The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
IT WAS MERELY A RUSE
LUETGERT DID NOT NEED MINERAL
WATER ON MAY 1 LAST.
Had Thirty-Eight Bottles IN His Sau-
sage Factory the Night He Sent
His Waterman for More.

CHICAGO, Sept. 1S.-Witnesses followed
each other on the witness stand in the trial
of Adolph Luetgert this morning with I'M
usual rapidity. They were called to
straighten out the tangled ends of former
testimony.
Abraham Zeley, butcher at No. 759 West
Monroe street. caused AZ mild sensation
when he announced that at the public sale
at Luetgert's factory some weeks ago ne
purchased thiriy-nine bottles of mineral
water 1t had been the contention of the
defense that on the night of May ], when
Mrs. Luetgert is said to have been MUIR
dered, Luetgert, not feeling we'll, had sent
Frank Bialk to a drug store for medicine.
Bialk himself confirms this and declares
Luetgert told him to get bottle OF MIN
eral water. Subsequent developments have
shown that the sausage maker had at least
thirty-eight bottles of this water on hand
when he sent Bialk away after more that
right.
Professor Delafontaine, Sergeant Span
gIer, of the police department, and num-
Der of policemen were called to the wit
ness stand to identify the various exhibits
of bones and other articles and to tell
where they got them and where THESE ex-
hibits had been kept during the progress
of the trial.
Deputy Sheriff Fred Pister, of Racine,
Wis, a nephew of Mrs Christine Feldt
was called to the witness stand to identify
the knife Mrs. Feldt said Leutgert had
given her the day before his arrest Deputy
Sheriff Pister said Mrs. Fedt handed him
the knife in July The blades looked as
ii they had not been opened for months
and the handle was rusty. When the wit
ness opened the knife two big crusts or
rust fell on the knife, he said.
When the prosecution called Frank Blalk
to the witness stand as one OF Its last Two
witnesses to show the motive for the al
legged murder of Mrs. Luetgert there was
every prospect that the state would rest its
case to-day as far as their direct evidence
was concerned, but when an attempt was
made to show Luetgert's alleged relations
with Mary Simmering and other women the
defense entered a vigorous objection. Al
torney Vincent protested that this line of
evidence was highly improper, and ne OBJ
jected to it as incompetent. He declared
that no motive could be drawn from 1t
and that it would simply tend 10
prejudice the minds of the jurors. Attorney
Phalan for the defense sad ne Wouiu mo-
object to this evidence. The division OF
counsel for the defense on this point oc-
casioned surprise Ex-Judge Vincent de-
clared the evidence was only collateral and
that it's only effect would be TO blast the
reputation of Mary Simmerlng, VINO was 70
be witness for the defense. Judge Iuthlll
took the disputed point under advisement,
and adjourned court until next Tuesday
morning. The adjournment over Monuay
was taken to permit the defense ample time
to prepare for its opening statement and
the line of defense to be adopted.
States Attorney Deneen is confident that
the court will admit the evidence showing
motive for the alleged murder, land
then" he said ''our case will be perfect.
| do not see how a stronger case of cir
cumstantial evidence could be made out
than we have made against Luetgert and
when we have put in the evidence showing
that Luetgert desired to put his wife out
of the way to enable him to marry Mary
Siminering, we will have the case
wound up in excellent shape. l am con-
fident that the judge will admit the evil
dence and that we will secure convic-
ton from the jury.
When asked for his opinion of the case
made out against him. Luetgert grew
angry for a moment, and exclaimed: You
ought to know my opinion of the case
without asking me. There is nothing in it.
Take away the quarrel of the experts over
the bones and what have you got left?
Nothing. They have not proved the woman
is dead, and they cannot prove it. | am
not going to talk about my case at this
time, though. L have some trump cards
and I will play them in court when the
time comes. 1 win testify. l have made
up my mind to that 1 will tell that jury
something that will open the eyes of every
member. The people will know my side of
this story next week and then maybe |
will not be regarded the villain l have
been pictured.