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Who's Who
Names beginning with
A B C D E F G H IJ K L M N O PQ R S T UV W XYZ
This index includes people in Alchemy of Bones, others connected with the Luetgert case and names that came up during the author's research.
Names in bold appear in the book. All addresses and ages are from 1897, and all addresses are in Chicago unless noted otherwise.
© 2003 Robert Loerzel.

O’Brien A captain of detectives for the New York police, who was involved in the Grottey investigation. First name unknown.
John O’Connell A potential witness who lived at 852 Marshfield Avenue and spoke to police soon after Luetgert's arrest. O'Connell apparently did not testify when Luetgert went on trial; it is not clear why.  On May 24, 1897, the Chicago Daily News reported:

"I went out to a dog fight on the evening of May 1," declared O'Connell. "About 10:30 o'clock I passed Luetgert's factory and saw Luetgert just leaving the building. I thought nothing particularly about seeing the man at the time. He did not appear to be excited. I did not want to get mixed up in the case and did not go to the police with my story until they called upon me. Some one who saw me in the neighborhood of the factory on the evening of May 1 told the police about it and they sent for me." ...

O'Connell is a young man, less than 20 years of age, and was at one time a messenger boy and delivered messages to Luetgert and he says he cannot be mistaken in the man he saw leaving the factory...

Chief of Police Kipley was among those who listened to the story of the new witness and it made a great impression upon him...

O’Connell A policeman in Morris, Illinois, where Mrs. Luetgert was supposedly seen.  First name unknown.
J.H. Odenbret


Chicago Journal, Sept. 8, 1897.

A corset maker awho testified in the Luetgert trials about the fragments of metal found near Luetgert's factory, which were believed to be pieces of Mrs. Luetgert's corset.  Occupation: Corset maker.
Address: 425 Rhine Street.
Frank Odorofski


Chicago Journal, Sept. 2, 1897.
Click on image for larger view.

An important witness about the happenings in the Luetgert factory, Odorofski was employed there as a laborer. Nickname: "Smokehouse Frank" (or "Pökelhaus Frank" in German, literally "Pickle-House Frank").
Address: He lived at Blackhawk Street and Ashland Avenue, according to newspaper reports; he lived at 748 Noble, according to the Lakeside City Directory.
Variations of name: Frank Odorowski, Odorofsky or Oderofski.
Richard J. Oglesby The governor of Illinois at the time of the Haymarket Square executions, he commuted two of the death sentences to life imprisonment. 
Thomas J. O’Malley

 

The 23rd Ward Alderman, who was charged in 1896 with the murder of Gus Colliander, the first major case prosecuted by State's Attorney Charles Deneen. He was acquitted. Read about the O'Malley case.


Chicago Tribune, Dec. 27, 1896

Dr. Thomas J. O’Malley The doctor at the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet who performed the autopsy on Luetgert. 
Armadale Opdyke A Janesville, Wisconsin, resident, who said he saw a woman that might have been Mrs. Luetgert. Variations of name: Armdale Updyke.
Fred Overhue

 

A deputy Cook County jailer who escorted Luetgert into and out of the courtroom on some days. He "is known to the officials as 'Big Fred,' as the deputy's weight is just 385 pounds." (Chicago Tribune, August 24, 1897.) 


Chicago Evening Post, Sept. 2, 1897.