The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-01-24
Sau'agemaker Reaches the Inter.
!, esting Portion of His State
ment to the Jury.
Potash in the Factory Had Been
Bought Months Before the
First Of May.
Had Also Slept in the Factory
For Months Before His Wife
Disappeared.

O0As r. no OFOW MI NE l
tendance At the Luetgert murder trial
was greater even than the day before,
a long ines Of people stood outside
waiting Tor an opportunity to pass the
guards at tho entrance to Judge Gary's
q room. The most important fea.
eure OF Luetgert's recital was his ex.
PLANTATION Of the potash in the factory. |
He said It had been in his place Of bust. |
ness for nearly two months before the
day Of hts wifs's disappearance; that it
had not been concealed, and that he
was to make soft soap out Of it. The
prisoner also told Of his sleeping in the
factory. which he explained was neces.
sary because there were many things
to which to attend at night. A ques-
ton was asked BY Luetgert's counsel
regarding Mrs. Feldt, but this subject
was passed over quickly. Luetgert sim.
ply saying that Christina sometimes
visited his house.
Luetgert said that his wife's health,
previous to his disappearance. had been
bad. and she was frequently troubled
with headaches. His own health, too,
was bad, partly or account Of his irreg.
ular hours.
II always had to get up at nights"
said the defendant. ''some times two or
three times to attend to matters Mt the
factory"
1T was absolutely necessary for me
to sleep there. 1t was known oil over
the neighborhood that l was sleeping
there. and that l had dogs there. so
that burglars knew better than to come
there"
The happenings Of May I.
When Luetgert finally reached that
part Of his story concerning the hap.
penings on May |. the day Of his wife's
disappearance. the audience and jury
paid the closest attention.
do you remember what transaction
you made the morning Of May ~"
asked Attorney Harmon.
Il ate breakfast early aud went to
my office"
"WhAt was tho first thing you did
that day:"
Il gave some orders. l told my men
to 20 to the basement to remove some
barrels Of salt. then went down aud
saw that three barrels Of tallow were
In their place."
Continuing the witness told OF buried
bones he had In the factory basement.
and Of fat he intended to convert into
sausage. He also told OF the small
meat market he conducted.
You purchased a barrel OF potash
early in March, asked Harmon.
For what purpose
ITO make soft soap"
what arrangement. il any. had you
made with reference to cleaning tho
factory"
Had . Chance to Sell tho Factory.
Zone day. after the New York trip.
Mr.. Charles came home and said there
was q chance to sell the factory. He
told mo to keep very clean, as these
people did not know about the business.
and what we would call clean they
would call dirty. Well. l figured the
stuff I had then for fat l couldn't sell;
potash was cheap and l thought it was
cheaper to make soap. When l used &c
work for Engle Bros, l learned the
recipe for making SOAP"
Mr.. Leutgert then told about the last
time he saw his wife, which was the
evening before she disappeared. He
had gone over to his house and had
gotten some tea. then had gone over &c
the factory to sleep.
He also detailed the conversation
with Mrs. Luetgert when he told her OF
Vhis failure in business. She had said
10 him ut that time that she could no,
stand tho disgrace and that when the
sheriff came she would not be there.