Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-23

Agent of a Non-ExiSting English
Syndicate--The immensely of His
Sausage Business.
Chicago, September 22.-Ex-Judge
Vincent sprung a surprise on the pro-
.secution in the Luetgert murder trial
in his opening statement to-day by ref
.erence to a man named Robert Davey
who he said, was the original medium
through which all of Luetgert's trou-
BILE arose and whose actions resulted
in Luetgert being arraigned before the
bar of Justice to-day charged with muir
der.
"A little over year ago, Satan in the
shane of a medium sized, we'll dressed
and educated Englishman, named Rob
ert Davey, came to Luetgert and was
the cause of all his trouble" said eX-
Judge Vincent. This man came with
forged letters of introduction, repre-
senting himself as man OF great
means. Luetgert has always carried
his heart on his sleeve, as you will see
when he goes on the witness stand.
This was the first official notice that
Luetgert would testify in his own be-
half and the announcement was re-
ceiS,ed with 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, land 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 company
would be organized with capital of
100000 and bonds for an additional
S400,OO would be issued. The COM
pany would be known as the A. L..
Luetgert Sausage and Packing Com
pany, Davey said, and Luetgert would
be given 100000 cash and 100000
worth of stock. Out of the cash he
could pay off $4,000 of Indebtedness
which was covered by a mortgage on
his factory.
''Mrs Luetgert was delighted over
the visions of wealth revealed by
Davey's picture, and Luetgert, unedu-
Gated, honest and without suspicion.
was pleased over the prospect OF rank
ing with the Armours, the Swifts and
Nelson Morris in the meat world.
Davey had expenses during the time
he was negotiating with Luetgert,
tory preparatory to the change which
was to have taken place January l,
1897. He called upon Luetgert for
money and got it, in all about $25. 1000.
Finally Davey told Luetgert the mon
ey 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 of that city
had ever heard of Davey and Luet-
CERT had been swindled"
The attorney told of Luetgert's
struggles after this. How his bust
ness had been injured by the closing
of the factory 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 borrowed $4,000 from Fore
man Bros, bankers, placing another
mortgage 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 wandered away"
The life Of Luetgert was briefly
sketched. He arrived in America 8:
years ago without a dollar. counse
said, and by industry and thrift had
built up an enormous business He
made 100000 pounds of sausage &
year and sold it all over this country
and Europe. Often there. were 100 .00(
pounds of meat in the factory at one
time, and the sales from the factory
Ito local consumers averaged $50 pei
Cday. Nineteen years ago Luetger
married Miss Louise Bicknese. the wo
l man he is said to have killed.
She was his second wife They hat
four children-two boys and two girls
the latter ere now dead. Ex-Judge Vim
cent denied that the couple lived hap.
PLY. He said their lives were not 9
continuous honeymoon, but the couple
lived as happily as people in their sta
lion usually do.
During the afternoon session the
FIRST evidence for the defense was in.
.roduced.
The crow at the criminal court
building uorning was great and
the once erienced much trouble