The herald., 1897-10-22
Stood Between Luetgert
and Death
NO AGREEMENT WAS REACHED
ON THE QUESTION OF GUILT OF
DEFENDANT
Luetgert Makes Affidavit of Inno-
cence-Church Friends to Con-
tribute Funds

Associated Press Special Wire.
, CHICAGO, Oct. 21.-The jury in thu
famous Luetgert case, being uraa BILE tt
agree upon verdict, were discharged
this morning by Judge Tuthill. The,
stood nine for conviction and three fol
acquttal. Luetgert received the an.
nouncement imperturbab bly,, and with 8
good-pa tured smile shook harsds with
liam Charles, before being taken back tc
jail.
Judge Tuthill remarked that it was
much to be regretted that the jury were
unable to agree, but he was bound to
accept the statement of Jurors made
through the foreman and individually
Before being discharged the jury SUBJ
mitted report, thank!n4g the attorneys $
and, the court for the courtesies extend
ed ard expressing the opinion that, while
ura BILE to agree upon verdict one thing
they did agree about, and that was that
the circumstances were such that the
police had ample reason to prosecute on
the showing, without hearing the de-
fense, and commencing them for tav-
ing dope their duty.
LUETGERT swEARs
The Associated Press tonight OBJ
tanned the one great feature missing in
the famous Luetgert trial-the sworn
testimony of the defendant himself,
Ado,ph L. Luetgert
| Standing tonight in the gloomy Jail,
adjoining the grim-looking gray stone
court building, in which his remarka
BILE trial had. at last been brought to a
finish the burly sausage maker capped
the climax of the extraordinary series
of events which began with his sensa-
tional bankruptcy ard the alleged
frightful diabolism of boiling his wife
to death at midnight in a vat in his
factory cellar.
Tonight, closely following the final re-
suit of the trial which attracted world
wide attention. Luetgert made under
oath a statement for the Associated
Press concerning the fearful crime
charged against him, the first sworn
statement yet made by him and the first
statement of such a kind ever known
in newspaper annals. The affidavit was
put in writing in due legal form and is
certified to by notary.
Ex-Judge William A. Vincent. the
leading counsel for the defendant in this
celebrated case, gave consent to the
affidavit being made.
The affidavit explicitly declares Luet-
gerts innocence. The document in full
is as follows:
ITO the Public: The result Of my trial,
ending today, Is a victory for me, be-
,yoo of tbo dtco an, nf Tho i,1rv
but I am very much disappointed and
surprised that the jury did not bring
in verdict of not guilty.
II did not kill my wife and do not
know where she is, but am cure that 1t
Is only question of time until she comes
home
II did not go on the witness stand be-
cause my lawyer, Judge Vincent. was
bitterly opposed to my doing so and be-
cause he advised me 1t was not neces-
sary.
IT am grateful for the tremendous
change in public sentiment in my favor
and time will demonstrate that I am
not only innocent but q grievously
wronged man.
(Signed)
"ADOLPH l.. LUETGERT."
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 21st day of October, 1897
M. F. SULLIVAN,
Notary Public.
SENTIMENT. CHANGES
William Charles, Luetgert's business
partner said today: For over an hour
yesterday I discussed ways and means
with Luetgert for a new trial Senti-
ment has changed in the neighborhood
of Luetgert's home. People who were
against him are now inclined to be-
lieve him innocent. They reason that
If Jury after hearing all the eveidence
cannot agree, people who hear only one
side Of the story should not be too anx-
ious to condemn a man. Members OF
the German Baptist church In Lakeview,
where Luetgert's children attend Sun
day school, have expressed to me the be-
lief within the past twenty-four hours
that Luetgert is an innocent and per-
secuted man, and they are willing to
contribute to a fund to pay the ex-
penses of a second trial"
1t is quite probable that some pros
ecutions for perjury will result from the
Luetgert trial. While the states at
torney refused to affirm or deny this,
it is given on first-clase authority that
the testimony of two Of the principal
witnesses for the defense will be laid be-
fore the grand jury for an investiga-
ton. The two witnesses against whom
it is said indictments will be asked are
William Charles, Luetgert's business
partner. and Mary siemmering, the do
mestic in the Luetgert household.
o