The Crimes of Adolph Louis Luetgert: A Mini-Essay

     In 1878, Adolph Louis Luetgert, a German immigrant who founded the successful A. L. Luetgert Sausage and Packing Company in Chicago, married Louisa Bicknese just months after the death of his first wife, Caroline Roepke.[1] Although the couple had four children, their relationship was extremely volatile, with Luetgert perpetually accusing his young bride of extramarital affairs and subjecting her to emotional and physical abuse.[2] In May of 1897, after the spouses were viewed strolling together, Louisa disappeared and Adolph claimed she had deserted him under the guise of visiting her sister.[3] As Adolph’s tale drew suspicion, police began an inquiry that led them to the husband’s factory, where employees directed them to a steam vat used for dipping sausages which possessed a strong effluvium and unidentifiable liquid.[4] Upon closer examination, the fluid was found to contained small bits of burned bone – which were also discovered in the vicinity of the vat – and gold earrings with two Ls inscribed on them.[5] In fact, further searches of the region revealed a burned corset and teeth fragments, which was enough evidence for law enforcement to arrest Adolph.[6] While the man maintained his innocence and the first trial resulted in a hung jury, the expert testimony of anthropologist Dr. George Dorsey showed that Adolph had slowly dissolved Louisa’s body in the vat using several hundred pounds of crude potash and, in 1898, the second trial resulted in Adolph’s conviction and imprisonment at the Joliet Correctional Center, where he died eighteen months later of degenerative heart disease.[7]

Works Referenced

Ferllini, Roxana. Silent Witness: How Forensic Anthropology is Used to Solve the World’s Toughest Crimes. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2002.
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[1] Ferllini, 20.
[2] Ferllini, 20.
[3] Ferllini, 20.
[4] Ferllini, 20.
[5] Ferllini, 20.
[6] Ferllini,20-21.
[7] Ferllini, 21.

Lollipop Skull

$30 - $40 (based on 2019 prices)

Makes one skull

Back in 2017, my office selected a demented circus theme for our annual decorating competition. The contest gave me an opportunity to tackle one of the two subjects I swore I would never touch: clowns. By drawing inspiration from turn-of-the-century travelling shows, I was able to focus on a twisted carnival idea that did not relying too heavily on clowns. In 2019, the haunt’s venue elected to do its own carnival concept, which gave me a second chance to revisit the idea. Utilizing the same inspiration, I expanded on the props made for 2017 and applied a more twisted slant. This particular prop, which incorporated the skull lollipops from 2017, was part of the concessions display – a gory smorgasbord of bloodied treats and severed limbs.

• One human-size plastic skull
• One roll of colorful wrapping paper (roughly seventeen square feet)
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in nutmeg*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black*
• Two small, white ping pong balls (1 3/8” in diameter)
• One 0.44 oz. bottle of clear nail polish*
• Five skull lollipops (learn how to make them here)
• One 3/16” wooden dowel
• One 0.3 fluid ounce bottle of red food coloring*
• One 4 oz. bottle of clear, all-purpose tacky glue gel*
• One distressed playing card (learn how to make it here)
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat red*
  

1. Remove the mandible from the skull and hot glue it agape to create a screaming face. To aid the process, use a sturdy object – a glass jar or tin can – to support the skull as the glue dries. You may need to apply multiple coats to ensure a firm hold.

2. Cut or tear apart the wrapping paper. You can either isolate distinct images or use random sections (as I did). Cover the entire surface of the skull with the cuttings. This process works best if you move in stages: apply a layer of glue to one section, press the paper down until it sticks, and repeat the process.

3. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, dust the skull with a light coat of black and brown spray paint to add age and distress. To give the appearance of dirt, hold the can over twelve inches away from the skull’s surface and make quick flicking motions. You can also apply a flecking of black paint and smears of brown paint to enhance the weathered appearance.

4. Apply a couple coats of clear nail polish to the ping pong balls to give them a glossy appearance and glue them into the skull’s eye sockets. I decided to keep the eyes a ghostly white; however, you could paint irises and pupils on them for a more whimsical look. Also, to aid in the painting process, create a small stand to hold the balls (I used an upturned paper plate with two holes cut into it).

5. Use a 15/64 drill bit to make five holes in the crown of the skull and one in the right eyeball. The number of holes and their placement, of course, all depend on how many lollipops you plan to attach and the positions in which you want them displayed.

6. Insert the lollipops’ sticks into the cranial holes and the wooden dowel into the eye hole and glue them in place. For a sturdier hold, consider using superglue. Depending on the weight of your lollipops, you may need to play with their positions and how deep their sticks enter the skull to prevent the prop from being top heavy.

7. In a plastic container (because the food coloring will stain, use something disposable or that you won’t mind dying), pour in your desired amount of clear glue gel and slowly add red food coloring to the solution until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well.

8. On a newspaper-lined surface, apply the blood glue to the prop and allow it to fully dry. You can use an old spoon or plastic utensil to strategically dripple the liquid along chosen areas (e.g. around the openings of the eyes and nose and pooled about the sticks) or pour it haphazardly for a gory mess.

9. Use red paint and a distressed playing card to create a label for the prop. You want the wording to be haphazard. To achieve this, exaggerate curves, create sharp points, and elongate certain aspects. You could also write letters backwards and deliberately misspell words. Keep in mind, though, that the label needs to be readable, so try not to overdo your artistic flairs.

