The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-22
MRS. BECHTEL SWEARS
TOM DID NOT KILL MABEL
Dramatic Testimony Is Given in
German Dialect by the Vic
TINS Mother.
TELLS STRAIGHT STORY
OF Incidents Connected with the
Mysterious Murder OF Her
Daughter.

ALLENTOWN, Pa, Jan. H.-Mrs. Cath
arine Bechtel, whose trial on the charge
of being an accessory after the fact so
the murder of her daughter Mabel, has
been in progress here since last week. took
the witness stand in her own defense this
afternoon. She was on the stand for four
and a half hours and proved good wit
ness Mrs. Bechtel is a Pennsylvania Ger
man and the entire proceedings were car
ried on in that Pennsylvania German
dialect. which was understood not only by
the judge, jury and attorneys. but by most
of the spectators in the crowded court
room.
Mrs. Bechtel told plain, straightforward
story in a low. plaintive voice. which fire.
quently broke she related the incidents
and conversations that wrung her heart
Briefly stated. Mrs. Bechtel positively
denied that her son Tom killed Mabel, or
that she had guilty knowledge of the crime
She was under ross-examination when
court adjourned. but up to that time the
commonwealth had failed to shake her
story.
Mrs. Bechtel said that Tom was in the
habit of chewing tobacco while I'm bed, and
when he fell asleep the tobacco juice would
run out OF his mouth over the piIlowcase and
sheets. Mr.. Schaadt at this juncture pro-
duced the stained bolster and pillowcases
and sheets taken from Toms bed. which
she identified.
Then came the most pointed question Of
all "It Is charged" said Mr.. Schaadt that
on that Sunday night Tom struck Mabel in
anger and killed her. Now. you are an old
woman and have not much longer to live, as
you must some day answer to your Creator,
so tell us, now, did anything like that occur
I'm your house,"
WITH TEARS IN EYES.
The tears welled in the gray-haired wom-
ans eyes, her hands were elapsed as If in
prayer before her breast, and with her head
toward heaven she fervently replied: Il
swear by my God that Mabel was not killed
or struck by Tom i'm my home"
An impressive silence followed. and then
her attorney led her up TO the movements
OF the family Monday morning. Tom left
the house TO 20 10 work at o'clock. Ma
bel came downstairs, she said, at 7:S0 and
helped herself to breakfast The sobbing
mother then said 'She came out i'm the
kitchen and said she was going out driving.
| asked her. With whom, Weisenberger?
and when she answered yes. | exclaimed.
Oh, Mabel, In rebuking tone. Mabel put
/ her hands over her eyes and began TO cry
/ | asked her why she cried and She an
swered' / am crying now maybe you'll
/ cry later "
What happened next?"
After a while she went upstairs re-
! dressed herself. and then left the house.
! That was the last time | saw her alive II
| was about O'Clock. possibly a little later -
The witness told of Ecksteins call on
/ Monday evening and OF the conversation
! that ensued. She contradicted some OF his
/ statements made earlier i'm the trial She
/ added that Eckstein often quarreled with
/ Mabel and several times had struck her
| Then Mrs. Bechtel told of hearing dogs
| bark in the yard at midnight on MondaV
/ Tom was asleep, she said, and had one dog
/ with him IN his bedroom. Another dog was
/ in the cellar Arising. she went 10 the rear
window and saw the cab in the allev She
/ saw TWO men carry something into Miller
/ YARD next door. The witness did not awaken
/ Myrtha- She heard Tom snoring The VIII
nes told OF finding MabeIs body Tuesday
/ morning in the areaway under the house
when she went To get the washing machine
/ TWO aprons placed i'm evidences belonged
| 10 the witness. who accounted for the
| blOodstains by saying that in handling
| meats she wiped her hands on the aprons
Mr.. Schaadt asked is IL true that Won
/ wanted Mabel 10 go with other men ?''
! Never In my life" was the answer
! Did you say TO Eckstein that YOU wanted
/ Mabel 10 go with men and bring In
/ money!
/ Never in my life. and she did not either,
| there was never such a thing said