Where Mrs. Luetgert Was Seen:
Tonawanda, New York

On September 3, 1897, the Chicago Record reported:

(Luetgert defense) Attorney Albert Phalen believes that Mrs. Luetgert is living and that she is now in Tonawanda, N.Y. A telegram from that city late last night contained information to the effect that the missing woman was on board a steam barge in the harbor at that place.

The captain of the barge reported to Chief of Police McDermott that he had on board his vessel, as cook, a woman who much resembled Mrs. Luetgert. In his conversation with the head of the Tonawanda police department he said that he had engaged the woman at Buffalo; that her suspicious actions and marked reticence regarding her previous life had aroused his curiosity, and that his investigations had led him to believe that the woman was the missing wife of the sausagemaker.

Catechised by the chief of police, the master of the barge said that the woman resembled very closely the printed pictures and descriptions of Mrs. Luetgert. She appeared to be a woman about 40 years old, had unmistakable Teutonic features, a rather large, straight-cut mouth, slightly swelling lips, rounded chin and full cheeks. She is being held for identification.

Attorney Phalen said last night that he was almost certain the story was worthy credence; that he had thought for some time that Mrs. Luetgert was wandering in the east, and that he expected to have complete information to-day.

The report prompted a retort on September 5 from the Buffalo Times:

Chicago is holding up her record for wind. Thee isn't anything else in the Luetgert yarn that wandered here through the medium of the Chicago Record this morning...

According to Chief McDermott, he is not in a trance and, being awake, as he believes, he knows nothing of the alleged Mrs. Luetgert. Neither has Chief Ryan of North Tonawanda any knowledge of the reported find.

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