The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-14
A BLOOD STAINED KNIFE
INTRODUCED IN THE LUETGERT
MURDER TRIAL

Mrs. Feldt Testeried That the Defendant
Gave it to Her for Safe Keeping the Day
After the Alleged Murder-Pieces of Steel
Found in tn. Vat Proven to be Corset
Steels-The Case for the State Damaged
by Swift Witness
Chicago, September S.-The defense
in the trial of Adolph L. Luetgert for
wife murder were surprised by a move
of the state in the trial today. What
is considered to be one of the strongest
pieces of evidence was introduced. Mrs.
Christine Fledt, Luetgert's one-time
sweetheart, was called to the stand by
the state for the third time. Assistant
States Attorney McEwen handed her
an ugly appearing pocket knife, the
blades of which were stained and rust
ed, and asked her if she had ever seen
it before. She testified that the big
sausage manufacturer had given her
his knife for safe keeping on the day
of his arrest. The prosecution asserts
that it was with this knife Luetgert
murdered his wife before placing her
body in the boiling potash, where it
was dissolved. The ugly looking object
was passed around for inspection of the
attorneys and was handed to Luetgert,
who opened and closed the blades.
gazing c%uriously at the weapon and
scraping the blade with his finger as
if to feel the stains which covered the
blade. He evidenced no emotion,
though he knew that every person in
the court room was closely watching
and taking note of his every action. In
talking with his attorneys he admitted
the knife was his property.
]. H. Odenbrett, and w. G. Cady, cor
set makers, were placed on he standi in
succession and positively identified the
two alleged corset steels as having been
products Of their factory. Certain
marks on the two bits of metal were
shown to correspond with similar
marks with new steels which were pro-
duced in court. The witnesses each
testified positively as to the similarity
and also to the fact that the new steels
were of the pattern usually sold by
their factory. 1t was considered by the
state to be a great blow to the defense
and was unexpected by the latter who
hoped to prove that the two pieces OF
steel were scale bands.
Emma Schimpke, sister of GOttliebe
Schimpke, who testified to having seen
Luetgert and his wife enter the factory
on the fated evening, was placed on the
stand to corrobOrate the testimony of
her younger sister. She vas a very
faltering witness and suffered under
the scathing cross examination to
which she was subjected. She was ap-
parently imbued with the idea that h
must testify only to those matters
which hurt the cause of the defense.
Judge Tuthill administered a kindly,
but firm, lecture to the trembling girl.
From her, the defense secured the ad-
mission that she was not sure she saw
Luetgert and his wife enter the fac
tory and the defense also forced her to
admit that she could not remember
anything that happened on any other
particular night than May LIST. When
asked the day of the week upon which
May LIST fell, she hesitated and then
said: acknowledgements it," The de-
Tense felt that their had gained
perceptibly from her testimony.
The court opened with the usual
crowd clamoring for admission at the
door. Within the court room, the men,
bers of the fair sex ~predOmniated
among the spectators and the little
room was crowded to it's utmost capac-
ity. When Luetgert entered shortly
before court was opened he repeated
his manner Of Tuesday and smilingly
nodded at the jury. He attempted to
catch the eye of Judge Tuthill, but that
official refused to notice the prisoner.