The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-03
MORBID THRONGS.
Courtroom, Where Luetgert Is
Fighting for Life, Besieged
Very Serious Evidence.


| persons striving to be present at the Luet-
gert murder trial today was SO great that
a new method of handling the crowds
had to be adopted. The third floor of the
big stone building in which the court room
is situated was abandoned as stopping
place Tor the passenger elevators. Stops
were made at the second and fourth floors
and guards stationed in the stairways be-
tween those noors and the third or court
room floor turned back everybody who
was not in some way connected with the
case.
The cross examination of Police Captain
Schuetler was resumed where it was left
off yesterday. Attorney Vincent for the
defense, asked to have stricken from the
case the Captains statement that he did
not go to New York TO find, out whether
Mrs. Luetgert had been seen there alive,
but to look up the reputation of Grotty,
the man who said he had met her on
Broadway. Attorney Vincent said the
statement was prejudical. The Court re-
fused to sustain the motion, and Captain
Schuetler told of his trip TO New York,
and of his investigation of Grottys repu-
tation. He said the State wanted to be
prepared to prove he was perjurer if he
appeared in the case as witness for the
defense.
Captain Schuetler was esked about the
visit of Attorney Vincent to the East
Chicago avenue police station on the
| day OF Luetgerts arrest, but the State
put in an objection. Mr.. Vincent stated
to the court that he expected to prove
by Luetgert that when he was arrested
Inspector Setback refused to permit any
person to see him until the next day.
The attorney said he was not allowed to
see him and was compelled to begin a
habeas corpus proceeding. Judge Tut
hill refused to admit any evidence re-
garding the matters.
Inspector Schaack is not on trial
here said the court.
Captain Schuetler was excused and Po-
lice Lieutenant George Hutchinson was
called. This witness eorroborated the tes-
timony of Captain Schuetler as to the
visit made by him and Schuetler on May
secure from him a statement regarding
the disappearance of his wife. He said
tives to look for his wife, although he had
previously told Bicknese that he had en-
gagged two private detectives.
Officer Walter S. Dean, of the Shelf
field station, introduced the subject of
the rings found in the vat in the sausage
factory. 1t was Officer Dean who found
the two gold rings in the middle of the
vat in which it is charged Mrs. Luet-
gert's body was dissolved in caustic pot
ash. The officers told of the examination
of the vat and the discovery of the
trinkets in the same manner it had been
related by other witnesses.
He was followed by Mrs. Ida Harris
who was the first of a series of wit
ing been worn by Mrs. Luetgert. Mrs.
Harris said she had known Mrs. Luet-
CERT for seven years and had often visited
the large gold band, with the initials IL.
L. and the mark s1Sk.'' in the inside
was Mrs. Luetgert's wedding ring About
five. years ago, she said, while sitting
sausage makers wife took off her rings
and showed them to her. The smaller
ring was worn as a guard to keep the
wedding ring on the finger. The guard
ring had milled edges, but the milling was
more distinct five years ago than it is
now. The witness could not tell when
she had last seen the rings on the hand
of Mrs. Luetgert.
On cross s-examination Mrs Harris said
that when shown the rings at the East
Chicago avenue police station after the
arrest of Luetgert, she remembered that
the initials IL. L. were in the wedding
ring in German script She said she had
never on seen Mrs large ring with with cameo in
asked if Mrs. Luetgert did not wear a
large gold ring with a chain and heart
attached, she said she had never seen it,.
Mrs. Sophie Tuchy was another ring
witness. She identified the rings which,
she said. Mrs. Luetgert had worn for
years. From her own finger she took
small guard ring somewhat resembling
that found in the vat and said she had
bought it of jeweler on Larrabee street
near North avenue.
ring, she said, on the advice of Mrs. Luet-
CERT. who recommended her to the jew
eler. Attorney Vincent objected to this
testimony, and the objection was sus-l
tained by the Court
Mrs. Tuohy said she had a conversation
with Luetgert on May s regarding the
disappearance of his wife. He told her
he had paid $40 to two private detectives
and had told them there was more money
for them if they needed it. Luetgert said
his wife did not have much love for her
children. He also said her brother Bick-
enese was angry because the disappear
ance was not reported to the police, but
Bickenese did wrong in getting angry.
Mrs. Alma Stanger was the last witness
before the Court adjourned for the noon
recess. She identified the rings as the
previous witnesses had.