The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-23

nesses for the defense In the Leutgert
trial were 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
Judge Vincent, in his opening state
ments, made reference to a man named
Robert Dewey, who he said, was the ori-
ginal medium through which all OF Luet'
gert's trouble arose and whose actions
resulted in Luetgert being arranged be-
fore the bar of justice to-day charged
with murder.
"a little aver a year ago satan In the
shape of a medium sized, well-dressed
and educated Englishman, named Rob-
ert Davey came to Luetgert and was the
cause OF all his trouble" said ex-Judge
Vincent. This man came with forged
letters of introduction, representing him
self as a man OF great means. Luetgert
has always carried his heart on his sleeve
as YOU will see when he goes on the WIZ
ness stand" This was the first oticlal
notice that Luetgert would testify In his
avn behalf. and the announcement was
received with show Of interest by the
prosecution and the spectators.
'Davey told Luetgert he could be the
sausage king of the world" went on eX.
Judge Vincent. "And Luetgert believed
him, for Davey was an artist In painting
glowing pictures OF wealth and fame
He told Luetgert he represented an Eng
llsh syndicate and that a company woui1
be organized with a capital 0f 100000
and bonds for an additional 100000
would be issued. The company would
be known as the A. l.. Luetgerts Sau-
sage and Packing Company, Davey SAID,
and Luetgert would be given S2OOOOG
cash and 100000 worth of stock. Out oil
the cash he could pay of $4,000 or In
debtedness which was covered Dy a
mortgage on his factory.
Mrs. Luetgert was delighted over the
visions OF wealth revealed by Daveys
picture and Luetgert uneducated. honj
est and without suspicion, was pleaseo'
over the prospect OF ranking with tho
Armours. the SwIfts and Nelson Morris
in the meat world. Davey had expenses
during the time he was negotiating with
Luetgert, whom he had induced to close
his factory preparatory to the change
which was to have taken place January
1. 1897. He called upon Luetgert fo1
money and got Il, in oil about $25OOO.
Finally Davey told Luetgert the money
and bonds were In the custody or the
Continental Bond Company VI New
York, Luetgert and Judge Goodrich, to
whom Luetgert had told his story, went
10 New York, but none of the bankers or
bond companies " that city had ever
heard of Dayey, and Lu0tgert had been
swIndled."
LustCsrrs Struggle.
The attorney told of Luetgerts strug-
giles after this. How his business had
been injured by the closing OF the fac
tory and in addition to the loss OF 325.-
600 to Davey, he lost by the failure OF p.
s. Dreyer g. Companys bank. Then he
borrowed $4,000 from Foreman Broth
ers bankers, placing another mortgage
on his factory Finally the failure
came. and the disaster drove Mrs. Luet-
CERT to the verge OF insanity. Later the
woman became insane. the lawyer said
and wandered away"
The life Of Luetgert was briefly
sketched. He arrived In America TWEEN
ty-two years ago. without dollar
counsel said. and by Industry and thrift
had built up an enormous business lie
made 100000 pounds OF sausage year
and sold II all over this county ana
Europe. Often there were 100000 pounds
OF meat in the factory at one time. and
the sales from the factory to local con-
sumers averaged $3.50 per day. Nineteen
years auo Luetgert married Miss Louise
Bcknesa, the woman he IS said TO have
killed She was his second wife. They
Ind four chlldren-two boys and two
girls the latter are now dead Ex-Judgo
Vincent denied that the couple lived un-
happlly He said their lives were not n
continuous honeymoon, but the couple
lived as happily as people In their sta
tlon generally do.
During the afternoon session OF court,
four witnesses were heard Tho flrsi
witness called was ex-Judge a. A.Good'
rich. law partner OF eX-Judge VIM
cent, chief counsel for the defense Tho
witness said that on May 2, Luetgert
came TO his office and with tears In his
eyes, informed him that Mrs. Luetgert
had disappeared.
II was on Monday and LuetGeri
said his wlfo had left on tho Saturday
night provous-Mny /. Luetgcrt told
the witness that his wife wan angry be.
cause Luctgert had lost money and had
LEFT him.
81 ndvl5od him to keep the matter out
Of the ncwHpapcrs.' said cx-Judge
Goodrich Il told him II his creditors
10 whom he owed some 100000. heard oi
the disappearance. Foreman brothers
would fOreclose Immediately
lie shed Tear"
Ralph H. Bradley, another law part
ner OF Attorney Vincent, testified In a
similar strain to the evidence Of OK.
Judge Goodrich
% Raw him Ia my oGlco May a. enld
the witness "Luelgert was very much
dcprcaroi nnd shed tears rs he related
hlB troubles 10 me-. lie Fald he was mol
only IN deep financial distress, but that
his wife had loft him. lie feared li'
business would hr ruined"
"What reason did hc Rive Tor not
making search for hcr2' demanded
States Attorney Deonnn
"Nono. except that hc desired 20 avoid
publicity" replied the witness
Nd1lph l3lanll drnymnn, icEuOol
that on May / he took ihroo barrels oI
gfonae nnd lnllow 10 LuoigertH 1nusng'
factory. tlo understood The stur WAS t.
bu used IN making soap ono day io
ward tho cloao of Aprll The wllno1.
pnl1. hp wla 40 tho buoigort factory nnl