The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-28
The CONTENTS OF The VAT.
Lustgert'S Partner Says THY We're in
SredientS Of Soft Soap.
A PLAUSIBLE DETAIL OF THE DAY
On Which the Alleged Murder Occurred
Csusiic Potash Used in soap-Why the
Door Happened to be Bair'caded'
Testimony in Hebutlal Promised.

CHICAGO. Sept 2i.-The ieadins event
OF the day in the trial OF A. l.. Luelsert
was the evidence OF William Charles,
Luetgerts business partner. lie explain
ca why rs he claimed. the caustic potash
in which tho body OF Mrs. Luetgert is al-
legged by the prosecution TO have been dis
solved, was bought.
According TO Charles story the potash
was purchased as the principal ingredient
or quantity or soft soap 20 be used in
cloauiae up tao bG factory preparatory
10 its sllo 90 au English syndicate. The
witness said hc suggested this method ot
putting the factory iu shape himself ana
that LuCtgcrt. acting upon The suggestion
ordered 90 barrel OF cdustic potash weigh
ne 80 pounds. sent to the factory in
March lasI This WAS about the time
tho prosecution claims the negotiations
wcro pending between Luctgert aud
Davcv, the mysterious Englishman. who
is said to havo represented thc syndicate
and who borrowed something like >-'tD
from LuCtecrt
CHASING RATS.
Charles also offered au explanation or
the apparently barricaded doors tO tho
basement stairway by telling about a
| chase Tor rats. i'm which "a small dog was
am active participant lie said that the
factory had been infested by rats Tor
some time and that au effort had been
made To- get rid OF them. The evening ot
Aylal 3lfh he and Luetgert. with others
! were bon tho basement when 90 TERROR
which belonged to- the witness got after
| n rat Charles Luetsert and the Others
moved boxes. barrels and other ohstruc-
| tiOns 10 aid the dog ON his chase, aud
the bOXci and barrels We're hurled lu
pile against The door. The barricade of
| the door was unintentionai. he said. lt
gust happened that the articles were
| thrown there WITHOUT thought of the door
| ~ all
Charles said besides the caustic potash,
! two or three barrels of talow. quantity
! OF grease and some Sahipped bone which
| was 90 Doe used in making the SOFT SOAP
/ was delivered at the factory
Hc said that he and Leyandowsk and
! OdOr0fskv, tho two laborers. went to the
! factory to place some stun boo the middle
/ vat Ifc also saw Frank Bial iu the fac
| tory at tho time. rhe cauetic potash was
| put bon the Vaf and Luetgert said he would
/ ree to turning ON the steam and boiling
/ thc stuff. Charles said he met Lueteert
! iu a saloon opposite the factory ON tine
| evening of the night Mrs. Luetgert dis1p-
/ pcdred. and Luetgert said he was going
oyer t0 ths factory and turn orr tno
| steam.
At9o'clock the same might Charles said
| he went to the basement of the factory
| and found Luotgcrt there and tho steam
/ turned On. The mixture boiled over twice
/ and spldshcd upon the floor. ho said. The
| day after bee visited the factory basement
| and saw the mixture in tho vtt Tine tale
/ low was in one portion of the vat and The
| grease or lard had collected m another
! part of the vat by Itself Luctsert again
turned ON tine steam zoo the mixture.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
! ON oross-eXamnauon by States Atior-
! ney Dcnecn Charles denied he h1d "doo-
! t0rcd' the books of the concern SO as Co
show yearly profit of $4,000.
| This line of crosse cXamIuIuon was oh-
! iectod t0 hy the defence. but the court
! permitted 10 for Umc. the result bou-
| "a complete denial by Charles. lie ace
! kuowiedseI that it was he who INTRODUCED
! Promoter Dagcy to Luetgert but ho said
Doe was deceived hy the man as We'll as
/ Luctgert
Frank Duucr told or seeing }irs. Luot-
| eert wringins her hands and weep upor
! one occasion. 10 was during the latter
| part of April. and the witness declare.
! Mrs. Luctsort alid the business Wlt
broken up. everything was gone. and she
WAS going away also. Later the Wituos.
| said Mrs. Luetgert promised to attcu.
| the wedding of hIs daughter in june. an,
make the prospective bride present
At the close of the afternoon session of
] the court. cN-Judge Vincent and Attorney
| phcian were much pleased over the oFl
! denoe of taC witness, Charles.
"Ilo told pretty fair story ar
| kuowicdscd states Attorney bDn.Du 'l
| of o. tf.. d.