The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-23
WANDERED OFF WHILEINSANE
GENERAL DENIAL. OF THE PROSECU.
TONS EXPERT EVIDENCE.
Rings Found in the Vat Not Those of
the Missing Woman-HOw Luetgert
Was Financially Ruined.

ment for Luetgert and, according to him,
the defense will be simple. 1t will consist
chiefly of a general denial of all the expert
evidence submitted by the state, proof that
the caustic potash used in the vat was
purchased by Luetgert for the purpose of
making soap, and evidence tending to show
that Mrs. Luetgert is alive and in all prob
ability in Germany. Concerning the rings
found in the vat, Attorney Vincent said
| they were not those of Mrs Luetgert, and
| that he would prove that she had never
| seen them, much less worn them. He also
declared that he would bring witnesses to
show that many of the bones identified by
! the experts for the prosecution as human
| bones are in reality those of lower animals.
He will also show he said that Mrs. Luet-
CERT has been seen alive and well, save for
her mental troubles since May l, the night
on which it is claimed that she was muir
dered. He also asserted that Luetgert will
| go on the stand in his own defense. A
warm legal fight arose in the course of the
opening statement of Attorney Vincent. In
| outlining the defense, he said that he would
| prove that Mrs Luetgert nervous and dis
| couraged by the business reverses of her
husband, had told several of the neighbors
that she intended to run away from home.
against the admission of such evidence, and
the court after listening to the arguments
of the lawyers said that he did not think
that he could permit such testimony to go
in. The defense felt this badly, as Attorney
Vincent, in the heat of his statement had
said that without such evidence as he had
just alluded to his client might be hung
He fought with desperate energy for admis-
sion of the testimony and finally Judge Tut
hill said that he would permit the introduce
ton OF evidence relating to conversations
with Mrs. Luetgert held a week prior to
her disappearance, but he said that the
testimony must be absolutely direct and I'M
questioned.
SOURCE OF LUETGERTS TROUBLES.
Beginning his statement, ex-Judge Vim
cent sprung a surprise by reference to a
man named Robert Davey who, he said.
was the original medium through which all
of Luetgerts troubles arose and whose ac-
tons resulted in Luetgert being arraigned
before the bar of justice to-day 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 Luetgert and was
the cause OF all his trouble" said ex-Judge
vincent This man came with forged let
terS or introduction, representing himself as
a man of great means. I4uetgert mas al
ways carried his heart on has sleeve as
you VIII see when he goes on the witness
stand.
This was the first official notice that
Luetgert would testify in his own behalf,
and the announcement was received with
a show of interest by the prosecution and
the spectators "Davey told Luetgert he
could be the sausage king of the world"
went on eX-Judge Vincent, and Luetgert
believed him, for Davey was an artist in
painting glowing pictures of wealth and
fame. He told Luetgert he represented an
English syndicate and that a company
would be organized with a capital OF $500 :
900, and bonds for an additional $500 900
would be issued. The company would be
known as the A. l.. Luetgert Sausage and
Packing Company, Davey said, and Luet-
CERT would be given $780, 700 cash and $780,
go worth of stock. Out of fhe cash he
would pay Off $50, 900 of Indebtedness, which
was covered by a mortgage on his factoty.
Mr. Luetgert was delighted over the
visions of wealth revealed by Daveys pie
ture and Luetgert uneducated, honest and
without suspicion was pleased over the
prospect of ranking with the ArmourS, the
Swifts and Nelson Morris in the meat
world. Davey had expenses during the
time he was negotiating with Luetgert,
whom he had induced to close his fatocry
preparatory to the change which was to
have taken place Jan. 1, 1897. He called
on Luetgert for money and got it, in all
about $25 900. Finally Davey told Luetgert
the money and bonds were in the custody
Of the Continental Bond Company, of New
York Luetgert and Judge Goodrich, to
whom Luetgert had told his story. went
to New York. but none of the bankers or
bond companies had ever heard of DaVey,
and Luetgert had been swindled."
The attorney told of Luetgerts struggles
after this; how his business had been In
jured by the closing of the factory, and
in addition to the loss of $4,000 to Davey,
he lost by the failure OF e. 5. Dreyer 6S
Co.'S bank Then he borrowed $4,000 from
gage on his factory. Finally the failure
came and the disaster drove Mrs. Luetgert
to the verge of insanity. Later the woman
became insane, the lawyer said, and wan
dered away.
LUETGERTs CAREER.
The life of Luetgert was briefly sketched.
He arrived in America thirty-two years
ago without dollar, counsel said, and by
industry and thrift had built up an enor-
nous business. He made 100000 pounds of
sausage a year, and sold it all over this
country and Europe. Often there were
100. OOG pounds of meat in the factory at one
time and the sales from the factory to
local consumers averaged $3.50 per day.
Nineteen years ago Luetgert married Miss
Louise Bicknese, 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 unhapplly.
He said their lives were not continuous
honeymoon, but the couple lived as nap
PLY as people in their station usually
do The attorneys speech made an impress
sion on those in the courtroom and there
was a more cheerful smile on Luetgert S
face as he limped back to Jail for dinner.
During the afternoon session or court four
witnesses were heard. The first witness
called was ex-Judge A. A. Goodrich, law
| partner of ex-Judge Vincent, chief counsel
| for the defense. The witness said that on
May Luetgert came to his office and, with
tears in his eyes, informed him that Mrs.
I4uetgert had disappeared. 1t was on Mon
day and Luetgert said his wife had left
on the Saturday night previous, May /.
I.uetgert told the witness that his wife was
angry because Luetgert had lost his money
and had left him. Il advised him to keep
the matter out of the newspapers" said
itors to whom he owed some $780, 900, heard
of the disappearance. Foreman Bros. would
foreclose Immediately.
Ralph r. Bradley, another law partner
of Attorney Vincent testified in similar
strain to the evidence of ex-Judge Goodrich.
II saw him in my office May A. said the
witness. "Luetgert was very much de-
pressed and shed tears as he related his
troubles to me. He said he was not only
in deep financial distress. but that his wife
had left him. He feared his business would
be ruined"
What reason did he give for not MAX
ing a search for herr" demanded States
Attorney Deneen.
None except that he desired to avoid
publicity" replied the witness.
Adolph Elandt, a drayman. testified that
on May ] he took three barrels of grease
| and tallow to Luetgerts sausage factory.
lie understood the stuff was to be used In