New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-30
MURDER MYSTERY SOLVED
KILLED BY HER BROTHER.
Thomas BechteI Commits Suicide an
-iUentOscn Police Station.

ice consider TINS act as practical acknowledg-
ment of Bechters guilt. Bechtel in cell No
=, the right side Of the corridor. Several
relatives and friends were admitted to see him
this afternoon.
About 4 o'clock he called across the corridor
to Alfred Eclstein. Miss Bechters lover. who is
also held pending the coroner's inquest: Hello
Al; YOU there"
Yes" answered Eckstein
Bechtel replied: II wish you were here with
me now, that might die together
These we're the last words heard from him. A
short time later Ecksten called Bechtel, and got
no answer, but he thought .he heard an unusual
gurgle- House Sergeant Frank G. Roth had been
through the cells only short time before At
Old o'clock he entered the corridor and called
both men. Receiving no answer from Bechtel
he looked into his CELL and was appalled, to see
a 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 him on the
floor. How he got the knife is not known. He
was carefully searched when placed in the cell,
and no weapon was found. There is a rumor to
the effect that newsboy passed the knife to
him in the cell. but this is denied by the police
Bechtel single man, thirty years old,
He was laborer. doing odd jobs about the
town. He was hard drinker, and when in
toxicated was easily angered and prone TO fight.
He ri powerful physique and possessed
great courage. In Mayor Schadt's administra-
tiou. 1899 10 1902. Bechtel was an applicant for
appointment TO the police force. but failed to
get the place Later he a substitute at
various times for regular policemen who
sick or on vacation.
Intense excitement prevailed at Police Head
quarters tonight Dense crowds pressed against
the windows and doors and filed the street for
half block each away.
THE MURDERED GIRL BURIED.
The funeral OF the murdered girl took place
this afternoon. the services being held at her
late home It was the family's intention to have
the services and burial private. but when the
undertak er took the body from his morgue TO
the Bechtel house this morning many relatives.
neighbors silk mill associates and other friends
called, and a steady stream Of people entered
the house and filed past the coffin until the ser
vices began at o'clock.
As the girl lay in the coffin her appearance
told her own story. Both eyes were badly dis
Colored as though they had been struck by
clenched fist There big bruise the
nose and several smaller ones we're on the
cheexs and ears The worst wound. that the
forehead was hidden by the hair. On a finger
was the agement ring given TO her by Alfred
Eckstein.
Gathered about the CONN the Sgsd
mother. eho is a physical wreck, and is almost
constantly in Mysteries; the three daughters and
+bree of the four SON. The absent one was
Thomas He was net permitted to attend the
funeral on the advice of the District Attorney.
When he was told that he could not leave his
cell TO take a last look at his dead sister he
raved The family also felt bitter.
The services were conducted by the Rev.
Joseph Specht veteran Evangelical Luth-
eran clergyman. The burial was in the family
plot in West End Cemetery. where lie the
bodies of the girls brother, Robert; her SIS
fer Lizzie who committed suicide by drown
ing in the Lehigh River in 1885. and her
father. George Bechtel who died in 1902. Only
the relatives followed the body to the grave.
large crowd surrounded the house throughout
the services and another crowd was at the
cemetery to witness the burial.
POLICE STORY OF THE MURDER.
Following the suicide of Thomas Bechtel.
the police officials tell the story Of the murder
Of Miss Bechtel as gathered by them 1t be-
gins last Thursday when Eckstein accom-
panied Miss Bechtel to Philadelphia He left
her there and returned home. Weisenberg met
her in Philadelphia and accompanied her to
Allentown leaving there on Sunday at .. m.
and arriving here four hours later. They went
to a certain place together. and remained until
midnight Thomas BechteIT heard Of this, and.
being strenuously opposed to Weisenberg, he
unbranded his sister in her room on her return
home. He struck her powerful blow on the
cheek causing her to fall heavily against
bureau and killing her. Members of the
family held a council and decided the story
made public Tuesday, and on the disposition
of the body and clothing found. Charles
Bechters sater's Ratchet was used in striking
a blow on the head OF the dead girl to give a
sem blance of assault.
This happened Immediately after midnight
The body concealed in the house until
Monday night. when it was placed In the area
way. where it was found Tuesday morning.
Eckstein knew nothing of the murder, the po
lice say.
THE CORONERS INQUEST.
The inquest on Mabel Bechtels death began
in the Mayors courtroom at o'clock this
evening. The Bechtel family were present At
the opening OF the inquest they did not know
that Thomas had committed suicide.
Fckstein's brother George, who is a bar
tender in West Philadelphia, arrived to-day.
and engaged ex-State Senator Harry G. Stiles
as associate counsel with ex-District Attorney
G a Groman for his brother Congressman
Kline appeared at the inquest attorney for
weisenberg. The questioning of witnesses
was done by District Attorney E ]. Lichten-
v-alner The first witness called was Dr. w.
w Ashbash. who assisted at the post nortem
of Miss Bechtel. He described
the wounds and told how the girl dressed.
David Weisenberg testified that he with
Mabel on Sunday evening from = to ii o'clock,
and then left her AZ the door of her own home.
He did not see her after that. and made no at
tempt to do so.
Information charging murder has been lodged
against the entire Bechtel family, and con-
sta bles were at the Mayors office ready to serve
the warrants. Because of this fact. the attor-
nev FOR the Bechtels refused 10 permit any OF
hts clients testify.
The hearing was continued until tomorrow
tod