Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-30
lUETGERTS TRIAL BEGUN
Chicago Sausage Manufacturer Accused of
Numbering His Wife.
GruesOme Experiments Made to Test
the Theory of the Prosecution In
the Celebrated Case.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, August 30.

Luetgert was calm and confident looking
when brought into court, and he had ap-
parently been greatly refreshed by Sun
days respite from the daily court room or
deal.
District States Attorney McEwan for
maliy opened the case for the state On
the wall close to the jury box were hung
large maps of the Luetgert sausage fac
tory, ire Luetgert home and all the sur
roundiEgs of the place where it is charged
the prisoner killed his wife and then de-
stroyed her body.
The attorney for the state began with
the disappearance Of Mrs. Luetgert on
May l, and next described the visit on Nav
of DieGrich Bicknere. brother of Mrs
LuetSert, when he called to see his sis
ter and discovered that she had disap-
peared- He dwell on the apparent indif-
terence of the husband. his statement
that he had not Informed the police but
had hlred two detectives, and his invitation
10 Blcknere TO call again in about a week.
~hen he would tell him if anything had
Teen discovered concerning the where
abouts of his sister
Attorney NcEwan told the jury that
Luetgerts statement that he had hired
Two detectives to search for mis- wife would
be proven false. Mr. McEwan said it Is
the theory of the state that Mrs Luetgert
accompanied her husband into the factory
between 1870 ana IL O'Clock. About 1890
O'Clock her little son Louis returned from
the circus and saw her sitting III the
kitchen The conversation of the boy with
MS mother was interrupted by Luetgert,
VINO came in anG ordered the boy to bed.
Before going to sleep the boy heard his
father descending the back stairs toward
the factory. where he had slept for wears.
MIR. McEwen said it is The theory of the
state that Mrs Luetgert descended the
stairs at the same time and went to the
factory. The boy did not hear her steps
because she wore house slippers which
made no noise. Luei CERT and his wife were
q lIHV in fha IF =
few minutes later. They Were seen going
through gate which led TO no place ex-
cept the factory.
Detailed Prisoners Movements.
The attorney for the state then detailed
the movements of Luetge-t in the factory
the turning on of the steam to the vat the
sending OF Watchman Bialk shortly after
~ O'Clock, to a drug store, and Bialk's sub
seluent errand TO the drug store all of
which kept him out of the factory for an
hour and half He was away when Mrs
Luetgert was last seen alive in the alley.
The alleged motive and operating reason
whlch actuated LuetSert. according to the
theory OF the state, was then described
Mr.. McEwen said Luatgert despised his
WIFE He had treated her with violence
as the evidence for the state will show He
had no affection for her. and lived alone
In the factory. There, the attorney said
ne mad been visited by other women
Judge vincent objected 10 this statement,
but Judge Tuthill overTuled the objection
MI McEWen said a witness will testify
that ne saw Luetgert choke his wife in
the chicken house back of his residence
She said: You need not kill ne. as Won
ui4 mat man, for have no money"
ms caused Luetgert TO say that she
would not be allowed &c betray him. Judge
vincent objected 10 this statement as for
elSn TO the case and not proper evidence
but was oyerrJiled by the court
nen Mr. McEwen concluded Attorney
ihSeht announced that no opening ad-
uress Would be made at present for the de-
tense The first witness was then called
w H. Haafe OF the city map department
testified 10 the correctness OF the drawings
being used by the prosecution.