The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-08
BAD DAY FOR THE DEFENSE.
EVIDENCE OF TWO OF IT'S MOST
IMPORTANT WITNESSES WAS,
IMPEACHED.
TESTIMONY ABOUT ALL SUBMITTED
1t Is Expected That Most of Next
Week Will Be Devoted to Or
atOrical Efforts.

Luetgert murder trial will be in sigh.
The state announced today that it had
but few more witnesses, and that 1t
would get through with them without
much delay tomorrow. An adjournment
will then be taken until Monday, when
the defense will offer a small amount
of sur-rebuttal, and then the way will
be clear for the arguments of the at
torneys, which will take about one
week.
1t was bad day for the defense. The
evidence of two of their chief witnesses
was almost destroyed. Mary siemmer-
ing and William Charles, Leutgert's ;
business partner, were the sufferers.
Witness after witness came upon the
stand and swore that when Mary Siem-
mering denied that she had admitted
improper relations with Luetgert, she
had not told the truth Most of these
witnesses were members of the grand
jury which had indicted Luetgert and
their evidence was crushing. They all
told the same story and the most des-
perate efforts of the defense could not
shake one of them.
Prominent business men who had
dealings with Charles, and bankers
with whom he had done business, ,sWore
that he could not be believed under
oath, and told of shady business trans
actions of which he had been guilty,
AS in the case of Mary Siemmering
the defense made frantic efforts to save
the character of their witnesses, but
were not able to accomplish anything.
The evidence given by each of the
impeaching witnesses called was @ha'''9
and to the point. Mary Siemmering'
evidence was torn to tatters. Members
of the grand jury, which indicted Luet-
CERT last May, appeared on the witness
stand and testified to admissions the
young woman had made before that
body as to her relations with Luetgert,
until Judge Tuthill tired of it. Finally
his honor said:
II will hear no more grand jurors.
Their evidence is but a repetition. 1t
seems to me the point upon which they
are being questioned has been thor
oughly covered"
Assistant States Attorney McEwen
was satisfied. By the evidence of half
a dozen former grand jurors he had
impeached the testimony of the young
woman who asserted with almost hys-
terical emphasis upon the stand that
she had never said to the assistant
states attorney or to the members OF
the grand jury that her conduct with
Luetgert was anything but decorous
and proper.
GRAND JURORS SWORN.
John Beckett, of Evanston; Robert
J. Sloan, Frank G. Weber, Charles
w Smith and Edward Prior, all mem
bers of the grand jury, which returned
the true bill'' against Luetgert, were
called to the witness stand and told of
the admissions made by Mary S1enl-
mering. According to the story Of each
of the former grand jurors, the young
woman confessed that improper rela-
tions had existed between herself and
Luetgert In vain did eX-Judge Vim
cent and Attorney Phalen attempt to
break down this crushing impeachment
of one of their strongest witnesses by
suggestions of intimidation. Ex-Judge
Vincent inquired, with fire in his tones,
if Inspector Setback or Police Captain
Schuettler were in the grand jury
room while Mary Siemmering was IN
dergoing the inquisitorial cross-exam-
nation Only one of the former grand
Jurors remembered of having seen
either of the police officials during the
examination. John Beckett said he saw
Capt. Schuettler in the room, but that
the captain said nothing, and was not
close to MISS SlemmeflnS WIllie Sne WAS
on the witness stand.
Police Matron Mcmahon, Of the East
Chicago avenue station, was placed
upon the stand to deny Mary Siemmer-
ing'S story that she had been submit
ted to huEliliating treatment when she
was placed under arrest and brought
to the station. Matron Mcmahon de-
clared it was untrue that the young
woman was despoiled of all her cloth
IL r,4., Il
that policeman had stood guard at
her cell door, While she was without
raiment.
Z searched her in the same manner
that search all women brought to the
station, said Matron McMahon.
Attorney Phalen, on cross examina-
ton, suggested that a practical illus
tration of this method be given for the
benefit OF the court and jury. States
Indignantly, saying that the suggestion
was ridiculous Judge Tuthill disre
garded the whole matter
SCOWLED AT MRS. FELDT.
Mrs. Christine Feldt was in court to-
day to contradict the evidence of Mrs.
Mary Charles relative to the rings worn
by Mrs Luetgert Mrs. Charles en-
phatically denied on the witness stand
L -
Feldt to say, if questioned, that the
rings found in the vat at the Luetgert
sausage factory were not the rings
which had belonged to Mrs. Luetgert.
Today Mrs. Feldt, with equal emphasis,
declared Mrs Charles did request her
to deny that she ever saw the rings
before. Mrs. Feldt refused to do 50. She
said today the rings were those worn
by Mrs. Luetgert. She was positive
about it.
Luetgert's heavy features, which had
been contorted by his habitual frown
augmented by physical pain caused by
an atnospherical change, relaxed some
what as he caught sight of Mrs. Chris
tine Feldt. The big sausage maker
smiled, then an expression of seorn
shcne in his eyes. Mrs. Feldt is the
woman who loaned Luetgert money,
and whe on the witness stand remark
ed that she was very sorry for hav-
ing done so. Luetgert wrote her many
letters of a tender and supplicating
character soon after his arrest last
May. and Mrs Feldt handed these mis-
siyes to the prosecution. To Luetgert's
CONSERVATION, the letters confronted
him in court and he was compelled
to listen to the expressions of endear-
ment he had addressed to the widow.
There was a story in circulation at one
time that Luetgert intended to marry
Mrs Feldt, and that was the reason
he desired TO be rid of his wife. Police
officer. Charles Griebenow was called
to the witness stand 20 testify to GER
tain dates of material events in the
case, in contradiction Of witnesses for
the defense.
William Fulbeck, Luetgert's former
hostler, gave an interesting bit of evi-
dence with reference to Mary Seina-
Inerire In fact the testimony of Full
beck was the opening wedge for a vio-
LINT attack I1non I.1Ief eert, 6 nrettu sarE-