Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-01-27
THE LUETGERT TRIAL.
The Defendant Goes Upon the
Witness Stand.
Story OF His Financial FaIlures-Thelr Ef-
feet Upon His Married Life-A LachrT-
NOSE Witness Whose Tears Flowed
When His Wife Was Mentioned.

CHICAGO. Jan. 22.-Adolph L. Ltret-
CERT went on the witness stand and
told the jury the story of the doings
| in his sausage factory the night
of May [, 1897. He endeavored to
explain the mystery surrounding
the disappearance of his wife, for
whose murder he is being tried. An
immense crowd gathered around tn ,
criminal court building long before the
case was called, but, warned by experi-
ence, the police allowed only those to
enter who had tickets.
After relating the story of the vari-
GUS financial deals in whick he was in
terested, Luetgert was asked if. during
the time he was first engaged in BUSH
ness, he was married. To this Luet-
| CERT replied in the affirmative.
II was married to Miss Pauline
Ruelke in 1s72,'' said the defendant.
| Attorney Harmon, of counsel for the
| defense, then went into Luetgert's
| financial affairs at the time of Mrs.
Louisa Luetgert's disappearance, and
drew out the statement that Luetgert
was worth about $50, 00O, exclusive of
real estate.
The defendant told of the various
places he and his wife had lived and Of
his going into business at his latest To-
cation in 1879. The court at this point
took a recess.
Nothing important transpired dur
ing the afternoon session and the ex-
animation of the witness by his at
torney, Mr.. Harmon, was so slow that
when court adjourned nothing per-
tanning to the alleged murder of Mrs.
Luetgert had been brought out
The court reconvened at two o'clock
and in a few minutes, an objection to
some questions put by Mr.. Harmon as
being trivial, brought from the court
the statement that an hour and twenty
minutes had been consumed in arriv.
ing at the resgesta, but he supposed it
would be best to let the defense alone,
as objections appeared only to cause
further delays.
Mr.. Harmon made some haste at this
point and Mr.. Luetgert explained
several passages between himself and
his wife as testified to by state wit.
nesSes.
Luetgert told of his offer to sell his
entire plant for $500, 900. The option
of VIM. Charles, the coming of Robert
Davy into the deal and the greatest
abundance of details marked
the further recitation. After the
deal was closed Luetgert said
he received telegram from
DIR. John Phillips, of New Haven,
Conn.,, saying that Davy was threat.
ened with rheumatic fever. Luetgert
consulted with Attorney Goodrich and
then left for New York to find Davy,
if possible. He was not at the hotel
he had given as his address. Then
Luetgert went to New Haven. He
found DR.. Phillips to be an old man.
who had not practiced in Is years.
The doctor said he did not know Davy.
and had not sent the telegram saying
he was i'll. A search of the New Ha-
ven hospital failed to locate the man.
The last passage was as to the effect
the news of his failure to find Davy
had upon his marital happiness. The
question proved too much for the de-
PENDANT. His face colored, he ner-
vously drummed with his pencil and
he sank low in his chair and slouched
forward as he explained why he hest.
tated to tell his wife the result of his
trip, saying she disliked the location
of their home and wanted to move,
and that he had agreed to settle $50, 900
upon her and keep only $780, 900 him.
self when the deal went through.
WHAT was the effect of the news
when you did tell her?" asked Mr..
Harmon. and everybody knew what
was coming.
Mr.. Luetgert looked down, then
glanced up, bit his lips and swallowed.
He leaned back in his seat and
drummed audibly with the pencil.
Finally he reached back for his pocket
handkerchief.
Judge Gary was watching him close.
ly. At this point he said the defend
ant bad been on the stand nearly three
hours and the court would adjourn I'M
til tomorrow.
Luetgert proved to be a very lachry.
NOSE witness, his tears coming FREE
quently and in considerable volume
whenever the name of his wife was
brought into the case.