The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-29
HER KIN SUSPECTED
OF COMPLETELY IN THE MURDER
OF MABEL BECHTEL.
BROTHER AND TWO LOVERS
ARRESTED BY ALLENTOWN POLICE
AND HELD FOR THE CORONER.

Murder Is still a Mystery-ThOugh
Further Discoveries Were Made,
the Police Are still in the Dark
as to the Murderer-Their Deduc-
lions and the Grounds Upon Which
They Are Based-ReIatives Closely
Intercepted.
Allentown, Pa, Oct. 2S.-With David
Weisenberg under $500 bail supplied by
Congressman Kline, and with Thomas
Bechtel, her brother, and Alfred Eek
stein, her accredited lover. locked up
in a police station cell, the Allentown
Mabel H. Bechtel murder case of yes
terday morning, until Coroner Schier-
er's jury meets tomorrow evening
The mystery is still practically un-
solved, except that indications point
to a family row in which Eckstein may
have figured, as he admits he was at
Miss Bechtels home on Monday even
ing for an hour and half.
Because Mrs. Bechtel had said her
daughter left for a drive on Monday
morning at O'Clock, efforts were
made to trace the girls movements
away from home. Rumors that she
was at road house near this city were
found to be groundless, and the police
do not believe the girl was away from
home at all on Monday. Her brothers.
Thomas, John and Charles, say they
did not see her on that day, and so
also says her sister Martha.
Found Bloody Garments.
Martha usually slept with her widow
ed mother in the second floor rear room.
Thomas occupied the middle room and
John and Charles the front room. In
the latter the police tonight, Oh
thorough search, found blood stains on
the carpet and on the wall paper, and
il looked as if vigorous efforts had been
made to wipe them out. Thomas
bloody overalls were found this alter
noon in neighbours yard. In a draw
err of a closet in the third story was
found part of Charles Ratchet, such as
skaters use, slate roofing being his
trade. The remainder of the handle
was found in another drawer some dis
lance away. The break in the handle
looks new and fresh.
The police this Afternoon put the en-
tire Bechtel family, except the mother.
under thorough examination. All deny
any knowledge of how Mabel came to
her death or who placed her body in
the area way under the home on Tues
day morning. The mother was not call
ed, because of her hysterical condition.
Eckstein was Miss Bechtels accepted
lover, though she also received atten-
lions from Weisenberg. Eckstein and
the girl were to have been married Nov.
o. but the date was recently postponed
quarrels over Weisenberg's attentions,
expressed threats to several persons
occasionally beat Miss Bechtel severely.
The Bechtel family sided with Ecks-
tein. Weisenberg was not allowed to
enter the Bechtel home.
Don't Believe the Mother.
Police Sergeant Knauss returned to
Allentown from New York to-day with
Weisenberg The latter gave a detail
ed statement of his movements since
Monday, which are corroborated fully.
He had not seen the girl since Sunday
evening; then he met her by appoint
ment on a street corner, when she had
just left Eckstein at the next corner.
The police incline to the belief that
the girl was not away from home on
Monday; that a family row occurred
over the girls supposed duplicity with
Eckstein and her attachment for
Weisenberg; that a blow was struck
in anger, which may have been more
severe than was intended, and that
the mothers story is an invention