The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08
Evidence of Two of the
Chief Witnesses for
Luetgert Crushed.
Illinois Making Out a Strong
Case Against the Big
SauSeg ege-Maker.
OvertureS Of a Hypnotist Arouses
the Anger of the Alleged
Wife
Special Dispatch to THE CALL


CHICAGO, ILL, Oct. 7.-One more day
of evidence and the finish of the Luetgcrt
trial will be in signt. The State an
nounced to-day that it had but few wit
nesses and that it would get through
them without much delay to- m orrow. An
adjournment will then be taken until
Monday, when the defense will offer a
small amount OF sur-reputtal, ana then
the way will be clear for the argu.
ments of the attorneys, which will take
about one week.
1t was bad day for the defense. The
evidence of two OF their chief witnesses
was almost destroyed. Mary Siemm mering
aud William Charles, Luetgert's business
partner, were the sufferers. Witness after
witness came on the stand and swore that
when Mary Siemmeripg had denied that
she had admitted improper relations with
Luetgert she had not told the truth. They
said she had admitted it and IN the most
unequivocal manner. Most of these wit
nesses were members of the Grand Jury
which had indicted Luetgert, and their
evidence was crushing. Tney all told the
same story and the most desperate efforts
them. Prominent business men who hau
dealings with Charles and bankers with
whom he had done business swore that
he could not be believed under oath and
told of shady business transactions with
which he had been connected. In this
case, as in that of Mary Siemmering, the
defense made frantic effoIts to save the
character of their witness, but were not
sbIe to accomplish. anything.
The crowd at the Criminal Court build
ing was larger than it has been upon any
other morning during the present week.
Hundreds were turned away, disap-
pointed and angry. Never before in Chi
cago has the interest in a murder trial
been sustained from start to finish as in
the Luetgert case.
When court opened the police officer,
Charles Griernow, was called TO the wit
ness-stand to testify TO certain dates of
material events in the case in contradic-
tion of witnesses for the defense.
William Fulbeck, Luetgert's former
hostler, testified that he missed Mrs. Luet-
gsrton May l, but said nothing until
May 3.
Then l asked Mary Siemmering where
Mrs. Luetgert was" said the witness.
What did she say?' inquired State Is
Attorney Deneen.
she said Mrs. Luetgert was upstairs in
bed, responded the witness.
Attorney Phalen tried 0 get FuIbeck to
change the date TO day in The latter part
of April, but the witness was obdurate
and clung TO his origins al statement
Luetgert's heavy features, which had
been contorted by his habitual frown,
augmented by physical pain, caused by
an atmospherical change, relaxed some
what rs he caught sight of Mrs. Christine
Feldt. He smiled, then an expression of
scorn shone in his eyes.
Mrs. Feldr was in court to-day 10 con.
tradict the evidence of Mrs. Mary Charles
relative to the rings worn by Mrs. Luet-
CERT. Mrs. Charles emphaticallv denied
on the witness stand Tuesday that she
had ever asked Mrs. Feldt to say, if cues
toned. that the rings found in the vat at
the Lueigert sausage factory were not the
rings which had belonged to Mrs. Luet-
CERT. To-day Mrs. Feldt, with equal
EN- phasis. declared that Mrs. Charles did
request er 10 deny that she ever sa the
rings before. Mrs. Feldt refused 10 do so.
She SAID to-day the rings were those OF
Mrs. Luetgert. She was positive.
Police Matron Mcmahon of the Chicago
avenue station was placed on tha stand to
deny Mary Siemmering's story that she
had been subjected to humiliating treat
ment when she was placed under arrest
and brought to the station. Matron Nc
Mahon declared it was untrue that the
young woman was deprived of all her
clothing in her cell, as she had said, and
that policeman had stood guard at her
cell door while she was without raiment.
Then came horde of Witnesses to i'm
peach William Charles, Luet gert's busi-
ness partner. Mr.. Charles sat in the
courtroom and he heard his reputation
assaiied right and left. He heard his
reputation for truth torn into ribbons, and
while these were Haunting in his redeemed
face his ears were greeted by the harsh
tones OF former business associates who
questioned MS integrity.
Abram Selig, who bought the grocery
department OF Luetgert's sausage factory
for $500 at the Sheriff. sale, testified that
be found 159 boxes of soap in the store,
and that much OF it was scrub soap"
This was brought out to show that Luet-
CERT did not need 10 make soap 10 clean the
factory.
The State will close its case tom orrow.
Judge Tuthil will adjourn court until
next week. Judge Tuthill will leave town
for Nashville, where he will be orator of
the day at the exposition on Saturd ay.
The trial will be resumed at $50 o. clock
Monday morning with sur-rebuttal.
Luetgert was moved 10 deep sub-cellar
profanity in the County Jail to-day by the
visit OF professional hypnotist, who
asked Luetgerts permission to hypnoIize
him. With a richly favored German oath
Luetgert observed as he stood behind the
bars: "If was out there on the corridor
would hypnotiZe you with one POKE on
the jaw. I'd put you to sleep, and good
and plenty, you humbug"