The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-28
ADOLPH LUETGERT
FOUND DEAD
Sausage Maker Who Was Serv-
ing Sentence for Wife
Murder.

Joliet, ILL.,, July 27.-Adolph L. Luetgert,
the wealthy Chicago sausage maker who
was serving a life sentence In the peniten-
tiary here for the murder of his wife, was
found dead in his cell today. The authori-
ties were unable to ascertain the cause of
- death, and an inquest will be held to
determine whether he killed himself or died
of heart disease.
The trial of Luetgert in Chicago attract
ed widespread attention, and was one of
the most sensa tional cases in the history
of the state. Luetgert was charged with
having murdered his wife in the basement
of his factory and cooked the body to
pieces in vat. The prosecution had but
few small bones and two rings as evidence
that their theory was correct, but secured
conviction and a life sentence.
The first trial resulted in a mistrial and
the conviction was secured on the second
trial. Luetgert employed some of the
ablest lawyers in Illinois to defend him.
and the case attracted great attention
throughout the United States, 1t being
claimed by the defense that Mrs. Luetgert
was alive, and the claim even substantial
ed apparently by witnesses, who claimed
tnat they had seen and conversed with
the woman alleged to have been murdered
subsequent to the arrest of the accused.
Luetgert was so certain of an acquittal
at Ike second trial that, it is alleged, he
negotiated with museum manager to be
one of his attractions, stipulating an enor-
nous salary, that was agreed to. He is
alleged to have been worth over 100000 in
cash and realty at the time.
One of the interesting features of the
case was Luetgert's unique personality.
Large and gruff with roaring voice,
quick temper and fondness for profanity,
he was frequently insulting to his own
lawyers, and always more or less so to the
army of newspaper men who visited him
daily. He was kept in rigid check by his
counsel and at the close of the first trial
he was so angered because they would not
permit him to testify in his own behalf,
that he discharged every lawyer defending
him and employed an entirely new set.
Tonight it was determined that Luetgert
died of fatty degeneration of the heart.
Frank Fay Pratt member Of the Chica-
go bar, said tonight that Adolph tuetgert
confessed in February, 1893, that he had
killed his wife. "In February 1885," said
Jail, I became acquainted with the sausage
maker. He was told by one of the iailers
that was palm reader and one day as
was passing his cell he asked me to read
his nd. found the lines of fatality or
preiestinaton very strong, and told him
that from his hand could read that he was
not responsible for his actions in the s.nse
of self-restraint. He then sid: Yes; that
Is so did kill my wife. / was possessed
of the devil and killed her because l was
in love with another woman
HE then started to tell me about the yat
and said his wife attempted to make a dy-
ing statement to him when the dogs be-
gan to growl. and he put an end to her. He
then began cursing. As I considered the
confession a professional one, 1 respected
1t until death has now placed his beyond
further human pursuit"