Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1897 — DEFENSE OUTLINED. [ARTICLE]

DEFENSE OUTLINED.

Ex-Judge Vincent’s Opening State*' meat in the Luetgert Trial. Ex-Judge Vincent sprung a surprise on the prosecution in the Luetgert murder trial at Chicago in his opening statement by reference t to a man named Robert Davey, who, he said, was the original medium through which all of Luetgert’s trouble arose and whose actions resulted in Luetgert’s being arraigned before the bar of justice charged with murder. “A little over a year ago Satan in the shape of a medium-sized, well-dressed and educated Englishman named Robert Davey came to Luetgert and was the cause of all his trouble,” said ex-Judge Vincent. “This man came with forged letters of introduction representing himself as a man of great means. Luetgert has always carried his heart on his sleeve, as you will see when he goes on the witness stand.” This was the first official notice that Luetgert would testify in his own behalf and the announcement was received with a show of interest by the prosecution and the spectators. “Davey told Luetgert he could be the sausage king of the world,” went "bn ex-Judge Vincent. “And Luetgert believed him, for Davey was ai\ artist in painting glowing pictures of wealth and fame. He told Luetgert he represented an English syndicate, and’ that a company would be organized with a coital of $500,000 and bonds for an additional $400,000 would be issued. The company would be known as the A. L. Luetgert Sausage and Packing Company, Davey said, and Luetgert would be given $200,000 cash and SIOO,OOO worth of stock. Out of the cash he could pay off $50,000 of indebtedness which was covered by a mortgage on his factory. “Mrs. Luetgert was delighted over the visions of wealth revealed by Davey’s picture and Luetgert, uneducated, honest and without suspicion, was pleased over the prospect of ranking with the Armours, the Swifts and Nelson Morris in the meat world. Davey had expenses during the time he was negotiating with Luetgert, whom he had induced to close his factory, preparatory to the change which was to have taken place January 1, 1897. He called upon Luetgert for money and got it—in all about $25,000. Finally, Davey told Luetgert the money and bonds were in the custody of the Continental Bond Company of New York. Luetgert and Judge Goodrich, to whom Luetgert had told his story, went to New York. But none of the bankers or bond companies of that city had ever heard of Davey. Luetgert had been swindled.” The attorney told of Luetgert’s struggles after this. How. his business had been injured by the closing of the factory and in addition to the loss of $25,000 to Davey he lost by the failure of E. S. Dreyer & Co.’s bank. Then he borrowed $20,000 from Foreman Bros., bankers, placing another mortgage on his factory. Finally the failure came and the disaster drove Mrs. Luetgert to the verge of insanity. Later the woman became insane, the lawyer said, and wandered away. The life of Luetgert was briefly sketched. He arrived in America thirtytwo years ago without a dollar, counsel said, and by industry and thrift had built up an enormous business. He made 3,000,000 pounds of sausage a year and sold it all over the country arid Europe. Often there were 100.000 pounds of meat in the factory nt one time and the sales from the factory to local consumers averaged $l5O per day. Nineteen years ago Luetgert married Miss Louise Bicknese, the woman he is said to have killed. She was his second Wife. They had four children—two boys and two girls—the latter are now dead. Ex-Judge Vincent denied that the couple lived unKappily- .He said their lives were not a continuous honeymoon, but the couple lived as happily as people in their station usually do. Attorney Vincent startled, the prosecution by the magnitude of two of his claims. That. Mrs. Luetgert is alive, he said, he would prove by witnesses who have seen her since May 1, and he would also prove that the bones found in the vat were not human and were put there by the police authorities. As for the rings claimed to be Mrs. Luetgert’s, the attorney said he would show that they were not hers, and that she. had never seen them. The attorney's speech made an impression on those in the courtroom.