The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-18


Crime, the Work of the Police and thu
Claims of the Accused That Mrs. Luet
CERT is Not Dead But Alive and in Hid.
ing-Interesting Chemical Tests With q
Corpse by the E1perts-What the Police
Expect to Prove at the Fight-Othe,
Points In the Case.
! Chicago, Aug. 17.-TAe now famous
/ LGe:gert case, which is set for trial one
week from last Monday, is rightly called
che crime OF the century" Only one
! other murder mystery in the history OF
| crIme-the Parlcman-Webster murder OF
more than quarter Of a century ago
approaches it, and that only in certain
phases. Upon circums.an-ial evidence
| alone the prosecution in this case rests
its hope Of ultimate success and the most
unusual feature of this most unique af-
fair is that circumstantial evidence will
also De relied upon TO prove that murder
was done.
Louise Bicknese was German servant
girl when she made the acquaintance OF
Adolph Duetgert, then saloon keeper,
twenty years ago. Luetgert had been a
widoxer for some time, and wnen he
proposed TO the attractive German girl
she accepted him. The husband had all
the thrift for which children of the Old
world are famous and their affairs pros
pered. In the course Of time he disposed
Of the saloon and embarked in the bust
ness Of manufacturing sausages, starting
in a small way al the corner of North
Hermitage avenue and D;versey street.
Luetgert was a clever sort of a fellow
VINO dabbled somewhat in chemistry and
who devised several processes, which he
kept profound secret, by which he was
enabled 20 manufacture his product for
much less than his competitors. So his
business prospered and grew, and addi-
tons were made to the plant until the
900 was estimated to fairly represent its
value.
MRS LUETGERTS TEMPER.
Neighbors and friends of the Luetgerts
say that theirs was never a happy life.
Mrs. Luetgert was said TO be possessed
OF more than the average woman's share
Of temper, which was not infrequently
displayed. The chief cause of these out
bursts is said to have been Jealousy, and
it is admitted that she is not altogether
without reason in upbraiding her hus-
band. After a family residence, far
more pretentious than fhose surrounding
it, had been built in Hermitage avenue,
across the way from the factory. the do
nestle difficulties increased until Luet-
CERT practically withdrew from the home
and fitted up for himself a couple of
rooms in the barnliI-e factory. There,
with two great Dane dogs, he spent mis-
nights. The couples differences were
the talk Of the neighborhood, and Luet-
CERT himself discussed his affairs with
more or less sympathetic friends. To
one Of these, Mrs. Argoda Tosch, he is
reported 10 have said that the bitterness
OF his wife's tongue made MIN wish that
he might'-the sentence was left unfin-
ished in words, but graphic pantomime
with constructing fingers conveyed a sin
lister meaning to his listener. Mrs. Luet-
CERT was particularly emphatic in her
denuncations of Mrs. Christiana Feldt,
whom she had ordered from the house
and whose relations with Luetgert are
relied upon by the authorities to at least
suggest a motive for the crime with
which he is charged.
OF MRS. LUETGERT.
Saturday night, May 1, ar 1890 O'Clock
Mrs. Luetgert was seen for the last time
by her 12-year-old son, Louis, who al
that hour babe his mother good night
and went TO his room. At this time Mrs.
Luetgert was dressed in a brown fam
mel wrapper with small white spots,
cloth slippers with leather soles and
square brownish gray shawl. which she
had thrown over her shoulders. Sunday
morning Luetgert walked across from
the factory to the house, casually in
quired for his wife and expressed little
or no surprise when he found she was
not al home.
There appears to have been no inquiry
as to Mrs. Luet gert'S whereabouts until
the Tuesday following. when her brother
Dietrich Bicknese, called at the Luetgert
residence and made some inquiries OF
his brother-in-law. Mrs. Luetgert had
been in the habit of making frequent
calls upon her brothers family and they
could not understand her continued alb
sence. To the brothers inquiries Luet-
CERT replied that he guessed his wife, If
not a. her brothers house, had gone
away. on little trip. Incidentally he
stated that ne had found the children's |
savings banks broken open and the con- |
tents, amounting to something like so. |
gone The brother not sa tisfied With! the |
statement, suggested that the police be |
communicated with. whe-eupon Luetgert |
is said 70 have stated that he had al I
ready communicated with private de- |
tective. for a few dollars spent in that !
way would be productive OF more sat
results than if the matter were |
placed in the hands Of the city police.
POLICE AT WORK ON CASE.
The brother waited two days and see
ing no evidences OF an active inquiry on |
the part of his brother-in-lsw. reported |
the matter 10 Captain Schuettier.
careful description OF the woman was |
sent broadcast, ana then, on the theory |
that she might have committed suicide. |
3 suggestion which came from Luetgert
himself. the river was dragged in the
neighoOrho0d OF The factory In the |
meantime. reward Of 5000 was offered |
FOR information that would lead 10 the
discovery II the missing woman.
About the tine that Mrs Luetgart dis
lppea red fnsncia! difficulties overlook
the sausage maker, and mis- factory pass
2; into the hands u an assignee. after