The times., 1897-08-31
LUETGERT MURDER TRIAL
The Prosecuting Attorneys Open
ing Address to the Jury.
He Outlines the Case Which the
state Hopes 10 Make Ont
Against the Prisoner.

Chicago, Aug. 2o.-The taking of testi-
mOny IN the Luetgert case cOTHU enced THIS
afternoon. A mild sort Of sensation was
created at ne beginning of the session, and
before the jurors took their seats in the
box Judge TuthiI decided that the. pris
oner must not have his little boys with
INN, tC hold them on his knee. as had been
his custom during the examination OF
veuiremen.
The court held that, however much the
perennial feeling might incline, the prisoner
To make affectionate demonstrations 10
mis- child, 1t would have an improper in
fldence upon the jury, OF at least, il mig gh5
have.
With little preliminary ceremony Assist
ant States Attorney McEwen began the
opening address to the jury on behalf Ok
the tate. On the wall between the judge
and the jury were suspended three large
maps, or charts, showing a complete plan
of the Lue tgert sausage factory, its build
ings, smo ke-honses, watts in the basement,
etc.
Peginning with the Disappearance Of Mrs.
Luetgert the night of May /, Mr. McEWen
said that the prosecution would he
thought, be able TO prove to The satisfa.-
ton OF the jury that she was dead and
had been murdered by her husband. He
retold the story OF how, for three days, no
inquiry as Co her whereabouts was made
until her brother, Diederich Dicnese, COM
pelled Lueugert Co report the disappe arance
TO the police, saying to him, IF it was one
of your big dogs that had disappeared, YOU
would have the whole police force turned
out''
A report was then made to the police,
and Capt. Schuettler had ali the sewer
outlets in the neighborhood searched
Then Frank Bialk, night watchman at
the factory, went to the police and told
OF circumstances that led % Luetgert 5 ar
Fest the purchase of a barrel Of caustic
potash FROM wholesale drug house. Iuer-
CERT 5 mysterious presence in the factory al
night on the night of May l etc, and Of
the subsequent Investigations by the DO
lice, all tending to show the prisoner 5
guilt.
With long pointer the States attorney
passed over Il big chart on the wall show
ing the jury the location OF the sausage
factory, and the arrangement of the dark
and mysterious interior. He indicated
the path to the eDgine-Tooni, Ipun which
Mrs Luertgert was seen in her husbands
company late at night, walking toward
the factory. The series OF watts were
shown, and in blood-red ink, the particular
one in which the body OF the woman is
supposed to have been cons ulned, was
Indicated.
Luetgert sat with his small eyes half
closed, his thin pale lips drawn tightly,
and his gaze rowing from his lawyer, ex-
Judge Vincent, to the jury.
The taking of testimony was commenced
shortly before noon, W hen Frederick TIaaf
a city draughtsman, was called to the wit
ness stand, and testified to the plans and
specifications ofthe sausage factory, drawn
by him for the State.
Luetgert's son Louis, aged twelve. testi-
fled that at an hour when the State has
coatended that Mrs. Luetgert was dead
and her body being disinte grated his
mother was alive and that she spoke 20
him Louis Luetgert's estimony was
surprise to the attorneys for the State.
The State had to use him because he
was thought to be the last person to see
and speak to the missing woman. ex-
cepting the prisoner himself
Assistant States A ttorney McEwan was
seen later and asked what he thought
would be the effect of the testimony of the
hoy.
Il can't say" he replied Eve know
the boy to be hostile witness, but we
had to use him to show when Mrs Lnetgert
was last seen alive. or course l believe
the testimony W as prepared and tile boy
coached to testify as he did in order TO
iniure tie States case. We got off as
easily as 1 could have hoped for