Evening journal., 1903-11-02
'NEIGHHORS SPY
ON BECHTELS
Police Adopt a Novel Method
in an Effort to Solve the
Murder
NEW WAY TO GET EVIDENCE
ilt is Thought That the Aged Mother
Wants to Tell All She Knows and
That Brothers Are Tired Of Remain


Allentown, Pa, Nov. with kind
words and gentle treatment the police
hope to arrive at the truth in the now
famous Bechtel affair. They are de-
terlmined that the murder Of Mabel
.Bechtel shall not go down in criminal
rannals as solved In theory only. With
that object in view the authorities have
appealed to the neighbors of the Bech-
tel family to aid them in shedding
more light on the mystery. A personal
appeal has been made to the women to
persuade the mother to tell what she
knows of her daughters death we
have adopted this method" said Mayor
Lewis this morning, because we be-
lieve that with kindness she may be
made to talk. We are positive that she
knows enough about the murder Of her
daughter to make everything clear, and
as we want to know the truth we have
i resorted to this somewhat unique meth
od."
Today marked the official termina-
tion of the city authorities connection
with the case. The entire affair has
4 been turned over to District Attorney
sLichtenwaler, and from now on the
4 investigation win be entrusted to his
office. On their own responsibility,
however. the police will continue their
4 Investigations and try if possible to
make known the truth. All the exhib-
Il its introduced at the Coroner's inquest
which include the blood-stained carpet
steps wallpaper bedding. wash rag,
apron. overalls and hatchet, were
Il turned over to the District Attorney,
& and are now stored away I'm his office.
Il These articles will be brought to the
. - - IanF
H body meets a week from today.
RechteI Brothers Still in Jail.
Charles and John Bechtel. brothers Of
the murdered girl, are still confined in
the county Jail. Their attorney has
thus far been unable to secure bail for
their release. This is due to the large
amount demanded by the District At
torney. The latter requires S2,5O0 for
leach, and it is difficult TO find a per-
|son who is willing to take such a big
risk. Tn their prison cell the brothers
|have been made quite comfortable.
HThey occupy one Of the largest cells in
Hthe jail and are practically provided
81 5Aoirh all the comforts of home. They
look forward with great anticipation
No, the day when they win be brought
3 before the court on writs of habeas
. scorpus. They are confident that they
will be discharged from custody
Owing to the fact that this is the
day before the election. Attorney
Schadt made no application for the
writs. His time is occupied i'm prepar-
ing for the fight at the polls. and all
kthe county officials are busy in the
same manner. He has therefore post
poned action until Thursday when he
will make his application before Judge
TreXler Considerable discussion and
4much comment has been aroused by
the sermon preached by the Rev II. t.
Fogleman. pastor Of Christ Reformed
Church. last night. "The Wages of Sin
is Death" was the subject Of his dis
course. and in scathing terms he fayed
the city of Allentown and denounced
the dreadful condition of affairs which
prevails in this section of the State.