Where Mrs. Luetgert Was Seen:
New York, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey

On October 11, 1897, Chicago Dispatch reported:

A letter addressed to Chief of Police Kipley and purporting to be from Mrs. Louise Luetgert, was received today at detectives headquarters this morning...

The letter was dated Oct. 9, and was sent from New York city.

The signature is spelled "Lutrigart," and police say that fact alone is enough to brand the letter as a fraud.

The letter was long and was written in English, which, it is said, the woman was unable to speak. It was written in a fine, feminine hand, and the spelling was correct with the exception of the signature...

NEW YORK, Oct. 9. To the Chief of Police: I wrote to my husband, who is on trial for my murder. Oh, what a terrible thing that the police will not listen to me. I have waited for two months and have not heard from them.

I left Chicago and went to Detroit. I worked a the Wayne Hotel. Then I came to New York city. It is right that the man should suffer, as he made me suffer, but I do think they ought not try and convict an innocent man.

I thought they had dropped it, but got hold of a paper and there, to my surprise, I saw they are still at it. Oh, for God's sake save this man. Do not tell him where I am. I can satisfy you I am his wife. I will never return to him. I am afraid he will kill me.

Just as soon as I get enough money I am going to Germany. I wrote to him some time ago in care of the jailor, Whitman, and I never heard from them. Please do what you can for the man. He is nothing to me now, but I do not want him to suffer for what he did not do. I am now stopping with a German family in Jersey City, 304 Palisade avenue.

Please do let me know at once. I can send affidavit as to my whereabouts since I left home. I went to Wisconsin, then to Flint, Mich., then to Detroit, then to New York city. I am now in Jersey City. Yours truly,

MRS. L. LUTRIGART.

I am doing chamberwork in the Metropole Hotel.

Captain Colleran ridiculed the idea that the letter was from Mrs. Luetgert. He said it was the custom to turn over all such communications to Inspector Schaack, and the letter would at once be referred to him.

Read about other places where the missing Mrs. Luetgert was supposedly seen.