The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-30
BY HIS OWN HAND
,.,,o,1As BECHTEL, SLAYER OF HIS
sIsTER. METED OUT PUNISHMENT.
CUT HIS THROAT IN HIS CELL.
uorIcH CONSTITUTE THIS AS AN AD-
MISSION OF GUILT.

nf
neDIed BechteI-He Ragged In Fury.
rrom Some Source He Secured "A
xotfe and Ended 1t AlI-POIice's
Thsorv of the Murder of Mabel
BechteL
Allentown, Pa. Oct. 29.-Thomas
pacbtel. who was held awaiting inves-
.,oation of the murder of his sister,
,,ohel n. Bechtel, at their home a few
DAVIS ago. committed suicide this even
Two in his cell in the Central pohce
station.
Tho notice consider this act as a
nractical acknowledgment of Bechtels
guilt.
Bachtel was in cell No. on the right
eide of the corridor. Several relatives
ond friends were admitted to see him
this afternoon.
About 4 o'clock he called across the
corridor to Alfred Eckstein, Miss Bech-
tells af11anced lover. who is also held
nending the coroner's inquest: Hello,
AL. are you there?"
YES" answered Eckstein.
Rechtel 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 Eckstein
called Bechtel and got no answer, but
he thought he heard an unusual gurgie
House Sergeant Frank G.. Roth had
been through the cells only short
time before.
Had Gut His Throat.
At XIX o'clock he entered the corri-
dor and called both men. Getting no
answer from Bechtel, he looked into
his cell and was appalled, to see
stream of blood running over the cell
floor. Bechtel had laid himself on the
bench in his cell and cut his throat
with a knife. He was dead when
found. The knife lay near him on the
floor. How he got the knife is not
known.
Intense excitement prevailed at po-
lice headquarters tonight. Dense
crowds pressed against the windows
and doors, and filled the street for half
a block each way. q
The funeral of the murdered girl
took place this afternoon, the serv-
ices being held at her late home. A
steady stream of people entered the
house and filed past the casket con-
tanning the body until the services be-
gan at 2 o'clock.
Gathered about the bier Of the muir
dered girl was the aged mother, who
is physical wreck, and who is al
most constantly in Mysteries; the three
daughters, and three of the four sons.
The absent one was Thomas. He had
been refused permission to attend the
funeral on the advice of the district
attorney. When Bechtel was told that
he would not be permitted to take
parting farewell of his dead sister, he
raved. His fury was intense. The fam
lily also felt bitter.
story of the Murder.
The suicide of Thomas Bechtel has
been followed by the police officials tell
ing the story of the murder of Miss
Bechtel, as gathered by them. It
starts with last Thursday, when Exc
stein accompanied Miss Bechtel to
Philadelphia. He left her there and
returned home. Weisenberg met her in
Philadelphia and accompanied her to
Allentown. They went to a certain
place together, where they remained
until midnight.
Thomas Bechtel heard of this and be-
ing strenuously opposed to Weisenberg,
he upbraided her in her room upon her
return home. He struck her a power
ful blow on the cheek, causing her to
fall heavily against bureau, dead.
Members of the family held a council
and decided upon the story made public
on Tuesday and upon the disposition
Of the body and clothing as found.
Charles Bechtel's slater's Ratchet was
used in striking a blow on the head OF
the head girl to give semblance of the
assault.
Eckstein knew nothing of the muir
DER, the police say.
All the Family Charged.
Information charging murder has
been lodged against the entire Bechtel
family. John and Charles Bechtel and
Eckstein were committed to Jail in de-
fault of $500 bail each as witness. Mrs.
Bechtel and daughters were allowed to
30, no bail being required.
At the inquest tonight several wit
hesses were heard. but counsel for
the Bechtels refused to allow them to
testify on account of the charge of
murder against them. The hearing will
continue tomorrow.