Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-31
TRIAL OF LUETGERT.
,s VOW UNDER WAY IN EAR
NEST.
DEAD BODY BOILED In POTASH.
crucsomc Experiment. to Test
Theory of the Prosecutton-Evi-
dencc of Luctgcrt's Young Son Ii
10 Unexpected Eject

fr the alleged murder of his wife on
Nay ist began in earnest to-day. Two
witnesses We're examined Diedroh
Yicknesc. brother Of Mrs. Luetgort. and
Lcois r. Luetgert. the li-year-old son
o. the accused. The testimony OF Bick-
iese tended TO show the Indifference Of
Luctgert 10 the fate of his wife. Louis
T. Luetgert. who is remarkably bright
ad for his age. produced something Of
4 sensation, In concluding his testimony
and. it Is believed caused counsel for
The prosecution to regret having placed
bin on the stand. The boy testified
that his mother came to his bedroom
after he had retired. and some time af-
isr no heard his father descend the
l.ck-stairs into the factory.
contrary TO the expectation OF the
s,ate. the jury will be asked by the de-
fence 10 witness an experiment in the
vat In the basement OF the sausage
factory. This is to be the result Of an
experiment. conducted by Luetgerts at
t5rueys Saturday and yesterday. The
body OF a man Of about Mrs. Luetgerts
tge and weight who met his death by
violence Thursday. was taken TO the
factory al No. COL Diversey avenue. and
Immersed in a solution OF caustic potash.
Tho experts related that after boiling
the body in a 10 per cent. solution Of the
potash for the same length Of time,
ihree and one-half hours. and under the
same circumstances, as the State al
I raat a ~
his wife, the complete skeleton of the
nan remained intact after the solution
had been let out. As a result. the de-
fence will. it is said, ask Judge Tuthiil
20 adjourn his court and jury 10 the
basement Of the big sausage-factory for
& few hours and witness another ex-
per.mcnt. which, the defence claims.
vM completely disprove the states
theory Of dsintegration.
LUETGERT CALM
Luetgert was calm and confident-look-
iug when brought into court, and he had
apparently been greatly refreshed by
Sundays respite from the daily court
ordeal
State District Attorney McEwan for
mally opened the case for the State. on
TIE wall close 10 the jury box were hung
large maps of the Luetgert sausage
surroundings of the place, where it is
charged the prisoner killed his wife
and then destroyed her body. The at
t0rney for the State began with the dis
appearance Of Mrs. Luetgert on May
lst. next described the visit on May 4th
OF Diedrich Bicknese, brother Of Mrs.
Luetgert. when he called TO see his sister
and discovered that she had disappear
ed He Gwelt on the apparent indiner-
l. H. 50. - 4 hot
he had not Informed the police, but had
hired two detectives. and his invitation TO
Blcknese to call again I'm about a week,
When ne would tell him IL anything had
been discovered concerning the where
abouts of his sister
Attorney McEwan told the jury that
Luetgert's statement that no had hired
two detectives to look for his wife would
Dc proven false. He ssid that 1t was the
theory Of the defence that Mrs. Luet-
cert accompanied her husband into the
factory between 1890 and IL o'clock. The
son heard the father descending the
steps towards the factory. where he had
slept for years, after having ordered
his son to bed, while he wac conversing
with his mother The boy did not hear
his mothers steps, because she wore
house slippers. which made no noise.
Iuetgert and his wife were seen in the
alley IN the rear Of the house few min
utes later. They were seen going through
gate which led 10 no place except the
factory.
The attorney for the State then detailed
the movements of Luetgert in the rae
tory. the turning on OF steam into the
Vat: the sending out of the Waterman
shortly before 10 o'clock to a drugstore
and his subsequent crrand to another
drugstore. which kept him out for an
hour He was away when Mrs. Luetgert
was last seen alive in the alley.
THE ALLEGED MOTIVE.
The alleged motive. according to the
theory Of the State. was then. described
Nr. McEwan said Luetgert despised MS
v.f. lie had treated her with Violence
as the evidence Of the State would snow
He had no affection for her. and lived
alone in the factory. There, the attorney
fd he had been visited by other women
judge Vincent objected TO this state
peat. hut Judge Tuthill overruled the oD-
5-cuon
Sir. McEwan then said a witness would
testify that he saw Luetgert choke ms
vle in a chicken-house back OF his resi-
dence She said: you will not XIII me
as YOU did that man. for have no
money" This caused Luetgert to say
Igdge Vincent objected to this statement
S. foreign evidence. out was overruled by
be Court.
when Mr.. McEwan concluded Attorney
Vincent announced that no opening ad-
tfess would be made at present for the
ls'euce
The first witness. W. II. Haafe. of the
ty department. was then called ana
stlei 10 the correctness of the draw
hgs being used by the prosecution.
When The afternoon session began the
tT witness called was Bicknese, brother
q Mrs. Luetgert. He told the jury OF
A5 visit 10 the house OF Luetgert, May
fh. TO see his sister. There he met the
salsage-maker, and talked with him lor
some time before he was informed that
Mfs Luetgert had disappeared. Bicknese
taa Lue,gert told him he did not know
Maa, had become Of his wife. He had
lisl seen her at o'clock the saturday
evening previous. Luetgert SAID ne ala
not Dehlve she had gone away with some
o,her man. but thought she had wander
,l away The witness said he asked the
prisoner what he had done 10 nnd ms
VIE ana was informed that he had not
l'i4 me police OF her disappearance. IN
s.s4o he said ne had paid two private
ee'eciNts s. each. and they would 90
more than the police would accomplish.
.Ae witness said Luetgert told him he
"a not looked TO see If his wife had
1Aeh any clothing with her. except the
she had on when he last saw her'
ae mad not visited any place or made
ry enquiries.
bICKNESE IMPRESSIVE.
b'cAnese told his story In a simple,
Iefhuorward way that made him an
| W'aaiVe witness. Louis Luetgert, u
.afs old the bright-faced son OF the