Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-23
.IEIGEDT TELLS HIS STORY
Fear That People Would Laugh at Her,
Given as the Reason

rhis Wife's Departure from Home
saws He Had Explained to Her
the Methods of Foreclosing Nor
tages and That They Would Be
Left Without Anything He Had
Tried to Cheer Her by Promising
10 Go to Work and Earn a Living,
But Without Success-Told Of
HIS Reasons Tor Making Soap and
Of he Purchase Of the Potash.
Described His Last Meeting With
Mrs Luetgert.
Chicago January 22.-The crowd in
attendance at the Luetgert murder
trial to-day was greater even than the
lay before, and long lines of people
stood outside waiting for an opportu-
ajyy to pass the guards at the en-
rance to Judge Gary's court room.
When Luetgert took the stand to-
iay he was apparently much more
Composed and answered the questions
propounded him by his counsel in a
irm voice.
The defendant was inclined to go
into details more than his attorney,
Mr.. Harmon, desired. When asked to
nav less attention to detail Luetgert,
with some show of anger, said he
would tell his story thoroughly or not
at all
The most important feature of Luet-
serts recital to-day was his eXpla-
nation of the presence of the potash
in the factory. He said it had been
in his place of business for nearly two
months before the Gay 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 ihe factory,
which, he explained, was necessary
because there was many things to
which attention was called at night.
A question was asked by Luetgerts
counsel regarding Mrs. Feldt, but this
subject was passed over quickly,
Luetgert simply saying that Christine
sometimes visited his house.
I.uetgert said his wifes health, pre-
vious to her disappearance, had been
bad and she was frequently troubled
with headaches. His own health, too,
was bad, partly on account of
HIS IRREGULAR HOURS.
q always had to get up at nights, .
said the defendant, sometimes two or
three times TO attend to matters at
the factory.
1T was absolutely necessary for me
to sleep there. 1t was known all over
the neighborhood that | was sleeping
there and that | had dogs there, so
that burglars knew better than to
come there"
When Luetgert finally reached that
part of his story concerning the hap
penings on May 1, the date OF his
wife's disappearance, the audience
and jury paid the closest attention.
DO you remember what transaction
YOU made the morning of May ~ ask
I'd Mr. Harmon.
Il ate breakfast early and went to
my Office
What was the first thing you did
that day."
Il gave some orders. / told my men
to 90 to the basement to remove some
barrels of salt. I then went down and
saw that three barrels of tallow were
in their places"
Continuing, 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
neat business he conducted.
You purchased barrel of potash
early in March?" asked Mr.. Harmon,
for what purpose"
To make soft-soap.'
What arrangement, if any, had you
made with reference to cleaning the
tactory?"
One day, after the New York trip.
Mr. Charles came home and said there
vas a chance to sell the factory. He
told me to keep the place very clean,
as these people did not know anything
about the business. and what we
would call clean they would call dirty.
WI, HSuTeu lu6 SUN lleiu IhSh ~
at could not sell, potash was cheap,
md thought it was cheaper to make
cap. When ] used to work for EnSle
Bros I learned the recipe for making
30ap"
Inspector Setback. who set alongside
.he jury, smiled as Luetgert told 81 his
Tnerience in the line of making soap
When did you first see this barrel
u notash?" asked Mr.. Harmon.
The next day"
Where did it stand?"
1t was between the Office and the
meat market where
EVERYBODY WHO CAML IN
'ould not help but see it
Did you give any orders about that
oarrel?"
Yes, l told Smokehouse Frank to
freak it up and told him it was bad
tuH that it would burn him and that
le should cover his face so he would
1ot get hurt"
Now will you tell me why you de-
aHea Two weeks before making the
oap?"
he men came too soon to see the
atyoly before it was cleaned"
What time Saturday, May /, did you
e'dIn home?" asked Attorney Har-
non
oh. can't tell the exact hour. 1t
rs late in the afternoon.
What was said in the conversation
t."een you and your wife while eat
Ivy sumner that nighto''