luet-
CERT, and was the cause of all his
trouble said eX-Judge Vincent" This
man came with forged letters of III
PRODUCTION, representing himself as a
man Of great means. Luetgert has al
ways carried his heart on his sleeve,
as you will see, when he goes on the
witness Stand.''
This was the first official notice that
Luegert would testify in his own be-
half, and the announcement was re-
cejved with show of interest by the
prosecution and the Spectators
"Davey told Luetgart he could be the
sausage king of the world went on
ex-Judge Vincent, "and Luetgert be-
ieved him, for Davey was an artist in
painting glowing pictures of wealth
and fame. He told Luetgert he repre-
sented an English syndicate and that
company would be organized with
capital of 100000, and bonds for an
additional 100000 would be issued.
The company would be known as the
A. L. Luetgert Sausage and Packing
company, Davey said, and Luetgert
would be given 100000 cash and $780,
600 worth of stock. Out of the cash
he would pay off $4,000 of indebted
ness, which was covered by mort
gage on his factory.
Mrs. Leutgert was delighted over
the visions Of wealth revealed by Da-
vey's picture, and Luetgert, uneducat-
ed, honest, ard without suspicion, was
pleased over the prospect of ranking
with the Armours, the Swifts and Nell
son Morris in the meat world. Davey
had expenses during the time he was
negotiating with Leutgert. whom he
had induced to close his factory, pre-
paratory to the change which was to
have taken place Jan. 1, 1897.
He called upon Luetgert for money
and got tin all about 5000. Finally
DaVey told Leutgert the money and
bonds were in the custody Of the Con-
tinental Bond Company of New York
Leutgert and Judge Goodrich, to whom
Luetgert had told his story, went to
New York, but none of the bankers CT
bond companies of that company had
ever heard of Davey. Luetgert had
been SWindled''
The attorney told of Luetgert's strug-
giles after this. How his business had
been injured by the closing of the fac
tory, and in addition to the loss of
$4,000 to Davey he lost by the failure
OF E. S. Dreyer & Co.'S bank Then he
hny- cd IT, ID.
bankers, placing another mortgage on
his factory. Finally the failure came,
and the disaster drove Mrs. Leutgert to
the verge of insanity. Later the wom-
an became insane, the lawyer said, and
wandered away. $50
The life of Leutgertf was briefly
sketched. He arrived in America thir-
ty-tWo years age! without q dollar.
counsel said, and by Industry and
thrift had built up an enormous bust
ness. He made 100000 pounds of sau-
sage a year, and sold it, all over this
country and Europe, Often there were
100000 pounds of meat in the factory
at one time, and the sales from the fac
tory to local consumers averaged $3.50
per day. Nineteen years ago Luetgert
married Miss Louise aBicknese, the
woman he is said to- have killed. She
was his second wife. They had four
children-two boys and two girls-the
latter are now dead. Ex-Judge Vim
cent denied that the couple lived un-
happily. He said their lives were not a
continuous honeymoon but the couple
lived as happily as people in their sta
ton usually do
During the afternoon session four
witnesses were heard. The first wit
ness called was ex-Judge A. A. Good
rich, a law partner of ex-Judge Vim
cent, chief counsel for the defense.
The witness said that on May 8, Luet-
CERT came to his office and with tears
in his eyes informed him that Mrs.
I4uetgert had disappeared. 1t was on
a Monday, and Luetgert said his wife
had left on the Saturday night previ-
ous-May l. Luetgert told the wit
ness that his wife was angry because