Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-19
Eekstein ~ Mabel BechteI
Had Frequent Quarre|s.
Nest Of Them Caused by Her Re-
'ceivieg Attentions from Men.
Vented to Marry Her, but She Always
- ~ !. Put Him ~.

tel on trial as an accessory after the
fact to the murder OF her daughter.
Mabel
= Monday, Attorney Schaadt, counsel
for Mrs. Bechtel. subjected Eckstein to
a.rigid cross examination. After the
witness had told Of presenting Mabel
with an engagement ring. Attorney
Lutx. assistant PROSECUTOR, continued
tire direct examination.
do you remember Saturday, Oct
l7?" asked Mr.. 1nItz.
Yes. SIR" answered Eckstcin.
:.Where were you that evening""
Twas at the house OF the Bechtels"
did you sec Mabel there
did you and Mabel 30 out to-
ce;her?"
mo. sir"
''You remained at homer
yes. sir"
Which room did you occupy?"
The second story front"
In which room did Mabel Bechtel
e,eep?"
Second story 'front.'
EckStein said he loved Mabel and
he thought she cared for him. He un-
'derstood II was agreed that he should
marry her.
you often spoke Of marrying herr"
he w'as asked by counsel for the de-
fence.
II did,
What did Mabel say"
"She always put me off,
ibid you ever strike Mabel
. Yes"
Witfess vas asked to explain why he
struek,the girl He said:
II heard that Mabel had been out
with 4 e'ell.knOwn man in town and
that her kncthcr, told her to get all sh..
could out OF him. I upbraided Mabel
about II and told her that II she kept
on acting like that Id never have any
thing to do with her. told her that
II she should get into trouble nobody
would have her and she would be 4
castoff
Then she ran into the kitchen and
eot knife. When she came back at
me. struck her to defend myself"
DO you remember on one occasion
rou and Mabel wer, out driving and
Mabel came home with a hlackened
eye. Didn't you strike her then"
NO. sir; the butt end Of the whip
struck her accidentally
And did not you one Sunday night
after coming from church hit her in
the facet"
mo sir; simply s,nacked her"
'Oh, you only srnacked her-why did
You smack her."
Because she said damn you.' and !
emackcd her.
why did she say damn you?'
:; Because I would not go up town
with her,
r Mr.. Schaadt then asked Eckstein
about: the numerous quarrcls he had
with Mabel. The witness told Of Weis-
enpesg's appearance on the scene and
Of, tie MANNER in which Mabel trans
ferrtd' her affections to him.
: You. came to the Bechtel home
honday night. to get final answer.
did not you?"
"fes cir"
':That answer was to he about The
wedding day"
Eyes sir
And you called at the house. Mon
day night"
Il did,
You asked for Mabel"
mo. said to Mrs Bechtel: ''Tis no
use asking for Mabel: l saw her on a
trolley car"
And what did Mrs. Bechtel saJ?'
she said: You're wrong: Mabel is
out driving"
'On Sunday night. what time did you
get homer"
about s O'Clock"
did you stay ,oneo"
mo. I went out again. and Eckstein
mentioned the names Of half dozen
places he visited between S and ~
O'clock. that night.
Tho remainder of Eckstein's cross-cy-
eunination brought out little of import
ance He said he was not Jealous Of
Weisenberg asserted that Tom Bech-
tel did not want to attend his sister:
funeral and denied that he (t;c'esteinD was
In the district attorneys Office on the
night previous to his acauittal.
DR. John Lear. the biological expert of
AIehelnburs College, vino analysed the
stains on the various articles found in the
Hechtel home. was next called to the
Before / examine this witness. said
evidence all these articles which have
been Identified by the several witnesses
called for that purpose"
The offer Is objected TO as a whole.
said Mr.. sSchaadf. Tor the reason that
there Is nothing to show that the articles
arc In the same condition as they WIT,
when taken from the Bechtel house"
All objections were overruled by Judlr
Trexief, and the first important point was
scored BY the prosecution.
In reply to counsel for the defence. DR.
Lear said there were three different kinds
Of tests for blood. microscopic. chemical
and biological.
Or. Lear testified that he examined the
ingram AMI tho rag carpet and the hatch
q found In the Bechtel house The micro
scopfcal chemical tests. witness stated
showed the spots to be blood stains, but
he was unable to determine whether il
was human blood until he had made the
biological tests.
The result of your tests was?" queried
the district attorney.
7 find the stains to be human blood. -
answered the witness. THE coverings of
Tom Bechtel's bed and Mabel Bcchters
wearing apparent were shown to DR.. Lear
and he said the stains on them were hu-
man blood On the bod sheet he also
found tobacco stains.
The wooden steps cading from the
Kitchen to the cellar were shown to the
witness ard without qualification he stat
A. a.. H>osrr