The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-17
LUETGERT ON CRUTCHES
THE BIG SAUSAGE MAKER SPRAINs
HIS ANKLE WHILE SPARRING.
Bout Between Medical Experts and
Femurs OF Various Animals.

CHICAGO, Sept. 16.-The day was given
over to expert testimony in the Luetgert
trial to-day, and the attorneys for the de-
fense and the witnesses for the state
wrangled vigorously regarding femurs of
human beings. femurs of sheep and of hogs
When court adjourned for the day the fight
was still on, and will be resumed tomorrow
morning When court opened this morning
the defendant came into court upon a pair
of crutches. He said that he had a badly
sprained ankle the result of a fall while
sparring friendly bout with one of the
guards in the Jail. The injury is painful
and will trouble him for some time.
The principal witness for the day was
Professor Dorsey, of the Field Columbian
Museum, who took the stand for cross-ex-
animation. Attorney Vincent, for the de-
fense. made it his business to show the
jury that Professor Dorsey did not know
anything about bones, anyhow, and
that he was densely ignorant on the subject
Of femurs. Professor Dorsey fought stoutly
to show that he knew what he was talking
about when he said yesterday that the bone
shown him was the bone of human being,
and very probably that of a female. He
made one correction, however and said
that when he said yesterday that the femur
was thet of the left leg, he had intended
to say that it was for the right leg Be-
fore Professor Dorsey took the stand Dr.
Norval Pierce, who had identified a bone
shown him as the left temporal bone of
female, was called to the stand but his
eross-examination did not last for any
length of time. and then Attorney Vincent
announced that he was ready for the cross
examination of Professor Dorsey. The ex-
ANIMATION aDDlln1pQ technical
again and again the attorney tried to make
the witness say that he was not sure that
TT hone in question was the femur of a
hu- N being, but the witness stuck to his
first assertion. Then the attorney tried to
show hat the femur was that of a hog
and again the witness baff1ed him. Then
and again he was defeated. Then he offered
a large collection of bones and wanted the
witness to state from what animal they
had come The court took hand in the
proceedings at this point and announced
that there are enough bones in this case
already, without bringing in a lot of them
that have no connection with the case
The closing hour of the afternoon session
was lively; Attorney Vincent for the de-
down the evidence of Prof. Dorsey, the
young osteologist of the Field Columbian
Museum. After. number of questions
touching upon the qualifications of the wit
ness to testify as an expert, Attorney Vim
cent picked up a handful of bones and hold
ing them out to the Witness asked him
fused to attempt to do so without first hav-
ing an opportunity to examine them.
Can you do it?' shouted the attorney for
the defense. IF you are the expert you
claim TO be it should not be difficult for you
to name these bones
This exaSperated the witness and Assist
tant States Attorney McEwen came to his
aid with an objection, which was sustained
by the court But Attorney Vincent was not
to be stopped by objections.
did you ever dissect a hog?" he in
quired.
No, SIR" answered Prof. Dorsey.
There was an objection TO this line of
cross-examination and Attorney Vincent
arose 70 explain that he wished to show
that the femur of a hog was identical with
the femur the state had introduced and
which Prof. Dorsey had identified as the
right femur of female human being After
further questioning with reference to
whether or not Prof. Dorsey had ever dis
sected a calf or a sheep and receiving a
negative reply as to the former and an af-
firmative answer to the latter animal
Attorney Vincent suddenly asked:
How do you know then that this is not
a calf's femur?'
"BecaGse from a careful examination of
it believe. it to be human femur," re-
piled the witness.
why do you consider it the femur of a
woman?"
Because it is smooth and has the shane
and other distinguishing characteristics of
the female femur, replied the witness
Prof. Dorsey will be on the witness stand
again tomorrow for further cross-examina-
ton. The prosecution expects to rest its
case Saturday.