The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-23
N HIS ONN BEHALF
Luetgert Appears Upon the
Witness Stand.
EXPLAINS ABOUT SOAP
His Last Sight of His Wife,and
Her Last Words.


was apparently more composed and an
swered the questions propounded him by
/ his counsel in a firm voice. He was in
cIined TO 60 into the details more than
his attorney. Mr.. Harmon. desired. When
asked TO pay less attention 10 detail Luet-
CERT, with some show OF anger. said he
would tell his story thoroughly OF not
( at all.
The most important feature OF Luet-
gert's recital today was his explanation
OF the presence Of the potash in the fac
| tory. He said II had been in his place
OF business nearly two months before the
| day of his wife'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 necessary be-
cause there were many things to which
/ ne had to attend at night.
! When Luetgert finally reached the part
Of the story concerning the details OF May
l, the audience and jury paid closest at
tention.
do you remember what transaction you
made the morning of May ~ asked At
torney Harmon.
81 ate breakfast early and went to my
Office"
What was the first thing you did that
day?"
II gave some orders. Told my men to
remove some barrels OF tallow. I then
went down and saw that these barrels
OF tallow were in their place" Con-
tinuing the witness told of old bones he
had in the factory basement and OF fat
he intended to convert into sausage.
when you purchased barrel OF potash
in March," asked Harmon, "for what pur-
Oppose was it?"
'"To make soft soap"
"What arrangement. II any. had you
made with reference to cleaning the fac
tory?"
zone day, after the night trip. Mr..
Charles came home and said there was a
chance to sell the factory. He told me
to keep the factory very clean. as tbs
people did not know anything about the
business.
IT then ordered the stuff to clean the
factory, and as potash was cheap.
thought it cheaper to make soap. When
1 used to work for Engel Bros, learned
the receipt for making soap"
INSPECTOR Setback, who sat alongside
the jury, smiled as Luetgert told Of his
experience in the line OF making soft
soap.
when did you first see this barrel Of
1.-THE next day"
where did it stand?"
ct was in the Office, where everybody
who came in could not help seeing it,"
did you give any orders about that
barrel?"
YES; told Smokehouse Frank to break
il up. and that it was bad stuff: that it
would burn him, and he should cover his
face so that ne would not get hurt
VIII you tell me why you delayed
making the soap?"
1.-The man came too soon 70 see the fac
tory. before it was cleaned"
What time Saturday, May /. did you |
return homer" asked Attorney Harmon.
ooh. can't tell the exact hour; it was /
late in the afternoon
What was said in the conversation be |
tween you and your wife that night be- /
fore eating supper"
Luetgert hesitated. well. my wife /
made some remarks do not Ike TO re-
peat" he answered.
Tell US about the conversation" said 4
Harmon.
Mr. Harmon replied Luegert, 81 VIII 4
not repeat what was said"
Mr. Luetgert" said his senior counsel,
you will not be forced to tell anything
you do not wish to- but. as your counsel
want you 20 tell every word that was
said between you and your wife that
evening"
MY wife asked ne about the manner Of
foreclosing mortgages. and when ! told
her she said: Then we lose everything
and I told her we would. And this Is all
we get for our thirty years hard work
since we came to America
~ told her il could not be helped: that
was not afraid Of work and would face
the world afresh and work hard for a
living II necessary
As he told % the loss of his fortune and
his willingness 70 begin all over again.
Luetgert seemed % be greatly affected
Tears came 70 his eyes. hts chin trembled
and Jumps rose 81 hts throat.
MY wife said she was not afraid. but
that could work and earn living"
continued LuetEe-t- But what viii peo-
PIE say They viii laugh al us' shs
said. told % let them laugh; that their
laughing would not take away ny work.
She said II this would come she did not
want To 1--we, and would rather % dead. /
About this tine Louis came IN and asked
f0r money 20 70 - a circus. and his
mothe- sad they had ~ money % give
u c,rcusss and gave him - cents.
'.she said: II TIE sheriff should cone
you z-fll not fud re here tod her that
Il was rot foolish: that there vas no;b-
Ing foolish about f. ard things ks1t o.
as they had for TIE last tv7o months
would 10 see her any more laughed
and said she Rad better stay w1,h Der
Children SIZE sad sjwavs laughed q;
he-. 7 al rot pay u3ueh attention g -
for she ha5 been talking ike TIA, for
several months"
How vas Mrs. L1stFsrt's raiud a.
fectes BY tire long sickness % your little
F.sv. Elmer. the twin asked sFr. E5ar-
r1on-
II affected her a great deal ard 49,
often runse the remark that she zouis
-zrhe- So tts chIl6 dad thar zIivs. Sc
made these reEarks 81 the p-ezzace q