The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-09
LUETGERT'S BIG KNIFE.
Unexpected Developments In the Trial Of
the Chicago Wife Murderer.
CORSET STEELS FOUND IN THE VAT
Prosecution says the Murder wns
Committed with tho RuIfe-Dc.
fehse Tnho iopo from tho Dubious
statements Of n FnIfertIIg witness
Judge DIind TO Smiles,
Chicago. ILL.,, September s, 1897.

ne defense i'll The trial OF Adolph L.
LueiSerl, ior wife murder, were sur
Pf!seu Dy IL move OF the State In the
'riai Today. What Is considered to be
one OIL the strongest pieces of evidence
was introduced. Mrs. Christine Feldt
LuelSefts one time sweetheart, was
called 10 the stand by the State for the
ualra time. Assistant States Attorney
Mct'Wen handed her an ugly appearing
pocket knife, the blades of which were
STAINED ana rusted. and asked her If she
had ever seen II before She testified
'nat the big sausage manufacturer had
given her this knife for safe Keeping CT,
the day Of his arrest. The prosecution
asserts that it was with this knife Luet-
Gcrt murdered his Ayife before placing
her body in the boiling potash. where
ii was dissolved
The ugly looking object was passed
around for the inspection Of the uttor-
he!s anu was handed to Luetgert who
opened arid closed the blades. gazing
curiouSly at The weapon and Scraring
me blade with his finger as if TO feel
the stains which covered the blade lie
evidenced no emotion. though he knew
that every person in the court room
was closely watching and taking note OF
ms every action. In talking with his
attorneys he admitted the knife was
his property
). ii. ODenbrctt and w. c. Cady.
corset makers. were placed on the stand
III succession and positively Identified
the Two alleged corset stcels as having
been the product of their factory. Ger
tain marks on the two bits OF metal were
shown to correspond with similar marks
with new steels. which were produced in
court TIL witnesses each testified posi-
lively as to the similarity and also to
the fact that the new stcels were Of
the pattern usually sold by their fac
tory. 1t was considered by the State
TO be n great blow to tne defense, and
was unexpected by the latter who hoped
To prove that the two pieces or strUl
were scale bands.
Emma Sch!mpke. sister of Guttlicvo
Schimpke. who testified to having seen
LuetSert and his wife enter the fac
tory on the fated evening, was placed on
the stand to corroborate the testimony
Of her younger sister
She was Il very faltering witness and
suffered under the scatbinE cross tX
animation to which She was subjected.
She was apparently imbucd with the
iaea that she must testify only 10 those
matters which hurt the cause of tie
defense. Judge TuthiN administered n
Kindly but firm lecture to the trembling
girl
From her the defense secured the ad
mission that she was not sure she saw
l-uetgert and his wife enter the fac
tory, and the defense also forced her
to Admit that she could not remember
anything that happened on any other
particular night than May 1st. When
asked the day OF the week upon which
May lst last. she hcsitatcd and then
said: Snturday--wasn't it?"
Tho defense felt that their cause had
gained perceptibly from her testimony
The court opened with the usual crowd
ciamoring for admission at the door.
Within the court room the members of
the fair Sex Dredominated among the
spectators. md thc little room was
crowded 10 It's utmost capacity
When Luctgcrt entered shortly he
fore court was opened he repeated his
manner Of Tuesday, and sm!lingly
nodded to the jury. Hc attempted tn
cItch the eye Of Judge Tuthill, but
that official refused to notice the pris-
Oner.