Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-02
LUETGER1'S TRIAL !.
Damaging Evidence Given By
Watchman Frank BiaIk.
Tells Of That FatefuI Night il Factory
and Of the Deadly Vat.
Lnssssh Laughs Heartily Seemingly Hsass.
isssly 1t ssas q Esideaes.

isssly ct Sems 81 Evideacs.
Chicago. Aug. 31.-Three witnesses
were placed on the stand by the PROS
ecution in the Luetgert trial, today.
Probably the most important witness
of the three was Frank Bialk, night
Waterman at the Luetgert sausage
factory. Bialk, who Is q German u
years of age. was a trusted employees
of the defendant with whom he worked
ne gave In German, bore directly on
the movements Of the defendant DUR
Ing the night of May l. He also re-
lated how two barrels which 1t is al
legged contained caustic potash, were
stored on one Of the upper floors %
the factory and were. shortly before
May l, taken out of the basement
where the barrels were emptied into
the vat and dissolved by steam.
The other witnesses were Charles p.
Melander. a photographer, who iden-
titled several views Of the Luetgert
factory, and Mrs. Agatha Tosch, the
wife of saloon keeper. Mrs. Tosch
was frequently in charge Of her hus-
bands saloon and had several CONVEX
sations with, Luetgert regarding the
disappearance of his wife, She has
been regarded as one of the states
most important witnesses, being one of
the few who saw smoke issuing from,
the factory the night Mrs. Luetgert
disappeared. She swore that Luetgert
had urged her not to say anything
about the smoke as it might get him
in trouble
Before the taking of testimony be-
gan, today. attorneys for the defense
asked the court to compel the state to
set forth by what means. according to
the theory of the prosecution, the life
of Mrs. Luetgert was taken before her
body. was placed in the vat. The in
dictment contained IL counts but did
not state the manner Of Mrs. Luet-
gert's death. The court decided thai
the state was not bound to specify the
means of death.
Mrs. Tosch, in her testimony showed
a decidedly hostile spirit toward Luet-
CERT, and in a number of details she
Improved on the story she told to
Justice Keisten and in Judge Gibbons
court in the habeas corpus proceedings.
She said Mrs. tuetgert once had an
attack Of throat trouble and Luetgert
told the witness In conversation that
il he had delayed minute longer In
calling doctor the drafted beast"
meaning his wife, would have been
dead" In her previous testimony, Mrs.
Tosch did not use these words. She
said that in her conversation with him,
May Is, she asked him what caused
the smoke from the factory furnace on
the morning of May 2. and he asked
her not to say anything about the
smoke.
In her former testimony she said Luet-
CERT once told her he sometimes became
so angry at his wife that he could take
crush her. This morning, she swore he
said he could crush her. using the word
crush in the German and not merely
indicating 1t by a gesture.
The witness said Luetgert told her he
had great deal of trouble with his wife
and had ceased to live with her. She had
objected to the presence Of Mary Simmer
ing. the servant, In the house. but Luet-
CERT told the witness that il his wife
turned Mary away he would take her into
the factory with him. Mrs. Tosch was
subjected to a severe ton
during which Judge Vincent asked her IL
she did not say to Luetgert. May Is, that
II he knew his wife as we'll as She. Mrs.
Tosch, knew her. he would let her 20
and not worry about her. She declared
she did not make this statement. 1t was
then asked II she did not suggest to Luet-
CERT that he could come to her house
with the two children to live and she
would be mother to them. Her answer
was an emphatic no.
Frank Rialk. the old Waterman. told
about the arrival at the factory, in
March last, of several barrels which were
stored on one of the upper floors and.
shortly before May l. removed to the
~ Ina ko,, L.
I Is alleged contained caustic potash, and
Inc witness said the stun was emptied
INTO the middle vat in the basement
shortly before May !. and dissolved by
Bialk said there was steam under one
of thestw boilers In the furnace room
wnen ne arrived at the factory at 6 A. #
M. May l. Luetgert turned the steam
nto the vat In the basement and in
'tructed him to keep up steam during the
night. as he would need 1t in the base
nent. At 9.15. Luetgert sent him to a
HUE store to purchase a patent nerve
neGacdne. he was gone more than half
IN hour and gave the bottle to Luetgert :.
nrOugh the gate to the sausage makers
'mce. which was locked. After 10 O'Clock
,e was again sent to the same drug
inc. lie returned with a bottle Of min
rdl water which Luetgert had directed
Inn to purchase. He did not see Luet-
ert agan tnat night. The sausage ma
vas. and the door between him and the
'oiler room where the witness remained
sas locked. About o'clock In the
morning the steam to the vat WAS
urned or
Bialk left the factory at O'Clock Sun
ay morning. and before leaving went to
ne once. where he saw Luetgert sitfinn
1itn his feet on stable. He did NOT
~ whether Luetgert was asleep or
OF The next evening when he returned p
work he found the vat running over
, nose was pouring cold water into Il.
'eside the vat on the floor was a siimv
INSTANCE. Near the vat was a chair
rom the Office. The witness said thrse
rye doors which had been removed from
" smokenouse were beside the vat, MS
nough they had been used to cover the
at while Its contents were boiling.
biaik said that after the factory wax
sized by the sheriff and he learned that
Lrs. Luetgert was missing. he was afraiS
remain there. He said that on Sunday
vening at O'Clock. he saw Luetgert n
IS Office and asked him II he wanted the
Eeam turned into the vat that ndrht