The age-herald., 1897-09-09
THE KNIFE IS IDENTIFIED
By the Defendants Old Sweetheart She
 Said He Gave It to Her
TO KEEP ON THE DAY OF HIS ARREST
The Bits of Steel Were Parts of Corset and We're Identified by Corset Makers One Weak State Witness Put
 On the Stand.

Chicago, Sept. S.-The defense in the trial of Adolph Luetgert for wife mur- der were surprised by move of the state in the trial today. What is con of evidence was introduced. Mrs. Chris tian Feldt Luetgert's one time sweet heart, was called to the stand by the state for lhe third time. States Attorney McEwan handed her an ugly-a -appearing jack knife, the blades of which were stained and rusty, and asked her if she had ever seen it before. She testified that the big sausa gemaker had given her this knife for safe keeping on the day of his arrest. The prosecution assert that 1t was with this knife that Luetgert murdered his wife before placing her body in the boiling potash, where 1t was dissolved. The ugly-lookbng weap- on was passed around for the inspection of the attorneys, and was handed to Luetgert, who opened and closed the blade, gazing curiously at the weapon and scraping the blade with ais finger, as if to remove the stains which cov- cred the blade. He evfnced no emotion, though he knew every person in the court room was closely watching and taking note of his every move. In talk ing with his attorneys. he admitted the knife was his property.
 T IT npdho,.t fd O |" Carxy srorSnf i. makers, were placed on the stand in suc- cession, and positively identified the two corset steels as having been the product of their factory. Certain marks in the two bits of metal were shown to cor respond with similar marks on new steels, which were produced in court. The witnesses each testified positively as to the similarity and also to the fact that the new steels were of the pattern usually sold by their factory. It was considered by the state to be a great blow to the defense and was unexpected by the latter, who hoped to prove that the two pieces of steel were scale bands.
 Emma Schimpke, sister to Gottlieba Schimpke, who testified to having seen Luetgert take his wife into the factory on the fatad evening, was placed on the stand to corroborate the testimony of her younger sister. She was a very fa1tering witness, and suffered under the scalhing cross examination to which she was subjected.
 She was apparently imbued with the idea that she must testify only to those matters which hurt the cause of the de- fense
 Judge Tuthill administered a kindly but firm lecture to the trembling girl.
 From her the defense secured th+ ad- mission that she was not sure she saw Luetgert and his wife enter the factory, and the defense also forced her to admit that she could not remember anything that happened on any particular night than May 1. When asked the day of the week upon which May fell she hesitated and th=n said Saturday, wasn't ft?" The defense felt that their cause had gained perceptibly from her testimony.
 There was the usual crowd clamor- ing for admission at the court room doors. Within the court room ths mem bers of the fair sex predominated among the spectators and the little room was crowded to its capacity.
 When Luetgert etnered shortly before court was op=ned he repeated his man ner Tuesday. and smilingdy nodded at the jury. He attempted to catch the eye of Judge Tuthill, but that official refused to nod to the prisoner.