The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-09
GROWING BLACKER FOR LEUrGERT
State Offers Knife Alleged to Have Been
 Used by the Murderer.

Chicago, Sept S.-The defence in the
 trial of Adolph I. Luetgert for murder
 ing his wife were surprised by a move
 of the state to-day. What is consid- cred to be one of the strongest pieces | of evidence in the trial was int oduced l Mrs. Christine Feldt Luetgert's one- time sweetheart, was called to the stand by the state for the third time Assistant States Attorney McEwen | handed her a pocket knife, the blades l of which were stained and rusted, and asked her if she had ever seen it be- fore, She testified that the sausage
 manufacturer had given her this knife for safe keeping on the day of his ar rest.
 The prosecution asserts that it was l with this knife that Luetgert murdered his wife before placing her body in the boiling potash, where 1t was dissolved. | The ugly looking object was passed | round for the inspection of the attor-
 neys and was handed to Luetgert, who | opened and closed the blades gazing curiously at the weapon and scraping
 the blade with his finger as if to feel the stains which covered it. He show, ed no emotion, though he knew that every person in the court room was closely watching and taking note of his every move. In talking with his attor- neys he admitted the knife was his property.
 The court opened with the usual crowd clamoring for admission. With in the court room women predominated among the spectators and the little room was crowded to it's utmost ca pacity.
 When Luetgert entered shortly be- fore court was opened he smilingly
 nodded at the jury. He attempted to
 catch the eye of Judge Tuthill, but
 that official refused to notice the pris-
 oner.
 Police Sergeant Spangler, who was
 active in procuring evidence for the
 prosecution, testified to having secur- ed either from officers or from the fac tory and vicinity, corset steels a cellu-
 Ibid hairpin, half a tooth, particles of bone, scrapings from both the interior and exterior of the vat in which it is alleged Mrs. Leutgert was dissolved, and slime from the sluice leading from the vat
 Frederick Bicknese, brother of Mrs. Leutgert, identified two photographs as likenesses of his sister. The pictur- es were passed around among the at torneys and Leutgert attentively com pared the two and consulted about them with his attorneys.
 Another sensation was sprung when Mrs. Catherine Feldt was again called to the stand. The witness identified an ugly appearing knife which she said
 Leutgert handed to her for safekeeping
 on the day of his arrest According to
 Inspector Schaack Leutgert used this
 knife as the means whereby he killed
 his wife. The evidence was complete
 surprise to the defence and the prisoner
 craned forward to see the weapon. The
 knife was passed around among the
 attorneys and Leutgert examined it.
 He smiled as he handled it and talked
 with his attorneys about it, adding that
 it had been his property.
 Assistant State Attorney McEwen
 stated that the prosecution will pro-
 duce testimony showing that the knife
 is bloodstained. Prof HaiIres will so
 testify. Attorneys for Leutgert declare
 that they attach no more importance to
 it than they would to any ordinary
 pocket knife. The knife is a horn
 handled pocket knife about four and
 one half inches long.