10. Punch a hole in the upper and lower corners of the card and use them to attach the card to the dowel sticking out of the eyeball. For added support, you can glue the card in place.

11. You can enhance the prop’s creepiness by gluing clusters of bugs to its surface.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.

"Oft in the Stilly Night" (A Poem)

A musician and writer, Thomas Moore is best known for his Irish melodies, of which “Oft in the Stilly Night” is one, which were extremely popular in his hometown of Dublin and the surrounding regions; however, despite his renowned musical and poetical career, Moore’s life was marred by tragedy: all five of his children perished during his lifetime and he eventually suffered a stroke that prevented him from participating in his musical performances.[1] Although his melodies were composed between 1807 and 1834 (almost two decades before his death), several of his ballads bespeak of somberness. In “Oft in the Stilly Night,” for example, the narrator reminisces on the past and the lyrics’ surreal language leaves the lines open for interpretation. Is it merely an old man remembering his youth as he falls asleep or a dying man recollecting his life on his deathbed?

Oft, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond Memory brings the light
Of other days around me:
The smiles, the tears,
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimm'd and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.

When I remember all
The friends, so link'd together,
I've seen around me fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one,
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.[2]

Works Referenced

Lefeauvre, Jean-Pierre. English and American Verses. Morrisville, NC: Lulu Press, 2012.

Moore, Thomas. “Oft in the Stilly Night.” Thomas Moore, the Poet: His Life and Works. Ed. Andrew James Symington. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1880. 102.
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[1] Lefeuvre, 51.
[2] Moore, 102.

Dead Baby Bassinet

$30 - $40 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one bassinet

2017’s haunt explored the legend of La Llorona. To expand upon the element of prolicide prevalent in the folklore, I drew inspiration from La Isla de las Muñecas and filled the haunt with dolls to represent the specter’s drowned children. This particular prop was the crowning feature of the doll-filled room and rested center stage among its bevy of creepy peers. Although I repurposed an old basket and skeleton puppet, the same effect can be achieved with a newer doll and actual bassinet modified for the display.

• One twelve-inch doll with vinyl limbs and head
• One 8 oz. can of oil-based interior wood stain in red chestnut*
• One large wicker basket with handle (roughly 3’ long and 1.5’ wide)
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in nutmeg*
• One 10 oz. can of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in flat black*
• Twelve random vinyl doll pieces (ten hands, one foot, and one face)
• Three small plastic mandibles
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat beige*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat gray*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat tan*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• One 4 oz. bottle of all-purpose tacky glue*
• One 4 oz. bottle of wood glue*
• Four to five yards of light brown twine
• One yard of black lace

1. Remove all of the doll’s clothes and, on a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, stain the head and limbs. I began by giving each one a light, even coat with a foam brush. After that, I applied heavy amounts of stain to the ends and patted away the excess with paper towels. You want the color to build up in the cracks and fissures. Although you may use whatever color of stain you desire, I chose red chestnut because it gives the pieces a fresh, meaty appearance. Once you have achieved your intended look, allow the parts to dry. I let mine sit outside in the sun for three days.

2. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, dust the basket with a light coat of black and brown spray paint to add age and distress. To give the appearance of dirt, hold the can over twelve inches away from the basket’s surface and make quick flicking motions. You can also apply a flecking of black paint and smears of brown paint to enhance the weathered appearance.

3. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, crackle paint the doll hands and foot. To do this, begin with a base coat of black paint and, once that has dried, use a thick brush to smear a smattering of wood glue onto the prop. Try not to over think your application (a random pattern produces the best results). Let the glue sit for a minute to become tacky and then cover the appendages with a coat of beige paint. As the glue and paint dry, they will form cracks. To further the aging process, give the items a light smudging of brown paint to simulate dirt. Once all the paint has dried, cut twine into twelve-inch sections and wrap one end around the hands and leg.

4. Attach the limbs to the basket by wrapping the free end of the twine around the rim, tying the strands, trimming the excess, and gluing the knots for reinforcement. For visual interest, stagger the length of the strings and do not evenly space these items. This will provide a haphazard design that only enhances the creepiness.

5. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the doll face three even coats of gray paint. The number of coats, of course, depends on your desired coverage, so you may apply more or less. Once the paint is dry, use a brush with splayed bristles to create a stippling effect around the face’s edges and opening. I found that working from dark to light (i.e. black to gray to white) produces the best results. After the paint dries, attach it to the front of the basket by wrapping twine around the rim and through the eye sockets, tying the strands, trimming the excess, and gluing the knots for reinforcement.

6. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, evenly paint the mandibles tan. Although I used three coats, you may want more based on your chosen appearance. Following this, detail the bones by building up layers of smudged black along the edges of fissures. After the paint has dried, bind them together with strands of twine and tie them to the handle to form a mobile.

7. Wrap the doll in a blanket and glue its top toward the rim of the basket to create a downward angle that makes the doll look like it is reclining (you could also build up layers of padding below the doll to achieve this effect). To enhance the prop’s appearance, consider distressing the blanket with dustings of black and brown spray paint, smudges of paint, and shreds in the fabric.

8. Stretch the lace across the space between the handle and the basket and glue it in place to fabricate a hood for the bassinet. You could do this with only one side (as I did) or both. Keep in mind, though, that, if you do cover both sides, you will want a fabric thin enough or with enough openings to make the doll visible.

9. You can enhance the prop further with additional flourishes, including clusters of bugs, a mangled teddy bear, or a blood-filled bottle.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.