The age-herald., 1897-09-28
HE HAD A PLAUSIBLE STORY
Which He Wound Off With AlaCrity and
 Without Halt.
REASONABLE USE FOR THE POTASH
And the Barrcaded Door-The Former Was For Soap-Making and the Plunder Be- fore the Door 0ccasoned by
 Hunt For Rats.

Chicago, Sept. 27.-The leading event of the day in the trial of Luetgelt was the evidence of William Charles, Luet- gents business partner. He explained why, as he claimed, the caustic potash, in which the body of Mrs. Luetgert is alleged by t1Ts prosecution to have been dissolved, was bought According to Charles.story the potash was purchased as the principal ingredient of quantity of soap to be used in cleaning up the big factory preparatory to its sale to an English syndicate. The witness said dle suggested this method of putting the factory in shape himself and that Luet- gert acting upon the suggestion, order ed barrel of caustic potash weighing 375 pounds sent to the factory in Mar,h last. This was about the time the prosecution claims the negotiations were pending between Luetgert and Davey, the mysterious Englishman, who is sa. d ito have represented the syndicate and who borrowed something like $25000 from Luetgert.
 Charles also offered an explanation of the apparently barricaded door to the basement stairway by telling about chase for rats, ard a small dog who was an active participant He said that the factory had been infested with rats for some time, and that an effort had been made to get rid of them. He said that he, Luetgart and others were in the basement when terrier which belonged to him got after a rat. Charles, Luet- gert and others moved boxes. barrels and other obstacles to aid the dog In alis chase and 1The boxes and barrels were hurled in a pile against the door. The barrcaded door was unintentional, he said. It just happened that the articles were thrown there without thought of the door at all.
 Charles said besides the caustic pot ash two or three barrels of tallow, a quantity of grease and some clipped bone, which was to be used in making the soap, was delivered at the factory. He said that he aided Odorofsky and Levandowski, the two laborers em- ployed in the factory, to place some of the stuff in the middle vat. He also saw Frank Bialk in the factory at the time the caustic potash was put in the vat and Luetgert said he would see to turn ing on the steam and boiling the stuff Charles said he met Luetgert In sa- Fo of the night Mrs. Luetgert dlsappared and Luetgert said he was going over to the factory and turn on the steam. On the same night Charles said he went to the basement of the factory and found Luetgert there and the steam turned on. The mixture boiled over once or twice and splashed upon the floor, he said. The following day he visited the fac tory basement and saw the mixture in the vat The tallow was in one portion of the vat and the grease or lard had collected in another portion of the vat by itself.
 Luetgert again turned on the steam or the mixture, the witness said.
 
 torney Deneen. Charles denied that he had "doctored" the books of the concern so as to show a yearly profit of $30,000. This line of cross-examination was ob- jectcd to by the defense, but the court permitted it for time, the result being a complete denial by Charles. He &C., knowledged that 1t was he who intro- duced Promoter Davey to Luetgert. but he said he was deceived by the man as well as Luetgert.
 Fran D.ttar told of seeing Mrs. Luet- gent wringing her hands and weepd.g upon one occasion. It was during he aaItter part of April and the witness de- ciared Mrs I.uetgert said the busine.rs was broken up. They had gone, ard she was going away also. Later, wit ness said, MT. Luetgett promised ito al.- tend the wedding of his daughter in June and make the prospective bride present.
 At the close of the afternoon session of court ex-Judge vincen; ard At ,orney Patten were much pl,ased over the evil dence of Witness Charles.
 He told a pretty fair story, said As- sfstant state's Attorney McEwen, at the close of the trial. It is one of those stories upon which there was nothing left to cross-examine. First, he sought the opportunity. He was an the base ment of ehe factory that night and that LueEert began to make soap. He and