Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-11-04
MURDERER A SUICIDE
Slayer of His Sister Cuts His Own
Thront III TIE Jail

Allentown. Pa. Speclal.-ThOmaS
Bechtel. who was held awaiting inves-
tigation OF the murder OF his sister,
Mabel II. Bechtel. at their home few
days ago. committed suicide Thursday
evening in his cell at the central police
station. The police consider this act
as a practical Acknowledgement OF
Bechtcls guilt. Bechtel was in cell
No =. on the right side OF the corridor.
Several relatives and friends were ad-
mitted to him during the afternoon.
About o'clock he called across the
corridor to Alfred Ecstein. Miss Bech-
tells afllanced lover. who is also held
pending the coroner's inquest: Hello.
Al. arc YOU there -
YES" answered Eckstein.
Bechtel RESPONDED: II wish YOU
were here with me now. that we might
die together"
These were the last words heard
from Bechtel. a short time later Eek
stein called Bochtel and got no answer.
but he thought he heard an unusual
gurglc. House Sergeant Frank G
Roth had been through the cells ONLY
= short time before.
n quarter past o'clock he entered
the corridor and called both men. Get
tins no answer from Gcchtcl he looked
into his cell end was appalled, to see
4 stream or blood running over the cell
ioor. Bechtel had laid himself on the
bench in his cell ana cut his throat
with Knife. lie Was dead when found
The knife lay nea: him on Che floor.
How he got the knife IS not known.
intense excitement prevailed at police
headquarters. Dense crowds pressed
against tho windows and doors and
filled the street for half block each
way. The funeral of the murdered girl
took place Thursday afternoon the
services being held at her late home. \
steady stream of people entered the
house and filed past the casket contain
Ing The body until the services began
at . o'clock
The suicide OF Thomas Bechtel has
been followed by the police officials
telling the story OF the murder Of Miss
Rechtel as gathered by them. 1t starts
with last Thursday. when Eckstein ac-
cor-panied Miss Bechtcl to Philadel-
phia. He left her there and returned
homo Weiscnberg met her in Phila-
oe'phia and accompanied her to Allen
town. They went to = certain place to-
bvtH'., NneFe tNeN remained until mid
night Thomas Bechtel heard OF this
and being strenuously opposed to
Weisenberg. he upbraided her I'm her
room upon her return home. He
struck her powerful blow on the
cheek. causing her TO fall heavily
against n bureau. dead. Members OF
the family held n council and decided
upon the story made public on Tuesday
and upon. the disposition of the BODY
and clothing as found. Charles Bech-
tells sisters hatchet was used in strik-
ing the blow on the head OF the dead
girl to give sembanco of the assault.
Eckstein knew nothing of the muir
der. the police say
Information. charging murder. has
been lodged against the entire Rech-
tel family. john and Charles Dechtel
and Eckstein were committed to iaiI
in default of $500 bail each as Wit
nesses. Mrs. Bechtel and daughters
were allowed to so. no bail being re-
quired At the inquest several wit
nesses were heard. but counsel for the
Bechtels refused to allow them to tosti-
fy on account OF the charge OF murder
against them