The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-16
THE QUESTION OF DOUBT
PRESSED BY VINCENT WITH ALL
THE ELOQUENCE AT HIS COM
MAND.
TO THE JURY BY NEXT TUESDAY.
The Closing Argument for the State
VIII Not Be Made Until Next
Week.

1'S1O1ANS~ N~4A>A
dreds of persons were unable to gain
admittance. Attorney Vincent, chief
counsel for the defense, continued his
address to the jury. His arguments
We're principally directed toward the
reasonable doubt" as to the death Of
Mrs. Luetgert. He vigorously attacked
the police officials for their alleged
browbeating of witnesses, particularly
in the case of Mary Siemmering, whom
he declared the defendant had treated
more like daughter than any other
way. The witnesses for the prosecu-
tion were held up to scorn and Judge
Vincent declared that the prosecution
had done nothing but throw mud at
his client, while the defense had been
engaged in scraping it off. Mr.. Vim
cent will probably conclude his ad-
dress at tomorrOW's session. On Mon
day States Attorney Deneen will
make five hours address, and the
case will doubtless be given to the jury
late Tuesday.
Luetgert came into court this morn
ing looking much improved in personal
appearance owing TO a visit to the jail
barber shop. He also appeared to have
had a better nights sleep than upon
Wednesday. The big sausag agemaker
greeted his son. Arnold .Luetgert, and
William Charles, his business partner,
with hearty handshakes. Then he
turned and gazed at the large audience
present His heavy eyebrows We're
contracted, and the heavy scowl
beamed as usual.
Ex-Judge Vincent, fresh and conf
dent in physical appearance, and in
good voice. resumed his argument
where he had left off Thursday after
noon.
FINAL PLEA.
gentlemen of the jury" said he, l
had intended reading to you some ten
or twelve cases on circumstantiaI evil
dence. But, owing to the oppressive
heat. and in Difference to the wishes
and suggestions Of the court, 1 shall
curtail my readings considerably.
but before l enter upon a further
discussion of the evidence in this case
] shall read to you two or three cases
Of interest"
Luetgert's chief counsel thereupon
read from law books definitions OF CIR
cuustantial evidence, and the WelShL
that was due. and should be attached
to such evidence.
81 will not say that circumstances do
not sometimes point to guilt, observed
ex-Judge Vincent, but / will say, aye
and affirm with emphatic warning 10
YOU. twelve men, that condenillhs 10
death a human being on purely cH-
cumStantial evidence is dangerous
proceeding. Can any juryman IN that
hot I've
not return before I have ceased TINS
argument? Can any of you say she
will not come back to her nome ana
her children next week, next month,
next wear or in the dim future? Unless
YOU can. a reasonable doubt exists IN
your mind, and you must give lhjs
prisoner the benefit Of it. Remember
throughout your deliberations that this
prisoner is entitled to every reasonable
doubt"
Ex-Judge Vincent took UP the evl-
dence in the case and discussed 1t at
length. He defended William Charles.
Luetgert's partner, whose evidence
was impeached, and practically admit
ted that the story Charles told was the
story I.uetgert would have told mad he
gone on the witness stand. The bone
EXPERTS were discussed and those Of the
prosecution were ridiculed. while the
experts of the defense were e1tolled
to the skies.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
During all of the hot afternoon ses-
sion of court eX-Judge Vincent pleaued
with the jury to spare the life OF MS
client He argued that there was moth
ing in the alleged love of Luetgert for
Mary Siemmering, the pretty servant
girl. that would inspire the sausage
maker to commit such q dlabohcaI
crime as was laid at his door The at
titude of Luetgert towards the servant
girl was declared to have been that OF
a father towards his daughter, rather
than as an employer towards a servant.
Mary Siemmering is q relative Of Mrs.
Iuetgert and had been in. the family
for wears. and was regarded as a mem
her of the family rather than IN the
light of q servant the speaker declared.
Then he recalled the testimony OF Mary
Siemmering, who had said that Mrs.
Iuetgert was her friend and had often
paid her extra wages, warning her not
to let Luetgert know this fact He
also recalled that the two women eX-
changed presents on Christmas, 1886,
and were apparently on the best Of
terms With bitter invective, Luet-
gert's chief legal defender attacked
the police department for the alleged
cruel browbeating treatment which
Siemmering, but which had also been
accorded other witnesses for the de-
fense
Ex-Judge Vincent seemed to fully
realize that his was the one last plea
and appeal for the big sausagemaker
who sat within touch of his hands,
and this fact inspired the orator with
elouuence and fire. During one of his
oIItbursts. he shouted, turning sudden
" toward IIuetgert: ''They have for
months been throwing mud at him,
and mud at him, and mud at him"
At each repetition of the phrase, the
speaker reached down and dashed an
imaginary handful of mud in Luet-
gert's face Then he stopped suddenly.
Facing the jury, he stopped for mo
ment, and then said:
1--WE have been scraping 1t off.
He recalled the fact that Luetgert
and his wife had lived together eighteen
years and had gotten along as well
| during their married life as people of
their station and mental development
| usually de-better and not worse. Wit
nesses who had testified for the defense
were praised, while those who had ap-
peared for the state were declared 10
! have been, for the most part, the per
! iured dupes of the police. EX-Judge
| Vincent declared 1t his firm conviction
] that Mrs Luetgert had wandered away
| while demented, and, if she was dead,
! her death was not due to any act of
! her husband.