Year: 1878




THE STORY OF HIS SLAYER AS TOLD ON TIE
WITNESS srAND-THE CASE LIKELY TO BE
GIVEN TO THE JURY TO-DAY.


There was concluded in the Court Of Oyer and Ter
miner, yesterday. before Judge Noah Davis and
jury the taking Of testimony in the case of Ferdi.
nand Bleutje charged with the murder of Wolf Ad-
ans. The prosecution was conducted by Assistant
District Attorneys Rollins and Lyons and the de-
fence by Mr.. William F. Howe. For the first time
since his arraignment the prisoner accompanied
in court by his wife. who is young woman appar-
emily about twenty-five twentythree years of age.
with dark brown hair and eyes, not uncomely in ap-
pearance, and very fairly to her description
in her advertisement. which fatally attracted Mr..
Adams. as being young and strong"
PROSECUTING WITNESS.
Eugene Gambigler, boy Of about eleven years.
was the first witness Of the day and the last for the
prosecution. He testified that lie lived next door to
the prisoner; knew him. and him on the day OF
the beating in his (prsoncrs) own room; he heard
cries Of "Oh" and the sound Of club three four
times and then jumped the fence into the yard;
saw the prisoner make the old sit down and then
strike him with the club; the old mans face all
bloody and Bleutje told him to put all his money
the bureau he would kill him: he did not the
old man put down any money do anything; Dleute
pushed open the shutter and told him he did not
go away he would fire something at him witness
went away, aud then the shutters again closed
and the sound OF blows followed; the old man called
for the polce the officer and the prisoner told
him the old fell down stairs and the witness said
to the prisoner, "You are liar; you murdered him!"
the prisoners wife laughing. On cross-exainna-
ton the witness stated that when the policeman
he asked Adams II any person had hit him. and the old
man answered mo" With this testimony the prose
cution rested. Ft.


THE rRrsoNER's DEFENCE.


Mr.. Howe then opened the case for the defence,
presenting the theory that the prisoner being tenn
porarily out Of employment his wife had advertised
to take III washing that in response to that adver
dwelling with improper motives that he went first
in the morning and failing in his purpose, returned
band in defence of his and his wfcs honor. beat
him to DEATH This. counsel said. he would maintain
rs justihable in law.





The first witness called on this side OF the
Roundsman Patrick Mcguire. On the afternoon OF
the.beatng, he said he was called I'M on entering the
prisoners room he found the old man sitting
chair. bleeding; witnesscsked how he got the wound
and the old said he fell down stairs, and nobody
had hit him. ho then asked the prisoner how he got
blood his shirt sleeves and he replied in
washing the blood of the old man the old man
fused to give his name and said it all right.


Margaret Duffy, who had been examined as wit
ness for the prosec uton was called and in response
to questions by Mr.. Howe, said she had never had
any difficulty with the prisoner, but he was once
locked up account OF difficulty with her sister:



hatchet she personally had any difficulty with
the Bientes and never made any threats against them


PRfsoNEEs STORY.


The prisoner then sworn in his own behalf,
and gave his version Of the affair. He said he
forty-six years of age aud had been about five years
in this country; he butcher by trade. and had
worked for various pork packers: at the time of
this affair he had been three months out OF work.
and his wife had to take in washing the morning
of the day OF the beating he III the beer saloon in
the front building playing cards. and when he
came into his room his wife asked him il hs
saw q big high fellow 60 out; he said, mo" and
asked her what about him; she said he told her 1t
was big ain for 80 nicea young woman to do wash
ing; that he rich aud would give her
money ~ housekeepcr 20 that she need not work; he
then made improper proposals to her. which she re-
sented and he went away, saying he would bring her
washing ia the afternoon; later in the day he
again the beer saloon and had told everybody there
what his wife had told him. and one OF them replied
the old ought TO bc shot; about two o'clock
of the present told hiIn the old man had gone
into his house; he then asked the beer for a
club. saying it the old insulted his wife again
hu would beat him: he hid the club under his
jumper and went to bis rooms; after sending another
woman in tho house down to mis- door and
finding II locked he went down himself and.
listening a the keyhole. heard the insulting
propositions OF the deceased to his wife and his wife
resistance; he then knocked the door with the
club and the club broke and the door burst open hc
found Adams in the bedroom and his wife In the
front room; he seized the old aud in the strug-
gle which followed the old fell down several
times hitting his head against the wash kettles and
tubs that IN the room, and again in the front
room. where the struggle continued. he fell
against the stove and the inantel piece; he struck





given while they were struggling together.


What did you intend to do with the club when
you took il from the saloon y asked Mr.. Howe.


Il took 1t to beat him for what he said to my wife,"
answered Beutje.


did you intend to kill him r. was the next ques-
ton.


mo. Stree was the emphatic response.


After the struggle. continued the witness Adams
went into the hail, and witness, following him out,
found him lying Ill the hall: he lifted him up and
brought him into the room AMI put him sitting In
chair; Adams said he had had bad fall: witness
then afraid Adams might have pistol or weapon
in his pocket and II or that lie told him to
pat everything lac had III his pocket the bureau
before the old went away witness told him of all
his wife had said anu the old promised he would
do II again. asked the witness not to be angry
with him, shook hands and went away.


On cross-exsmiuation by Mr. Rollins the prisoner
admitted that be had been occasionally jealous Of hts
wife because she "too dumb" and when sew
ing machine innn or such people would come around
she would let them make too tree with her. His re-
aions with the Duffy FAMILY. ho said, those OF
dog and cat. Adams at no time called the police
and remained in the rooms ten or fifteen minutes
after the roundsnan went away. Witness was but
three weeks acquainted with his wife when he mar
ricd her.


Mrs. Kurtz, the woman the floor above. who
went down ut Bloutjc's request and tried get his
wife to 60 upstcrs the plea Of assisting her with
her baby corrooratcd the testimony the prisoner
that respect. With further unim portant
timony the evidence closed both sid.s and at
the request of Mr. Howe adjournment was ordered
to this morning.