The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-08
Not One of Luetgert's Witnesses
is Truthful,
IF the Testimony for the Pros
ecutiOn Can be Believed
GRAND JURORS SWEAR
To Things That Ruin Mary
Simmering's Evidence.
Luetgert's Partner is Shown to
be Unworthy Of Belief.

Chicago. Oct. S-The closing day Of
the rebuttaI evidence of the prOsecu-
ton in the famous Luetgert trial open
ed this morning with a continuation of
the crisp impeachment evidence pro-
duced yesterday.
States Attorney Deenan furnished
cap sheaf in the shape of the impeach-
ing evidence Of Prof. George Dorsey of
the Field Columbian museum, chief
astrological expert for the state in this
trial.
Prof Dorsey was called to dispute
the evidence of DR. H. w. Airport, the
principal expert for the defense.
As a preliminary to DR.. Dorsey's
onslaught, policemen were called today
to impeach certain witnesses for the de-
Tense who had identified a picture of
Mrs. Luetgert as that of a woman seen
in KenOsha. Wis, on May 3, and 8.
Detective Edward Wallbaum testified
that Matt SchOIey of Kenosha had told
him some weeks ago that the picture
did not look like the woman SchOIey
saw at KenOsha. According to the wit
ness, SChOley said he had not noted the
appearance of the strange woman he
saw in KenOsha May so as to be able
to identify her. much less a photograph.
Detectives De Celle and Dean gave
impeaching evidence with reference to
the woman they saw was, to the best
of their knowledge and belief, Mrs.
Luetgert.
Prof Mark Delafontaine was called
upon to impeach the evidence of Prof.
Long of the Northwestern university
with reference to bones. He expressed
views upon the subject in scientific
terms directly at variance with the
ideas of Prof Long.
Prof Dorsey followed Prof Delafon-
taine on the witness stand and had just
got his impeaching battery in good
working order when it was discovered
that DR.. Airport was not in court. The
defense desired that the chief osteOlo-.
gist of Luetgert's side of the case be in
court to hear himself roasted" and
Prof Dorsey was withdrawn tempOrar-
lily.
Frank OdorOfsl1y, alias Smoke House
Frank furnished the comedy of the
session. OdOrofsl1y is a Pole and he
has poor opinion of German inter-
prefers. Today he employed some rich
Polish profanity while informing the
court that he had not said what had
been credited to him by Germans who
undertook to translate his language.
Although few people in the crowded
court room could understand what the
witness said, the mans gesticulatiOns
and expressions of cOuntenance as he |
expostulated with Judge TuthiH arous-
ed mirth which the court bailiffs were
unable to suppress.
A Polish interpreter was procured
and OdOrofsl1y related circumstances I
following the disap ppearance of Mrs
Luetgert, which tended to further inn
peach Mary Simmering.
The utter annihilation of the tes+imO-
ny of Mary Simmering yesterday, to-
gether with the Impeachment of VIM
Charles, Luetgert's business partner
and confidential friend, has had chilli
ing effect upon the defense.
Mary Simmering's evidence was torn
10 tatters. Members of the grand jury
which indicted Luetgert last May. ap-
peared on the witness stand and teSti-
Hed 10 ADMISSIONS the young woman
had made before that body as to her re-
lations with Luetgert until Judge Tut
hill tired of it. Finally his honor said:
viii hear no more grand jurors Their |
evidence IS Dut a repetition. 1t seems |
TO me the point upon which they are
being questioned has been thoroughly
covered
Assistant States Attorney NTcF,wan
was satisfied, by the evidence of half a
dozen of former grand jurors that he
had 1mpeached the testimony of the
young WOman,WhO asserted with almost
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.
John Beckett of Evanston. Robert |
Sloan, Frank c. Weber, Charles w
smith and Edward Pryor, all members |
OIL the grand jury which returned the |
true bill against LuetSert were called |
to the witness stand and told of the |
admissions made before the jury by |
Mary Simmerinb, who testified before |
the grand jurymen for over one hour
before the Indictment was given
against Luetgert According to the /
story of each of the former grand iur- |
ors, the young woman confessed that |
improper relations had existed between /
herself and Luetgert.
Police Matron McMahon of the Chi |
cagO avenue station was placed on the |
stand to deny Mary Simmerfng's story |
that she had been subjected to hunflf- /
ating treatment when she was placed |
tion. Matron McMaho declared it was /
untrue that the young woman was de-
prlNed of all her clothing in her cell as |
she mad said and that a policeman had /
stood guard at her door while she was
without ra1ment- Il cSearched her in |
the same manner I search all women |
brought to the station" said Matron |
Attorney Phelan on crOss-exar1ina
tion suggested that a practical iIIustra-
ton Of this method be given for the
beneht of the court and jury. States
Attorney Deena objected somewhat
Indignantly, saying that the suggestion
was RIDICULOUS. Judge Tuthill disre-
garded the whole matter
Then came a horde of witnesses to
lmpeach William Charles I,uetgert's
business partner
Alex J. Sweeney, Phillip Reitz viii
liam Spank and others who had sus-
tanned business relations with Charles |
at the Fulton market declared that |
they knew Charles reputation for
truth and veracity in the community
in which he resided and that if was
bad Then they told of business trans |
1aTFr h 4 NIT =, /