The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-30

August F. Lutter, who, 1t is alleged, one
week ago Tuesday evening, shot and
dangerously wounded Mrs. Jennie L. Fit
kin, at her home, 1902 Eighteenth avenue
southeast. Minneapolis, was arrested ate
o'clock last night by Detective Norm
King and Tom Murphy at the city hospi-
tai, where he went with note for Mrs.
Fitkin, evidently thinking he could leave
1T and get away without being recogniZ-
ed. Knowing of Lutters presence in the
city, Detective King was watching the
city hospital for him. while Detective
Murphy was stationed on downtown
corner where Lutter had arranged to
meet a woman. Last night, it is said,
Lutter made complete confession of the
whole affair to Superintendent of Police
Doyle and Detectives Murphy and King
at the central police station, frequently
breaking down and crying as he told of
incidents occurring on the day of the
shooting.
Detectives King and Murphy yesterday
morning learned that Lutter was in Min
neapolis. Securing a messenger boy he
sent the following letter to Mrs. Fitkin
at the hospital:
Angel, my, darling love, are you suf-
fering much? Oh, Baby, Baby, Baby,
what have | done? Only one question,
forgive me, darling? 1 could write pages
ana pages, but first l must know if little
baby girl can forgive me? If my dear lit
tie Jen wants me to | Will write letter
and give the same to Miss L
don't know ii this will reach my true,
dear beloved one. may be arrested any
moment and it would be only just. 1
write, yes or no, and then l shall know If
my Baby, my angel, can forgive me-
Goodbye and forgive me. Yours only,
Lutter left OrtonviIle, Mimi, where he
had been stopping at the Windsor house,
Monday night for Brownton, Mimi, and
lert there tuesday noon, arriving in Min
neapolis Tuesday night, one week fol-
lowing the shooting. He went to the
Manor hotel, on Fourth avenue south,
near Washington. Said he, to the police:
Il walked over to the hospital this morn
ing and walked around, and in the fore
noon 1 wrote q few lines to her and took
them to a friend of hers in a Nicollet ave-
nue. store. l told her I was under sus-
picion, and 1 asked her to get that note
to Mrs. Fitkin, if she could, unobserved.
About one l walked over and saw her
and she gave me the note back. 1 sent a
messenger boy down with it but got no
answer and l wrote another letter and
went down to the hospital myself after
dark to have it left for her and was ar
rested"
On the night of the shooting Lutter
boarded a blind baggage and left town,
returning the next day and leaving town
again.
At the central station Lutter opened
the letter which he had written to Mrs.
Fitkin, and which he handed the nurse,
just before Detective King seized him.
This letter Is much longer, but is couch
ed i'll much the same language as is the
one he first sent by the messenger boy.
In making his statement last night to
the superintendent of police he broke
down several times and could not keep
the tears back. He had in his possession
a packet of letters written to him by
Mrs. Fitkin, which he has carried with
him on his travels. Yesterday morning
he left them at Whites saloon, on Third
street, near Fourth avenue south, CIV
ing his name as Herman. Detectives
King and Murphy obtained these letters,
and also went to William Wiseman's
store, 224 Washington avenue south. Mr..
WiSeman identified Lutter's picture as
that Of a man who purchased thirty
eight-caljber revolver from him a week
ago Tuesday afternoon for $3.50. Mr..
WiSeman was taken to the central sta
ton and Identified Lutter himself, the
latter also recognizing Wiseman.
To Chief Doyle, Lutter made long
statement, saying that he was in love
with Mrs. Fitkin, and shot her because
she refused to marry him