Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-01


Chicago. Sept. 1.-The Luetgert trial
began in earnest yesterday and the
Prosecution was very well satisfied
when the day was done. Mrs. Agatha
Tosch was the first star witness. She
described the domestic life OF the Luet-
gerts as one OF the most unhappy
imaginable, and brought into the case
for the first time the motive. She de-
ciared that upon numerous occasions the
sausage maker had uttered words of
regard, IL rot affection, for Mary
Siemcrins, while in the next breath he
clencned his hands, as though he could
choke his wife to death. Il cannot, and
VIII not, live with my wife" were
words attributed to the prisoner. To
cap the climax to this tale of domestic
quarrrcls, curses and what might be
construed TO he threats to murder, the
witnos wove web about the prisoner
by charging him with scores OF sus-
piciuus uttCrauCcs. In addition, there
crept into the testimony the charge
that the prisoner had suggested MUIR
dcring the witness own husband.
The Tatai Night in the Factory.
Then came Watchman Bialk. who
was at the factory the night OF the
supposed murder. He told how there
were barrelso Of caustic soda in the base
mcnt and how he had, at Luetgert's
orders put some Of It in a sausage vat.
lie said there Was steam under one of
the boilers in the furnace room when he
arrived Mt the factory at y. m. on
May l. Luetgert turned the steam into
the vat in the basement and instructed
him TO keep up the steam during the
night, as hr would need IL. At 9:15
I.uetgert sent him to n drug store to
purchase n patent nerve medicine. He
vas gone overhaul an hour and gave the
bottle to IuctgCrt through the gate to
the sausage makers office. which was
locked. At 10 o'Clocl; he was again sent
10 the drug store for some mineral
water. After giving the mineral water
20 Luetgert through the gate he did
not see the sausage maker again that
night.
Not Allowed Ia the Basement.
Continuing he said Luetgert was in
The basement where the vat was located
and the door between him and the boiler
room. whore the witness was at work.
Remained locked. About 2 O'Clock in the
morning the steam to the vat was turned
on. Eialt loft the factory at Sunday
morning, and before leaving went to the
office. whore he saw Luctgert sitting
with his feet on the table. He did not
know whether he was asleep or not.
Next evening, when he returned to work
he found the vat running over. Hose
was pouring cold water into it, Beside
the vat on the floor was a Shiny sub
stance. Near the vat was chair
from fIa Grtga NEffpee= e,iJ .b,., for.,,
doors which had been removed from the
smoke-house Were beside the vat, as
though they had been used to cover the
vat while It's contents were boiling.
Tried Ia Bribc EiaIk Not to Talk.
Eailk said that after the factory was
seized by the sheriff he learned that
Mrs. LuetEert was missing. He said
that on Sunday evening at o'clock he
saw I.uetgert in his Office. and asked
him If he wanted the steam turned into
the vat that night. Luetgert. he said.
turned pale, and said NO" At this
statement Of the witness I.uetgert
lJurhrd heartily. Bialk then told of his
visit To the factory with the police Of
i..rs. officer Dean discovered two
rirgs In the vat and the officers carried
away with them bones found in the vat
and sWukC-house. on May 16 Officer
klingcr was concealed under the bed in
the house of the witness when Luc.Cert
came there 90 sge Bialk. LuetEort asked
witness what the officers found in the
factory and HiallS said they had found
nothing. THAT Is good said Luet-
rert. The latter advised him not to tell
the police anything.
Today's Evidence.
Chicago, Sept. There is ro
abatement 20 the interest in the
Luetgert trial, the court room being
crowded. Lue;gert said before court
came to order that Bialk, the watch
man, who testified against him yes.
terday, was an ignorant man, and
had been trained by the police to tell
his story. The days proceedings
opened with the cross examination
OF Bislk. In answer TO questions, he
said he had been living a, Policeman
Ringers since Nav 16, neither work
ing nor paying board. Inspector