The herald., 1897-10-20
For a Verdict in Luetgert's
Case
A DISAGREEMENT EXPECTED
FOR DEFENDANT HAS FRIENDS
IN THE PANEL
The Prisoner Makes a Pitiful Attempt
to Keep Up the Appearance of
Indifference

CHICAGO. Oct. 19.-Another night of
suspense. is ahead of the defendant in
the Luetgert case. AT 8 o'clock the jury
had gone to bed on cots which were
placed in the court room, and it was
announced by Judge Tuthill that, even
though by one chance in million the
jurors should wake up and agree on a
verdict, there would be no announce
ment and the court room would under no
circumstances be opened until 10 o'clock
tomorrow
Late in the afternoon the jury sent for
the contract which Matron Kurth gave
Gottlie'ba Schimpke at the time she took
her into her home as a domestic.
When the police learned two months
ago that Gottlieba, whose age is II years,
had stated that she saw Luetgert and
his wife walking toward the Luetgert
factory on the night of May 1st, they
took her to the Sheffield-avenue police
station and later placed her in the home
of Matron Kurth. A contract was siSwed
by Mrs. Kurth agreeing to pay the, girl
50 per week. This contract was read
during the trial and offered as evidence
One Of the jurors wanted to see it, and
not finding it, sent for the paper. Attor
ney Phelen was inclined to the opinion
that the contract had been omitted pur-
posely. States Attorney Deneen en-
phatically denied this, and said that he
had no objection to it's going to the jury
1t was accordingly sent in.
States Aftornev Deneep remained in
his office until all hope Of a verdict to-
closed up his rooms and went home
He s still hopeful Of verdict, but nat
urally looks upoEN disagreement as the
most likely outcome.
There were rumors of all kinds afloat
during the evening, all of them being
to the effect that the friends of Luet-
CERT on the jury were weakening. Il
was known during the day that the vote
stood to 4, and tonight the rumors
were that it was 10 for the death penalty
and for acquittal Juror Harley is ad
mitted to be the stout friend of Luet
CERT, and he it is who is leading the
fight for acquittal.
Over in the jail Luetgert was, during
the evening, arXiously awaiting word
from the jury room. He tried as usual,
to keep up an appearance of inGiffer-
ence, and, is usual, made failure of it.
"If they don't agree" he said, II get
bail and I will be out of this. can give
bail for million dollars if they want
that much. My wife is living some
where, but I must admit she is having
lot Of fun with me al present. There
ic = nric
with great positiveu.ess. "there will be
no conviction in this case 1t will be
either an acquittal or a disa agreement"
Asked where he obtained his infor-
ma ton, he smiled and said "Oh.
know; you go 'lopg. l won't be con-
victed, though; you can bet on that"
At 10 o'clock the criminal court build
ing was dark as pocket. The crowc
which had hung around its entrance
during the early part ofthe evening had
disappeared A solitary bailiff sat at
the foot of the stairs leading to the sec
ond story. Another sat at the upper end
of the flight, two more were at the door
of the court room and two more were
keeping watch over the sleeping jury
men.
The opinioEi ound the criminal court
tonight was that all chance of a verdict
had disappeared anG that the result is
practically certain to be a disagree
ment. 1t is considered possible, and
even probable that the state will have
nine or ten of the jury and the deferse
the remain der. The chances tonight,
however, seem to favor disagreement
of eight for conviction and four for ac-
quittal.
Just before retiring for the night the
jury took another ballot the vote stand
ing for conviction and for acquittal.
The four Jurors who have been standing
out for acquttal are Behmller, Barber
Holmabrd and Harley. The two latter
are still for acquittal, but either Beh-
miller or Barber has come over to the
state.
There is much feeling against Harley
among the jurors who favor the death
penalty. They say ne will not argue the
case in any way, but sticks stolidly for
Luetgert.
ATTEMPTS AT BRIBERY
| CHICAGO. Oct. 1.-two letters ad-
dressed to the foreman of the Luetgert
jury have been received by Judge Tut
hill offering bribes aggregating $110C
for an acquittal or disagreement. All
mail for the jurors since the opening
of the court trial has been opened by he
Judge. States Attorney Deneen thinks
the letters hoax, but Inspector Schaack
believes them genuine