Evening journal., 1897-12-27
JURORS IN THE VAT.
How the Luetgert Panel Spent
Christmas Day.
EXAMINED THE FACTORY AND HOUSE.
Chief Point of Interest the Large Tub
In tho Basement Wherein the
Woman's Body Is Alleged to
Have Been Destroyed.

CHICAGO, Dec. 27-The jurors in the
trial of Adolph l.. Luetgert spent an
unenviable Christmas afternoon and
evening, for they occupied their time
IN an examination OF the huge sausage
factory and residence Of the alleged wife
murderer.
The jurors finished their dinner at the
Hotel le Grand about o'clock and al
most Immediately were put into car
riages and, under the surveillance OF
four bailiffs. driven to the factory. No
one was allowed to go with them or
near them
The factory is a dark vacant, gloomy
building Of five stories. The jurors made
careful examination OF the exterior Of
the northern side where Luetgert's Of
flee and former sleeping room are To-
Gated. They also looked at the window
through which Luetgert's evening visit
ors usually crawled.
1t Is the theory of the prosecution
that Mrs. Luetgert was killed either in
the Office or sleeping room and that her
body was taken down to the basement,
where the vats stood. The jurors made
n most careful examination OF both
apartments and of the door leading TO
the steps which Frank Bialk. the old
watchman, said on the witness stand
was so carefully closed by Luetgert on
the night OF the alleged murder. II was
down these steps that Luetgert must
have carried the corpse of his helpmate
If he murdered her The jurymen took
measurements TO ascertain how difficult
task this would have been.
The middle vat in the basement.
where, the state alleges, the body of the
woman was destroyed by potash was
the center of interest to the Jurors
They looked at It from every side, got
into It, lay down IN Il. turned the fau-
Get measured it, and examined the
floor, which, according to the testimo-
ny, was covered with a greasy sub
stance when the faucet was turned by
Luetgert and the contents were allow
ed TO run out.
The jury next visited the furnace. II
is asserted that Luetgert burned some
of the bones Of his wife there. The Wis.
itors went outside and saw the place
where the calcined bones were found
a sesamoid, a femur and a few others.
Seldom has a place been more thor.
oughly examined than that part of the
factory which is alleged to have beer
the scene of the crime. The jurors wish,
ed to satisfy themselves thoroughly as
to the location Of every room and arti
Gle that might possibly come up in th'
| trial.
The jury was then taken to the Luet
CERT residence, in Hermitage avenue
about so feet from the factory. Severa
went into the room where the younges
! Luetgert boy slept to ascertain If they
could hear a noise on the landing a few
feet away. The Luetgert child said h'
was sure he heard the rustic of hi.
mothers dress and her footballs sew
eral hours after the supposed murder.
The outside of the residence was in
spected, the back gate. through whicl
witnesses at the first trial swore the!
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Luetgert pass on tn
fatal night, was looked at, and then tn
u jurymen passed through the gat
and walked to the Office over the sam
route the man and wife are alleged t
have taken on the night OF May 1 last.