Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-23
LAST HALF OF THE LIETGERT MUIR.
DER TRIAL UNDER WAY.
THREE WEEKS OF EVIDENCE.
3, WHAT THE ATTORNEYS FOR LUET-
CERT EXPECT TO PROVE.
That Mrs. Luetgert Wandered Away
From Home and Is still Alive,
and That the States Expert
Testimony Was All l.
Wrong.

called To-day and there will be three weeks
of evidence tending TO prove his innocence
before the attorneys in the case commence
their final arguments. Attorney Vincent
for the defense, made the opening state
nent for Luetgert, and, according TO hln'
the defense will be simple. 1t VIII consist
chiefly of a general denial of all the expert
evidence submitted by the stale, PROOF lhdt
the caustic potash used III the vat was pun
chased for the purpose oil making soap
and evidence tending TO snow thaI MIS-.
Luetgert is alive, and. in all propapiiity' III
Germany. Concerning the rings louiiu III
the vat, Attorney Vincent said they were
not those of Mrs. Luetgert. and that lie
would prove that she had never seen them.
much less worn them. He also deciared
that he would bring witnesses TO snow that
many of the bones Identified ey the experts
for the prosecution as human nones are III
reality those of the lower animals. he VIII
also show, he said. that MIS-. Luetseft mas
been seen alive and well, save for her meh-
tai trouble since May J.. the night on
which 1t is claimed that she was murdered.
He also asserted that Luetgert Will go on
the stand In his own defense.
A warm legal fight arose in the course
of the opening statement OF Attorney pih-
cent. In outlining the defense ne SAID that
he would prove that Mrs. Luetgert. herV-
Gus and discouraged by the business re-
verses of her husband. had told several OF
the neighbors that she intended to run
away from home. The state protested
with much earnestness AGAINST the aaa,isr nf1s-.
listening to the arguments OF tnes iaW!eI;s,
said that he did not think that he conlo
permit such testimony to go in Ine oe-
tense felt this badly, as Attorney Vincent,
in the heat of his statement, nau said .hat
without such evidence ms enena sne snerev py
for the admission of the testimony. and
finally Judge Tuthill said that he would would
10 Conversations with Mrs. Luetgert held a
week prior 10 her disappearance; am nuI az; ne
said that the testimony must De aoseiu'eis
Ex.Jl,dee Vincent sprung 4 surprise on
the prosecution in his opening statement
by reference to man hamea .9.-,,,ni nppeel 1,sal
dium through which all of Luetgerts
trouble arose, and whose actions resulted
in Luetgert being arralgSea weS aslGn9 murder DA
"A little over year ago, Satan, IN tns
shane of medium sized. Wen dressed anu
educated Englishman named hoperl D.tseyi ae ~
his trouble" said ex-Judge vincent. rms
man came with forged letters OF introduc-
rreat means. He told Luetgert he cbui1
be the sausage king of the world, anu
Luetgert believed him, for Davey was IN
wealth and fame He said he represented
an English syndicate and that a coHpda aa
would be organized with a capital OF " SSn;o ~
would be issued. The company would be
known as the A. L. Laetgert Sausage iau
Packing Gompaay. s IA said al l., anaa "a tpeI sIl
tltns with of stock. Z out Of the cash .hn
could pay off $4,000 of Indebtedness which
was covered by mortgage on ms rae
Tory H.
Mrs. Luetgert was delighted over the
visions of wealth revealed by DaVey
picture, and Luetgert uneducated. noness
the prospect of ranking with the Armours,
the Swifts and Nelson Morris interests IN
the meat world. Davey had expenses our T
CERT whom he had induced to close ms
factory preparatory to the change whicn
was to have taken place January l. ies.;
He called upon Luetgert for money ana
got it-in all about Sc, ,ooo-and tinaily
Dayey told Luetgert the bonds were in the
custody of the Continental BOND COMPANY
of New York. Luetgert and Judge Good
rich to whom Luetgert had told ms story,
went to New York. but none OF the oank,
ers or bond companies OF thae % city had had
been swindled."
The attorney told of Luetgert's struggles
after this, How his business a had been cen m, T.,
addition to the less of s25. 600 to Dayey. he
lost by the failure of Z. s. Dreyer Go. S
man Bros bankers placing another mort
gage ON his factory. Finally the failure
came and the disaster drove Mrs: Luetgert
10 the verge of insanity Later the woman
became insane, the lawyer said, and wan
The life Of L.uetgert was brifly sketched.
He arrived; in America thIr5y.InTfee years nI,
ago without dollar. counsel said, and by
industry and thrift had built up an enor-
NOUS business. Nineteen years ago Luet-
CERT married Miss Louise Bicknese, the
woman he is said to have killed. She was
his second wife. They had four children
two boys and two girls. The latter are now
dead Ex-Judge Vincent denied that the
- couple lived unhappily. He said their lives
We're not a continuous honeymoon' put ine
station usually do.
During the afternoon session of court
four witnesses were heard. The first witness
partner of ex-Judge Vincent, chief, counsel
for the defense. The witness said that oil
May ) Luetgert came to his office and With
tears in his eyes informed him that Mrs
Juetsert had disappeared. 1t was ON Mon.
day and Luetgert said his wife had left or
the Saturday night preyious-May j. Luet'
CERT told the witness that his wife was an.
t.ry because luetgert had lost his money
and had left him.
II advised him to keep the matter out OF
the newspapers" said eS-Judge Goodrich
Il told him if his creditors. to whom he
owed some s30,0tN heard of the disappear
Ralph r. Bradley. another law partner
of Attorney Vincent, testified in a similar
strain to the evidence of ex-Judse Good
II saw him in my office May A." said The
witness "Luetgert was very much de
pressed and shed tears as he related hi:
troubles TO me. He said he was not only
in deep financial distress, but that his wifi,
had left him. He feared his business 'a:oult
be ruined
n search for her." demanded States At
None except that he desired to avoi,
publicity" replied the witness