The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-01-15

Another Defendant in Bechtel Murder
Case at Allentown Is Acquitted, and
it Now Looks Doubtful II Conviction
Can be Secured Against Any Of
Them.
Allentown, Pa, Jan. 13.-The trial Of
Alois Eckstein, fiance of Mabel H..
Bechtel, accused of being accessory to
the latter's murder. ended abruptly
this afternoon in a stirring climax.
The young man was acquitted on the
charge of completely in the brutal Kill
ling of his sweetheart. after proceed
ings that were both farcial and dis
gusting. This weakness of the COM
monwealth's case alone was sufficient
to give the trial the aspect of comedy,
but added to this was the evident in
competency of District Attorney Lich-
tenwalter who made only feeble eff
fort, it seemed, to prove the tragedy,
and who at several stages of the pro-
ceedings was rebuked by Judge Trek
Ter for the irregular manner in which
he conducted the trial. Upon two oc-
casions the court stopped the exam
ination of a witness and threatened to
adjourn the proceedings at once un-
less the district attorney would con-
fine himself to the prescribed rules of
the court.
The climax came in the middle of
the afternoon, when the district at
torney, having utterly failed in any
way to connect Eckstein with the trag-
tel, called a number of witnesses who
instead of strengthening his case,
proved to be star witnesses for the
defendant. Among them were Martha
Eckstein, sister to the young man,
and Mrs. Boyer, a neighbor. The
principal fact established by Martha's
testimony was that Alois was home in
bed at 1870 o'clock on Sunday night
when the murder is supposed to have
occurred. This was about the time
chat Mabel was being brought to her
home by Weisenberger.
The proceedings finally aroused
Judge Trexlers impatience and the
court said:
"Mr. District Attorney. it occurs to
me that you are establishing very
strong alibi for the defense"
The district attorney apparently
agreed with the judge for he promptly
asked ,he jury to render verdict Of
not guilty.
II frankly confess that | have not
made out case" said the prosecuting
attorney
In asking the jury to acquit Eek
stein Judge TreXler said: You need
not obey my instructions, but unless
you do will order new trial" The
jury, however, adopted the courts sug-
gestion without leaving their box and
the defendant was promptly given his
release.
Eckstein Is now qualified as a wit
ness against the Bechtels and will tell
that he called at the home of the lat
ter on the night following the murder
to talk with Mabel about their coming
marriage. He was told, it is said, that
she had gone driving with Weisen-
berger. but as matter of fact it Is
alleged that her battered body was
then concealed In the cellar.
Immediately after the acquittal of
Eckstein, District Attorney Lichten-
walter announced, now we'll try all
the Bechtels In a bunch" but Judge
Trexel promptly negatived the sug-
gestion and adjourned the court until
tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.
The Bechtel family will probably be
arraigned at that time as accessories
after the fact. and in all likelihood
they will be tried together on this in
dictment The disposition of the other
charges will depend upon the develop
ments of this case. II the defense sue
ceeds In casting doubt upon the evil
dence of the states blood stain ex-
perts, the acquittal OF the defendants
Is foreshadowed.