The evening world., 1904-01-14
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
AGAIN BEYOND RESTRAINT,
Breaks Away from Ills Friends During Recess
and Is with Difficulty Brought Back to
Court-Hs Assistant. George M. Lutz,
Takes Charge Of Case and Addresses Jury.
Especial to The Evening worla.)

Especial to The Evening woIa) a
ALLENTOWN, Pa, Ian. II-The hope that District Attorney Liehtea
wainer would be able to attend to the business of the prosecution todss
during the trial of Mrs Catherine Bechtel as shattered 1t the noon rc2sf
six Jurors had been secured, the District-Attorney had been warned by IT.
Court that his conduct OF yesterday must not be repeated. and it appSarsf
that everything would go smoothly. oa
References Il the suicide of Tom Bechte. who committed suicide IN Il
cell int the Jail here last October while under arrest IN scspricn OF hayirs
murdered his sister Mabel. caused old Mrs. Bechtel to weep 50 bsstsrhaan.
that Ii became necessary o take her from court. This appeared to WE'RE
che District Attorney. and two Of his best friends. DR.. j. ID. Chrstmen and
Jeremiah Roth, volunteered to take care of him during recess.
He got away from them and before they caught him he had reduced
the visible supply OF liquor in Allentown to a appreciate extent wac
he came into court this afternoon escorted by his friends he lost no time .
took care Of the work o. selecting the jury, and the box was filled thk
afternoon.
MRS. BECHTEL .SUFFERS DEEPLY.
At every mention of the suicide of her o Mrs Bechtel broke dow
Her three daughters sat about her at the defendants, table this afternocf
n SUI. AsOhs TOM rom Who eomnfses suicide IN iaI ti,sS % ss ua "a a ~
Mrs Bechte, the defendant in this case, harbored and defended Tom ant
was hiding evidences o the crime
At this point Mrs. Beohtsl removed the widows mourning al and vsh
she wa wearing and burst into a flood of tears, covering her face with &
mourning handkerchief Her. daughters hurried from their chairs to her
eide. bending over her to comfort her.
MRS. BECHTEL CAREWORM.
~ The Bechtels arrived at the courthouse half an hour before opening
time this morning. Mrs, Bechtel looked very pale and careworn. Her three
daughters. Martha nd Mrs. Allison Drops, OF Allentown, and Mrs. Jacob
Davis. of Philadelphia. wore deep black gowns. and mourning wells me
sons CHARLES and John sat at the end of the row.
The Judge asked Of the pisrict-AttoFney, What cases are you ready
~ am ready to try the four Bechtei defendants on charges Of being 4
cessories before and after the death of Mabel Bechtel," was the sw -
Turning to Capt James L. schaadt, chief counsel for the Bechtels. the
observation-disclosures said. II nj ready to try them all together If you j
Capt, schaadt replied: Il demand to have my clients tried separately
The District Attorney responded: Then l shall call first tho case againa
Mrs. Catherine Bechtel'' 4
Raising his voice, he said: Mrs Catherine Bechtcl, come forward = 81
Gently escorted by Mr. Schaadt Mrs. Bechtel left her family and Took
seat at the defendants table. fankcd by her lawyers.
JUDGE, WARNS
Judge Trexer 1t this juncture said: 81 shall expect this cae 10 ~ h-
gun, continued and ended in a n orderly manner do nt want anotherx uk
disgraceful exhibition as a witnessed here yesterday"
That this announcement ws made in a quiet tone made 1t ALI the mose
impressive. All theiron determination that made Mr.. Trexler a IudgatA
foreh e ws forty-two vas to be heard in that statement. M
The District Attorney called OF Mrs. Catherine Bechtel to stand 10 ana
be arraigned. She arose without a falter. despite a motion III the part Oh
her lawyers that she shouldn't 9N
In an iriuated tone Mr. Schaadt said: Il object to having this poor OIL
accused mother arraigned. 1t isn't necessary. The laws of Pennsylvania
have abolished Arrangements in all cases except murder. She is charsna
with being a n accessory. but the charge is not murder"
The Judge said it would not be Illegal TO arragn the defendant butt
wasn't necessary, and the DStrict-Attorney desited Capt schaadt tn
said: Mrs Bechtei pleads not guilty" t.
Capt Schaadt continued: II expect this case to be tried without nor
sense or exhibition"
III TESTIMONY BEGUN.
The prosecution called AZ it's first witness George Leiby, the letter a.
rmr neghbor of the Bechtel family, who told the same story IS to- Is
finding of Mabels body in the aleyway that he told yesterday at the ta
Of Alos Ecksten. S<H#@4
George A. Kocher, the second witness, stated that he and Mr.. Lei
and Mr. Merhe were the first persons to arrive after the Bechtel girls -
hurried home and said Mabel was killed. When they got there the carr
had already been stretched across the entrance to the aleywaEa One