Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-10-19
MEMORABLE TRIAL AT AN END.
TURBULENT SCENES AROUND THE
COURT HOUSE LAST NIGHT.
Crowds Surpassed All Heretofore
Gathered During the Trial and
Police Had Difficulty in Pre-
serving 0rder-JudSe
TuthiIrs Charge.

had taken place. both sides being obstinate
and the chances for an agreement before
morning being very slight.
The majority of the jury are with the
state. and desirous of conviction. Just
how the jury stands could not be learned
but it is now generally thought that the
final outcome will be a disagreement. Po-
lice Captain Schuettler, who worked up
much of the evidence in the case, practic-
ally admitted that he had given UP hopes
of a conviction, but added that the state
would 'get Luetgert on the next trial"
States Attorney Denecn admitted that the
best information he had was in accordance
with that given above, but was hopeful that
the outstanding jurymen would come
around later on.
Chicago, Oct. 1S.-The fate of Adolph L.
Luetgert, accused of numbering his wife
and dissolving her body in vat filed with
caustic potash. is now in the hands of the
jury. Judge Tuthill finished his charge 10
the jury at AS p. m. and five minutes
later the jury filed out and was locked in
the juryroom. Supper was sent in to them
short time later. and after it had been
disposed of they set earnestly to work on
the evidence Judge Tuthiil took up quar-
ters near the criminal court building. in
order to be within easy call if a verdict
should be reached during the night. At l
O'Clock not q word of any sort had come
from the juryroom, and the chances of an
all night wait for the verdict seemed ex-
cellent. Rumors of ten to two for convic-
ton. and later of ten to,two for acquittal
fioated around, but there was no authority
for either story. The attorneys on both
sides were confident at midnight of a ver-
dict favorable TO their side, while the opin-
ion of the public was turning towards a
disagreement.
At 1 O'Clock telephone message was re-
re.ved from Judge Tuthill. saying that
verdict or no verdict, he would mot come
to the criminal court building tonight.
The jury at O'Clock was still in the jury
room, and seemed no nearer a verdict than
1t any time since it went out. There is no
chance Of verdict being announced before
he opening of court this Tuesday morn
ng at $50 o'clock.
Last Nights Vast Crowd.
The crowd which surrounded the GRIM
lnal court building and jail at night sur
passed in number anything witnessed since
the opening of the famous trial. By dark
the street in front of the court building
vas jammed, and the crowd surged around
the corner in front of the Jail. Men, wom-
IN and children lined the pavements in
'front.' of the Michigan street entrance and
the line extended TO Dearborn avenue on
the east and North Clark street on the
west The tops of the three story build
Slngs across the street from the court build
Ing had crowds of spectators. and every
window within the structures facing the
building had its occupants.
Whistles and jeers and catcalls. in fact.
noises of all kinds, emanated from the
multitude and kept the crowds up in the
courtrooms much amused. Deputy sheriffs
guarded the entrance to the building and
denied admission except to n comparative
ly favored few. Sheriff Pease, late in the
evening. issued an order to keep the crowd
out of the building. as a demonstration
somewhat violent in its nature was feared
when the verdict was read. Enough peo-
pie got in, however. to completely fill the
courtroom. But three women graced the
assemblage by their presence in very
strong contradistinction to the crowd of
females during the day.
Cigars were INDUCED in by those in wait
ing in the court room for the verdict, and
the room was soon filled with thick smoke
Odds offered on Conviction.
All sorts of opinions were expressed as to
the probable verdict of the jury. and a few
bets were made at odds of sixty to forty
that Luetgert would be convicted
About $3.50 o'clock the crowds in Michigan
street were augmented by over a score of
men from the vicinity of Luetgerts sau-
sage factory, on Hermitage avenue and Di
versy street. They were assertive and un-
ruly. and demanded admission to the court
building. This was refused them, but they
were so persistent that word was sent up-
stairs. The deputies at the door, fearing n
rush for admission. telephoned to the East
chicago avenue police station for more of
Ulcers. The alteration drew crowd which
quickly choked the entrance The police
on duty were entirely incapable of handling
the crowd. Captain Hoffman, of the East
Chicago avenue station. sent a patrol was-
on filled with officers to the scene on a
hurry up run. When the officers reached
the building they drew their clubs and. aid
ed by score of deputy sheriffs, quickly
collected in the building, drove the crowd
back. The friends of Luetgert had by this
time been reinforced by about 200 other peo-
pie from the crowds. But they retreated
after few vigorous applications of the
clubs. The mob took n stand near the mid
die of the street and jeered the police while
small boys with tin horns added their quo
ia to, the discord which swelled from the
deep lunged, would-be rioters. who loudly
proclaimed their right to enter the building
Dcneen's Final Argument.
The ninth week of the famous trial
opened this morning with the greatest
crush yet seen at the criminal court build
ing. thousands OF persons formed in line
before the criminal court building as early
as O'Clock in the morning. 1t was a wild
mob. and there were numerous unpleasant
h1f hn hal -.
bulent people.
Luetgert came into court smiling and an.
parently IN a pleasant frame of mind. He
shook hands with Il number of his friends
and took his accustomed seat
States Attorney Deenen promptly began
his closing argument. He opened with a
defense of several of the leading witness, {
for the prosecution.
After four or five days of oratory on the
Fart of Judge Vincent and Attorney PhaIen
what have we 10 answer" asked Attorney
peenen in quick, emphatic style 'Simply
ridicule. l shall not waste time in answer.
ing the assertions of orators who assail thf
regulations of men of learning who ar.
recognized authorities upon the subjects
upon which they are called 10 testify. =
However. much time was devoted TO in.
discussion of the expert evidence
States Attorney Deneen criticized Mar,
Siemmering in cutting tones. He also paiS
his respects further TO William Charles
and paid a glowing tribute to the memor,
of Mrs. Luetgert. whose last days on Garth
be said. were fraught with sorrow and an
guish.
The states attorney suddenly turned IL
Judge Tuthill and said that his throat wa.
sore, and that he also felt i'll and dizzy
Il would like to stop here temporarily
said he.
Very well. court will stand adjourned
for an hour and a half" said Judge Tuthill
Fighting for Room.
The court had not adjourned fifteen min
utes before few of the favored spectator:
had returned and pre-empted front seats
They came In rapidly after this. Soon TN,