Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-16


Witnesses Of the State = Case
VIII Go to the Jury on Tuesday.
Vincent Will Occupy To-Day's
Session.
Chicago October 15.-Electric fans
buzzed merrily on Judge Tuthill's desk
to-day; but ten feet away men and
women sat and sweltered as they lis
tened to the closing argument of ex-
Judge Vincent, for counsel for the de-
Tense in the Luetgert trial.
The crush of humanity at the Grim
inal Court building was terrific. A
hundred times the number of people
the court room would accommodate
clamored for admission. After the
court corridors were crowded with
more people than could be seated in
the court room, hundreds stood in line
on, the sidewalk outside and persisted
in their demands for admission
1t was the greatest crowd the trial
has yet seen and the noisiest. Coli
sions between guards and deputy sher-
ifs on one side and the mixed throng
on the other, began early this morn
ing, and much loud and vulgar talk
was INDUCED in The speech-making
in this famous case seems TO lie the
greatest card in the two months con-
tinuous judicial performance. More
than half the number of the crowd
that surged. pushed, pulled and ges-
ticulated, demanded, beseeched and
otherwise sought admission to Judge
Tuthilfs court, was composed of wo-
men. They came attired in matinee
costumes and when their fans were nut
In operation the court room was a
auttering sea of many hued waves.
Luetgert came into court looking
much improved in personal appearance.
owing to a visit to the Jail barber shop
He also appeared to have had a better
nights rest than on Wednesday night
The big sausage maker greeted his son
Arnold Luetgert, and William Charles.
his business partner, with hearty hand
shakes. Then he turned and faced the
large audience present. His heavy eye
Abrows were contracted and the habitual
kcoWl deepened as Luetgert gazed about
i'm apparently in search of the pres
bnce~ Of friends.
Ex-Julge Vincent, fresh and conf
kdent in physical appearance and in good
voice, resumed his argument where he
had left off Thursday afternoon
Gentlemen of the jury said he, 81
had intended reading to you some ten
or twelve cases on circumstantial evil
dence. But owing to the oppressive
heat and in Difference to the wishes and
suggestion of the court, l shall curtail
my reading considerably. But before
enter upon further discussion of the
evidence in this case | shall read to you
two or three cases of interest" Luet-
gert's chief counsel thereupon read from
law books definitions of circumstantial
evidence and the weight that was due
and should be attached to such evil
dence
Il will not say that circumstances do
not sometimes point to guilt" observed
eX-Judge Vincent. but | will say. aye,
and affirm, with emphatic warming to
you twelve men. that condemning to
death human being on purely circum-
stantial evidence is dangerous pro-
ceeding. Can any juror in that jury
box say that Mrs. Luetgert will not re-
turn before l have ceased this argu-
ment? Can any of you say that she
will not come back to her home and
her children next week, next month.
next year, or in the dim future? In
less you can, a reasonable doubt exists
in your mind and you must give the
prisoner the benefit of it. Remember
throughout your deliberations that this
prisoner is entitled to every reasonable
doubt.
Judge Vincent took I'D the evidence
in the case and discussed it at length
He defended William Charles. Luet-
gert's partner, whose evidence was
impeached, and practically admitted
that the story Charles told was the
story Luetgert would have told had
he gone on the witness stand. The
bone experts were discussed, and those
Of the prosecution were ridiculed while
the experts of the defense were ex-
tolled to the skies.
During all of the hot afternoon SEES
sion of court, eX-Judge Vincent pleaded
with the jury to spare the life of his
client He argued that there was
nothing in the alleged love Of Luetgert
for Mary Siemmering. the pretty SER
want girl, that would inspire the san
sage maker to commit such a diabOli-
cal crime as was laid at his door. The
attitude of Luetgert toward the SER
want girl was declared to have been
that of a father toward his daughter
rather than as an employer toward a
Servant. Mary Siemmering is a reIa-
nm>of Mrs. Luetgert and has been in
mily for years and was regarded
member Of the family rather than
light of a servant. the speaker
ID. Then he recalled the testi-
# Mary Siemmering. who had
t Mrs Luetgert was her friend
often paid her extra wages.
her not to let Luetgert know
He also recalled that the
men exchanged presents on
s. 1896. and were apparently
Fst of terms With bitter in
4uetgert's chief legal defender
he police department for the
luel brow-beating treatment
~ not only been heaped on
kmering. but which had also
ded other witnesses for the
lx-Judge Vincent seemed 10
this was the one last plea
for the big man who sat
h of his hands. and this
the orator with flo0uence
uring one of his outbursts