Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-27

pay less attention to detail, Luetgert
with some show of anger SAID that he
would tell his story thoroughly or
not at all. The most impc rtant feat
ure of Luetgert's recital was his eX-
PLANTATION of the presence of the pot
ash in the factory. He said it had
been in his place of business for nearly
two months before the day of his
Wife's disappearance; that it had not
been concealed and that he was in
tending to make soft soap out of it
The prisoner also told of his sleeping
in the factory, which he explained was
necessary because there were many
things to attend to at night. A ques-
ton was asked by Luetgert's counsel
regarding Mrs. Feldt, but this sub
ject was passed over quickly, Luet
CERT simply saying that Christine
sometimes visited his house. Luet-
CERT said that his wife's 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 If
regular hours.
Il 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 /, the date Of his
wifes disappearance, the audience and
Jury paid the closest attention. do
you remember what transactions you
made on the morning of May l.
asked Attorney Harmon. Il ate break
fast early and went to my office"
what was the first thing you did
that day." 81 gave some orders. l
told my men to go to the basement
and remove some barrels of salt. l
then went down and 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 conduct
ed. "You purchased a barrel Of potash
early in March?" asked Harmon. For
what purpose?" "To make soft soap.
What arrangement, if any, had you
with reference to cleaning tie fac
tory?" "One day after the New York
trip Mr.. Charles came home and said
there was a chance to sell the factory.
He told me to keep the place very
clean, as these people don't know any
thing about the business and what we
would call clean they would call dirty
Well. | figured the stuff l had then
for fat | could not SELL potash was
cheap and | thought it cheaper to
make soap. When | used to work for
Engel Bros. | learned to make soap.
Inspector Setback, who sat along
side the jury, smiled as Luetgert toll
of his experience in the line Of making
soft soap. when did you first SCI
this barrel of potash?" asked Mr.. Har
IOu. he u6AJ ddS w 1ASA NAN
it stand?" ct was between the offic
and the meat market, where everybod!
who came in couldn't help but see it.
did you give any orders about tina
barrel?' Yes. i told 'Smoke-house
Frank to break it up and told him
was bad stuff, that it would burn him
and that he should cover his face s
he would not get hurt" Now, will
you tell me why you delayed from
March until two weeks before May be
fore making the soap?" THE me-
came too soon to see the factory, be
fore it was cleaned" What time Sat
urday, May l, did you return home?
asked Attorney Harmon. ooh, 1 can
tell the exact hour. 1t was late in tn
afternoon. What was said in til
conversation between you and you
wife while eating supper that night ?
Luetgert here hesitated for some me
ments before speaking. well. m
wife made some remarks l do not Xix
to repeat" finally answered the wit
ness. Tell us about that converse
ton" said Mr.. Harmon. ''Mr. Luet
CERT, said his senior counsel, "you wi
not be forced to tell anything you d
not wish to, but as your counsel | wal
you to tell every word that was sal
between you and your wife that ever