The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-07
THE DEFENSE SUDDENLY RESTED
ITS CASE AND THE END
is IN SIGHT.
The RINGS WERE INTRODUCED
Defense's First Attempt to Explain
Them Away Caused a Dramatic
Scene-Mrs. Charles Says They
Were Not Mrs. Luetgerts.


the arguments of the attorneys-probably
about two weeks in all. The state has
eighty witnesses to place upon the stand,
but States Attorney Deenan says in
most cases their evidence will be short
and that he will get through with them
in Il hurry. He expects to demolsh the
stories offered by the witnesses for the
defense that Mrs. Luetgert was seen
around Kenosha and Lake Zurich, Wis,
within a few days after the murder is
said to have been committed and to fur
nish other testimony that will in Il great
measure hold up the side of the prosecu-
ton.
The big sausage maker yielded to the
advice of his attorney, but the disappont-
ment to him was great. He has declared
for months that he must tell his story
to the jury. His counsel feared to put
him on the stand and he accepted the
situation with frown.
Soon after court convened, ex-.l Judge
Vincent and Attorney Phelan asked per-
mission to consult with their client pri-
yately. Judge Tuthill said they might
do so, and Luetgert and his lawyers re-
tired to a private room. 1t was known
that the matter under deliberation was
whether or not Luetgert should go upon
the stand. Ex-Judge Vincent vigorously
opposed the suggestion.
Attorney Phelan was inclined to favor
Luetgert's desire. He thought he might
be able TO explain some things more sat
isfactorily than other witnesses had.
The first witness called after the con-
sultatiOn of Luetgert and his attorneys
was Mrs. Mary Charles. wife of William
Charles, Luetgert's business partner.
Mrs. Charles said that upon several oc-
casions Mrs. Luetgert had said to her.:
Il am going away. My husband has
failed in business and people will now
point their fingers at. me and say. She
is the wife of the sausage maker who
failed ! can not stand that"
On May l the witness said she saw
Mrs. Luetgert for the last time. 1t was
about IL o'clock in the morning. Mrs
Luetgert again said she was going away
and repeated that she could not stand
the disgrace the failure had brought on
her family.
Then she turned away and ! never
saw her again." continued the witness.
a dramatic scene followed. The de-
Tense has offered an explanation of every
accusation of the prosecution except the
rings found in the middle vat in which the
body of Mrs. Luetgert is alleged to have
been disntcgrated. The rings found in
the vat were stuck together when dis
covered, according to the story of
perts who examined them said the rings
were glued together by human flesh. In
one of these rings was engraved the let
tiers III. l.. 1.-the initials of Mrs
Louis Luetgert. The theory of the pros
ecution was that they had dropped from
the dissolved finger of Mrs. Luetgert in
the vat and had been glued together by
PLANTATION of these rings until the last
moment. 1t was the climax of the saul
sage makers story.
did you eyer see Mrs. Luetgert Wear
finger rings?" asked Attorney Phean.
after Mrs. Charles had finished telling
about the missing woman's threat to
leave home.
81 have" replied the witness.
How many"
''She wore two.
Mere they gold rings?"
"They We're"
You saw them often?''
Yes, very often"
Describe them. can youi"
Both were plain gold rings, nearly
equal in size-as to width. / mean. One
of them, l am sure, perhaps both, con-
tanned Mrs. Luetgert's initials"
Did you ever see this ring | now hand
youT
1t was one of the rings found in the
vat People in the court room stood up
and craned their necks with breathless
interest while the witness examined the
ring. The big court room was hushed
as the crowd of spectators strained their
ears to catch the reply of Mrs. Charles.
NO, sir; | never saw that ring before"
she finally said.
1T is narrower than either of those
Mrs. Luetgert WORE"
The other ring was handed her and the
witness gazed at it for some time.
This ring is about the size of one of
the rings she wore," said Mrs. Charles,
finally, but | can not tell--do not think
it is one of them"
dence of the defense found the prosecu-
ton unprepared to go on with its re-
buttal. Court was adjourned until to-
morrow morning.
When the lawyers and Luetgert re-
turned from their consultation. Luctgcrt
sat down with n grim smile upon his face.
His countenance bore the expression of
a martyr. The greatest disappointment
of the trial to him was apparently the
fact that he was not to be permitted to
testify in his own behalf and address the
jury. But he accepted the situation with
as good grace as his rough nature would
admit.
As the evidence in this famous trial
is now practically all in, an estimate of
the relative strength OF the prosecution
and the defense respectively is the sole
topic of discussion around the criminal
court building. The attorneys engaged
are probably the best judges of the
weight of the evidence. All of them
have made close analytical study of
every bit of evidence produced on the
trial. They are likely to be biased and
one or the other of the contending sides
must be entirely wrong, for both are sure
of winning.
1--WE have made out as strong a circum
stantial case as it was possible to pre-
sent" said States Attorney Decnan to-
night. THE evidence was connected and
the story moved along in a smooth, nat
ural groove. | can not conceive of
case being made out more completely on
purely circumstantia evidence. Our case
will be strengthened by the rebuttal evil
dencc yet to be heard. The identification
of two women at Kenosha. Wis. and
Lake Zurich, Wis. will he absolutely oh
liberated before the end of this week.
This will add another link to our strong
chain. We are fully salts
fed with the situation"
Ex-Judge Vincent was apparently
highly pleased over the status of the
case.
1--WE have met them at every point and
checked them" said he. ave have I'M
Deached several of their witnesses and
they have failed to show beyond rea
sonablc donbt that Mrs. Luetgert is dead.
I'm my Judgment n On SO has not been pS-