The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-24
LuETGERT ON THE STAND.
Saws His wife Told Him She Wanted To
Die.

Chicago, January 22.-At the Luetgert
murder trial today. Luetgert again took
the stand. The most important feature
of his recital today was his explanation
of the presence of the potash in the fac
tory. He said it had been in his place of
business for nearly two months refore
the day Of his wife's disappearance; that
| it had not been concealed and that he
| WAS to make soap Of io. He also told
of his sleeping in his factory which he
explained was necessary because there
were many things to attend to at night
Luetgert said his wife's health previ-
GUS to her disappearance had been bad
and she was frequently troubled with
headaches He told of buried bones he
had in the factory basement and fat he
intended to convert into sausage. When
asked what arrangement he had made
with reference to cleaning the factory he
said that Mr.. Charles said there was a
chance to sell the factory. He told him
to keep the place very clean as these peo-
pie did not know anything about bust
ness aud what they would call clean the
others would call dirty. "Well." said
Luetgert, IT figured the fat had then
I could sell; potash was cheap and I
thought it was cheaper to make soap.
When 1 used to work for Engel Bros, /
learned the receipt for making SOAP"
He then told how he had ordered an
employe to break up the barrel of potash,
warning him to be careful as 1t was bad
stuff.
He could not tell the exact hour he re-
turned home on Saturday, May l, but it
was late in the afternoon. Asked as to
the conversation between himself and
wife while eating supper that night, the
witness said his wife made some remarks
that he did not like to repeat. His coun-
sci asked him to tell every word that he
said between himself and his wife that
evening. sMy wife asked me about the
manner of foreclosureing mortgages,
said Luetgert, land when told her,
she said, then we will lose everything l
told her we would Then that is all we get
for our 80 years hard work since we came
to American told her it could not be
helped; that I was not afraid to work
and face the world afresh and work hard
for living if necessary.
As he told of the loss of his fortune
and his willingness to begin ell over
again, Luetgert seemed to be greatly
affected. Tears came to his eyes and
humps rose in his throat. my wife said
she was not afaid but that could work
and earn living" continued Luetgert,
"but she said, what will people say. They
will laugh at us. told her to let them
laugh; that their laughing would not
take away my work. She said If it
should come she did not want to live.
She said she wished the children were
dead. About this time Louis came in
and asked for money to go to circus,
and his mother told him we had no
money for circuses. 1 gave the boy ten
cents. She said: IF the sheriff should
come, you will not find me here told
She said there was nothing foolish about
| it and if things kept on as they had for
| tho last two months I would not see her
any more. I laughed and said she had
better stay with her children. She said
1 always laughed at her. did not pay
much attention to her remarks because
she had been talking like that for sew
eral months"
! Chow was Mrs. Luetgert's mind affect
ed by the long sickness Of your little boy
| Elmer the winter before?'
| at affected her great deal and she
often made the remark that she would
rather see the child dead than alive. She
mado these remarks in the presence of
both children"
! Luetgert told next of speaking to Louis
and of carrying lantern which he
always did at night in going into the
factory. In answer to a question, he
said: ~ turned and left the house by
the north door. That was the last time
saw my wife,