The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-11-05
BECHTEL MURDER
MYSTERY SOLVED
Accused Brother Commits Suicide in
Allentown Jail
POLICE TELL STORY OF CRIME

Allentown, Pa, Oct 50. -- Thomas
Dechtel. who was held awaiting inves-
tigation of the murder of his sister,
Mabel II. Bechtel, at their home a
few days ago, committed suicide in
his cell in the Central Police station.
The police consider this act as a prac.
tical acknowledgment of Bechtel's
guilt Eechtel was in cell No. . on
the rigrt side of the corridor. Several
relatives and friends were admitted
to see him. After they left he called
across the corridor to Alois Eclste.a.
Miss Bnchtel's affianced lover, WHO is
also held pending the corCners il.
quest: Hello AL, are you taere?'
"Yes," answered Eckstcin.
Bechtel responded: 81 VI ' -
were here with me now that We nj 1t
die together"
These were the last - = !. =
from Bechtel. A short tin rt'r T..
stein called Bechtel and ct - 90.
swer, bu' he thought he '"rl
usual ,;urgle. House Sc.' IN .y',
G. Roth had been thrcrs j, ..
only a short time hc.Cr.. e.. e.,
later h, entered the Corg!G' "A. ,.i.
ed both men. Getting no ;.:..n"' !:...
Bechtel he looked into hi ,nn ..
vas appalled, to see stream ui n,J' :
running over the cell floor. Ecc.;n.
had laid himself on the bauch in his
cell and cut his throat with a knile.
He was dead when found. The knife
lay near him on the floor.
The suicide of Thomas Bechtel has
been followed by the police officials
telling the story of the murder of Miss
Bechtel as gathered by them. 1t starts
with last Thursday, when Eckstein
accompanied Miss Bechtel to Philadel-
phia. He left her there and returned
home. Weisenberg met her In Phila-
delphfa and accompanied her to AL
lsntown. leaving there Sunday at 1 P.
Il. and reaching here four hours later.
TAey vent to certain place together,
where they remained until midnight.
Thomas Bechtel heard of this and,
being stenuously opposed to Weisen.
berg. he upbraided her in her room
upon her return home. He struck her a
powerful blow on the cheek, causing
her to fall heavily against . bureau,
deao. Members Of the family held q
council and decided upon the story
mrC" public on Tuesday and upon the
di>1.S.;ioH Of the body and clothing as
.ctln0. Charles Bechtel's slaters
Aat,aet "; used in striking a blow on
the hc"d Of the dead girl to give SEM
blanCc OF the assault.
This happened Immediately after
llidnicE,. The body was concealed
in the home until Monday night. when
it was placed in the areaway, where it
was found Tuesday morning. Eek
stein knew nothing of the murder, the
police say.
The Coroner's Inquest.
The inquest on Mabel Bechtel's
death began in the mayors court room
last evening. Coroner Schierer's Jury
comprised E, ]. Grader, C. NJ. Bealer.
V. NJ. Frey w. A. Nunsicker, Charles
Kramer and w. w. Riedy. The en-
tire Bechtel family was present. At
the opening of the inquest they did not
know of Toms suicide. The first wit
ness called was DR.. w. w. Ashbach,
who assisted at the post-m ,rtem ex
animation of Miss Bechtel. H, ascribed
the cause of death tn tho frootvrod
skull and hemorrhage the result there
from.
Weisenberg's Story.
David Weisenberg was called, and
when questioned, his attorney, Mr..
Kline objected. because his answers
might become incriminating and asked
that the witness be permitted to exer-
else his privilege. Weisenberg testified
that he was with Mabel or Sunday
evening from 8 to II o'clock and then
left her at the door of her ou, honra.