The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-09
WEAVING A WONDERFUL WEB.
Remarkable Testimony Introduced
Against Luetgert.

Chicago, Ill.,, Sept. s.--The defense in the
trial of Adolph Luetgert for wife murder
were surprised by move of the state in
the trial to-day. What it is considered
to be one of the strongest pieces of evil
dence was introduced,
Mrs. Christine Feldt, Luetgert's one
time sweetheart, was called to the stand
by the state for the third time. Assistant
State Attorney McEween handed her an
ugly appearing pocket knife, the blades
of which wera stained and rusted, and
asked her if she had ever seen 1t before.
She testified that the big sausage manu-
facturer had given her this knife for safe
keeping on the day OF his arrest. The
prosecution asserts that 1t was with this
knife Luetgert murdered his wife before
placing her body in the boiling potash
where it was dissolved.
The ugly looking object was passed
around for the inspection of the attor-
neys and was handed to Luetgert who
opened and closed the blades, gazing Gu
riously at the weapon and scraping the
blade with his fingers as If to feel the
stains which covered the blade. He evil
denced no emotion, though he knew that
every person In the court room was close
ly watching and taking note of his every
action. In talking with his attorneys he
admitted the knife was his property.
j. H. Odenbrett and w. G. Cady. cor
set makers. were placed on the stand in
succession and positively identified the
two alleged corset steels as having been
the product of their factory. Certain
marks on the two bits of metal were
shown to correspond with similar marks
with new steels. which were produced IN
court The witnesses testified positively
as to the similarity of the steels. 1t was
considered by the state to be a great blow
to the defense and was unexpected by
the latter, who hoped to prove that the
two pieces of steel were scale bands.
Miss Schimpke, sister of Guttliev
Schimpke, who testified to having seen
Luetgert and his wife enter the factory
on the fatal evening, was placed on the
stand to corroborate the testimony of her
younger sister. She was very interesting
witness and suffered under the scathing
cross examina ton to which she was sub
jected. She was apparently imbued with
the idea that D. must testify only to
those matters which hurt the cause of the
defense. Judge Tuthill administered a
kindly but firm lecture to the trembling
girl.
From her, the defense secured the admis-
sion that she was not sure she saw Luet-
CERT and his wife enter the factory, and
the defense also forced her to admit that
she could not remember anything that
happened on any other particular night
than May 1. When asked the day of the
week upon which May fell, she hesitated
and then said: Saturday, wasn't tt?'
The defense felt that their cause had
gained perceptibly from her testimony.
The court opened with the usual crowd
clamoring for admission at the door
Within the court room the members Of
the fair sex predominated among the
spectators, and the little room was crowd
ed to it's utmost capacity.
When Luetgert entered shortly before
court was opened he repeated his man
ner of Tuesday, and smilingly nodded at
the jury. He attempted to catch the eye
of Judge Tuthill, but that official refused
to notice him.