Richmond planet., 1904-01-16
MABEL BECHTEL'S
LOVER ACQUITTED
David Weisenberg Freed and Alois
EckStein Called For Trial.
FAMILY AWAIT THEIR ORDEAL

Allentown, Pa, Jan. 13.-The series
Of trials to fix the responsibility for
the murder in October last of Mabel
Bechtel, the pretty 21-year-old silk mill
girl of this city, was begun before
Judge Trexler, in the Lehigh county
court, and before adjournment had
been taken, one of the accused, David
Weisenberger, one of the lovers of the
unfortunate girl, was formally arraign-
ed and acquitted OF the murder charge
Alois Eckstein, Mabel Bechtel's fiance.
also charged with completely in the
crime, was called to the bar of the
court, and the slow work of selecting
jury to try him was In progress when
court adjourned.
After Eckstein's case is disposed of
the aged mother of the dead girl. Myr-
tina, the 17-year-old daughter. and the
two sons, Charles and John, will be
tried for completely in the sensational
crime. Thomas Bechtei. who was ar
rested a few days after the murder
was discovered, along with the above
named persons, committed suicide in
his cell the day after he was ar
rested.
Never in the history of the county
bar has there been so much interest
displayed in a trial as there is in the
present series of trials. A great
crowd was in attendanceall day wait
Ing for the now celebrated case to
start. Weisenberger was to have been
arraigned early in the day. but the
whole proceeding was blocked by the
trial of Eugene Bloch, accused of the
murder of woman named Katie
Fatzinger. Immediately after the jury
In this case had solemnly filed out of
the crowded court room to consider
Bloch's guilt or innocence, District At
torney Lichtenwalner called Weisen-
berger to the bar. No time was lost
In securing jury, and while the names
OF the taleSmen were being called,
Eckstein and members of his family
entered the court room. Mrs. BechteI
and her three accused children, ac-
companied by her two married daugh-
ters, did not arrive until Eckstein had
been called to face the court.
The jury selected to try Weisen-
berger, all Of whom were drawn with
out challenge, were Irwin Dietz. Mar
Gus Diefenderfer, David Wanamaker.
Irwin j. Bruch, Oliver +. Kerne,
Charles Sell. Frank Houck, Stephen b.
Murray, Robert Fenstermaker, James
Jacoby, William Blose and Milton II.
Walt. Weisenberger was called to the
bar and pleaded not guilty to the
charge of accessory before and after
the fact. With this formality over, the
district attorney announced that the
commonwealth at this time had no evil
dence to convict the defendant. and
asked that the jury render a verdict
of not guilty. Judge Trexler instructed
the jurymen accordingly, and Weisen-
berger was freed
Without the loss of a minute, Eek
stems case was called, and the bat
tie between the commonwealth's at
torney and the defendants counsel
was begun. Ecksteins attorneys are
former State Senator Harry G.. Stiles
and c. A. Groman. The charges
against Eckstein are similar to those
lodged against his rival for the love of
Mabel Bechtel. That the case will
be stGhbornly fought is indicated by
the fact that out of the 34 men called
to serve as jurors, % were excused or
challenged. The eight men selected
are Lewis II. Peters, Chester Fritz.
Samuel A. Raben Old, Charles He'll,
John s.. Mosser, John F. Miller, Lewis
A. Rex and William Krum.