The herald., 1897-09-26
To the Man Who Murdered
for Love
LUETeERT's MAID SERVANT
GIVES STRONG TESTIMONY FOR
THE DEFENSE
Incidentally She Weakens the State
by Exposure Of Methods EN-
ployed by the Police
Issociated Press Special Wire.

CHICAGO, Sept. 25.-Adolph Luet-
gert, the alleged wife murderer. suffer
ed 80 much pain from the injury to his
right leg this morning that a masseur,
Peter ]. Peel, was called in to give him
treatment. The massage expert sue
ceeded In relieving him, ard when court
opened Luetgert hobbled in with the
aid Of his crutch in much better humor
than he had shown during the early
morning hours.
Luetgert processes to be much pleased
with several statements thus far In the
defense. I'VE have something hotter
coming" said the accused. There Will
be lot of things explained away when
/ get on the witness stand"
States Attorney Deneen, Assistant
States Attorney William McEwan and
Inspector Setback had a consultation
this morning at which the matter OF
calling Fred Haihes, an ex-newspaper
writer, to the witness stand was dis
cussed. Hair.es Is under conviction for
forgery. Last August he was SEN
fenced to the penitentiary by Judge
Neely. Afterward, through the inf1u-
ence Of friends, the sentence was vaca-
ted and the case taken under advise
ment. Haines had acted as a sort OF
confidential secretary for Luetgert In
iail and had written number of letters
for him. He said that Haines asserts
that he wrote letters to W. c. Grottey
Of New York for Luetgert. in which
Grottey was urged to come to Chicago
and testify that he saw Mrs. Luetgert
in New York a week after her disap-
pearance. Haines told this story 10
States Attorney Deneen some time ago.
The prosecution. hesitates about calling
Haines to the stand.
The strongest witness that the de-
fense has yet produced in the Leutgert
trial was on the stand today. The wit
ness was Mary Siemmering, the domes-
tic in Leutgert's household. for whose
love it is charged by the state that the
prisoner murdered his wife. There was
no mistaking the feeling Of the girl
toward Luetge She was there to do
him all the good in her power, and she
stood by him stoutly.
She contradicted herself several times,
but was quick to catch herself, and the
last statement that she made in any
part Of her testimony was always In
favor OF the prisoner. She denied in
positive manner that she had been a
disturbing element between Luetgert
and his wife, and said that neither by
night or day, alone or in company, had
she ever visited Luetgert in his factory
or elsewhere in an improper manner
She insisted that the prisoner had al
ways been good to his wife, and that in
her opinion the latter was out Of her
mind and had been for some time prior
to her disappearance.
The cross-examnation of Mary Stem
mering during the afternoon and up to
the moment OF adjournment did no!
break her down. She clung to the more
important elements of her story, con-
tradicting herself upon points Of little
material value.
ination to the effect that Luetgert ano
his wife lived together happily. She de-
clared positively that the stories of fire.
quent domestic brawls were exaggera-
ted. She also said that Mrs Luetgert ar6
herself were on friendly terms and thai
Mrs. Luetgert had paid her extra
wages because she was SO pleased will
her work. The witness said that Mrs
Luetgert told her to say nothing tt
Luetgert about the extra pay.
Last January, the witness stated, shs
made up her mind to leave the Luetger
household, but Mrs. Luetgert objected
to her leaving and she reconsidered he
determination and remained. She tolt
| of a Christmas present of $5 Mr.. Luet
| CERT gave her last Christmas. and sait
he gave Mrs. Luetgert watch ant
chain. The witness was some what bit
ter in her narrative of her alleged ex
perience with the police. While unde
arrest, she said, she was insulted an,
threatened by policemen, who informe'
her that they knew she and Luetgert ha
been guilty of wrong-doing, and tina
to save herself she had better deser
1.-The Dutchman." as they called Luet
CERT, and testify against him.
Her testimony was complete denia
OF the evidence Of the prose cution in an.
way duplicating her in a compromisin