The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-28
POTASH IN THE VAT
William Charles Says II Was Bought
to Make SOfl Soap.
WITNESS TOLD A PLAUSIBLE STORY
harricnded door the Result of u Rat
Luctwcrt weeping and TaIki ng o
Going Away from mIIome-AtIorncY
McEwen's Comment.
Chicago, Ill.,, Sent. 27. 1897.

Chicago, ILL.,, Sept. 81, 1897
The leading event or the day IN the
trial OF ~. L.. Luetgert was the evil
dence Of William Charles. Luetgert's
business partner He explained why, as
ne Claimed, the caustic potash in which
The body OF Mrs. Louise Lurtgert is al
legged by the prosecution to have been
dissolved, was bought
according to Charles story the potash
was purchased as the principal ingedicnt
or quantity of soft soap, to be used
lnl cleaning up the big factory prepara-
tory to it's sale to an English syndicate
me witness said he suggested this
method OF putting the factory in shape
himself, and That Luetgert, acting upon
The suggestion, ordered i barrel of
caustic potash, Weighing 37G pounds
sent TO the factory In March last. This
vas about the time prosecution claims
the negotiations Were pending between
i!netgert and DaVcy, the mysterious
EhSiishman, who is said to have rep
resented the syndicate and who borrow
ed something like $4,000 from Luet-
CERT.
Charles also offered an explanation of
me apparently barricaded door to the
basement stairway by telling about a
chase for rats, i'll Which a small dog was
an active participant. He said that
me factory had been infested by rats
ior some time and that an effort had
Deen made TO get rid OF them. The even
IN or April 30th he and Luctgert. with
o'hcrs. were in the basement when a
terrier. which belonger to the witness.
got after q rat. Charles, Luetgert and
the Others moved boxes, barrels and
others obstacles TO aid the dog I'm his
chaSe, and the boxes and barrels were
hurled in pile against the door. The
parrlcade of the door was unintentional,
ne SAID 1t Just happened that the ar
i, l..
thought OF the door at all
Charles said besides the caustic potash
TWO or three barrels of tallow a ullan-
iity Of grease and some chiuped bone
Which was to he used III making the soft
sohp' was delivered at the factory. He
said mat he aided OdOrfsky and Levan-
doWSki, the two labCrcrS empluyed In
the factory, To place some of the STUFF
IN the middle vat. He also saw Frank
biaik III the factory at the time. The
caustlc potash was put In the vat and
L.uetgert said he would see to turning
on the steam and boiling the stun
charles said he met Luctgert In a
shlo'H opposite the factory on the even
ing Of the night Mrs. Luetgert dis,D-
peared ana Luetgert said he was going
over The factory and turn on the steam.
At O'Clock the same night Charles
said he went to the basement of the
factory ana found LuctSert there and
the steam turned on. The mixture
boiled over cnce or twice and splashed
upon the floor. he said. The following
DAY he visited the factory basement and
saw the mixture in III. vat. The tallow
was in one portion OF the vat and the
grease or lard had collected in another
part of the vat by itself Luetgcrt
again turned on steam in the mixture
the witness said
ON cross examination by States At
n
doctored" the books Of the concern so
as To show yearly profit OF $50 900.
| ThiS line of cross examination was oh
1ected TO by the defense, but the court
permitted ii for time. the result being
II complete denial by Charles. FIe ac-
knowledged that ii was he who intro
duced Promoter Davey 10 Luetgert, but
he SAID he was deceived by the man, as
well as Luctgert.
Frank Dittler told of seeing Mrs. I,uet-
gcrt wrinGing her hands and weep upon
one occasion. II was during the latt
part of April. and the witness declared
Mrs. Luetgert said the business was
broken up, everything was gone and that
she was going away also. Later the
witness said Mrs Luctgcrt promised to
attend the wedding of his daughter in
June and make the prospective bride
a present.
At the close of The afternoon session
OF court eN-Judge Vincent and Attorney
l'halen were much pleased over the evil
dence of Witness Charles.
He told pretty fair story" ac-
knowledged Assistant States Attorney
| McEwen. at the close of the trial 1T
was one of those stories upon which there
| Is nothing left TO cross examine First he
sought the opportunity. ITe says he was
| in the basement Of the factory that
night and that Luetgert began to
| make soap lie and Luetgcrt are the
only ones who really know the real OBJ
1ect for which that causiic potash was
| bought. They are not going to tell any
other story than the one told by Charles
| So what is the use to cross examine
at leclgth on that point. But we have
some other evidence on this point that
VIII change the complexion OF Charles
| evidence when Il is submitted"
DOUBLED IT'S CAPITAL.