The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-24
THE LUETGERT CASE
Opening Address of Counsel for the he.
fense-Th~ Claim That Mrs I.uetxert g.
Alive-The First Witnesses


Alive-The First Witnesses
Chicago, September 22-The first wit
nesses for the defense in the Luetger.
trial were called today and there vii
be three weeks OF evidence tending L
prove the sausage makers innocence
before the attorneys in the case com
mence their final arguments.
Attorney Vincent, for the defense.
made the opening statement for Luet-
CERT and according to him. the defense
will be simple. 1t will consist chiefly
of a general denial of all the expert
evidence submitted by the state. prove
that the caustic potash used in the vat
was purchased by .Luetgert for the
purpose of making soap, and evidence
tending to show that Mrs. Luetgert Is
alive, and in all proba ability Ia Ger
many. Concerning the rings found in
the vat. Attorney Vincent said that
they were not those OF Mrs. Luetgert
and that he would prove that she had
never seen them. much less worn them.
He also declared that he would bring
witnesses to show that many OF the
prosecution as human bones are in re-
ality those of the lower animals. He
will also show, he said, that Mrs. Lieut.
CERT has been seen alive and well. save
for her mental troubles since May 1st,
the night on which IL is claimed that
she was murdered. He also asserted
that Luetgert will go on the stand In
his own defense.
A warm legal fight arose In the
nf he TIM TIT at
torney Vincent. In outlining the de-
Tense he said that he would prove that
Mrs. Luetgert, nervous and discouraged
by the business reverses Of her hus-
band had told several Of the neigh
bors that she intended to run away
from home. The state protested against
the admission OF such evidence, and
the court, after listening to the argu-
met Of the lawyers, said that he did
not think that he could permit such
Testimony to go in. The defense felt
this badly. as Attorney Vincent in the
heat Of his statement, had said that
without such evidence as he had just
alluded to. his client might be hung.
He fought with desperate energy for
the admission Of the testimony and
finally Judge Tuthill said that he would
permit the introduction OF evidence re-
lating to conversations with Mrs Luet-
pearance, but he said that the testi-
mony must be absolutely direct and un-
questioned.
The evidence today was that Luet-
CERT reported the disappearance Of his
wife to his lawyer, and was greatly dis
turbed by the fact and that he had
purchased large quantities of materi-
ais for the purpose Of making soap.
One witness testified that toward the
4 close nf he ~ ha
factory and saw Mrs Luetgert. who
seemed to be depressed. She remarked
during conversation that nearly ev-
erything was gone and she thought
she would go too pretty soon and work
on farm where no one knew her.
Rosa Gleich. OF 1859 North PauIina
street. Lake View, was called on to i'm
peach the evidence Of Emma Schimpke,
who testified for the prosecution and
said she saw Luetgert and his wife
going from the Luetgert residence TO
the sausage factory about 10 o'clock
on the night Of May 1st. GottIieba
Schimpke. a younger sister OF Emma,
also testified to this fact, but as the
child afterward admitted she did not
know what state or county she was
living in. her evidence was Of little
value. Roca Gleich said that she was
with the Schimpke girls on the night
OF May 1st. They had all been to a
dance. She declared positively that
neither OF the Schimpke girls had seen
either Luetgert or his wife that night
and that since she testified Emma
Schimpke had admitted to the witness
that she had sworn falsely and tried
TO get her TO do the same, telling her
she must not be on Luetgert's side"
Emma Schimpke said to me that II
was he prattle OF her sister that got
her into the case" said the witness
and she testified to suit the side that
called her"