14 - The Murder of Norman Bechtel
11/05/18 • 35 min
A church worker is slain in 1932 Philadelphia. A lengthy investigation ensues, and a notorious inmate is questioned and a dramatic jailbreak he took part in is described.
“$60,000 life insurance carried by Norman Bechtel, murdered man,” Lebanon Daily News, January 22, 1932.
“4-year-old murder case claimed near solution,” Sayre Evening Times, July 27, 1936.
Bechtel, Norman R. (d. 1932), https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Bechtel,_Norman_R._(d._1932)
“Bechtel slain in shake-down, police believe,” Reading Times, April 16, 1937.
“Bechtel slayer given ten years,” Pottstown Mercury, August 27, 1937.
Boyd's Blue Book of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: C.E. Howe, 1906.
“Convict freed as 'reformed' held as bandit,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 1933.
“Cult sacrifice clues sought in Bechtel murder,” Reading Times, January 22, 1932.
“Detective victim of suspected slayer,” Tyrone Daily Herald, December 8, 1932.
“Four of convicts believed at sea,” Altoona Tribune, July 17, 1923.
“Gang sails,” Reading Times, July 17, 1923.
“Hold negro as suspect in detective's murder,” Franklin News-Herald, December 10, 1932.
“Judge gives bail for anti-Fascist,” Scranton Republican, December 19, 1931.
“Judge posts youth's bail,” Mount Carmel Item, December 18, 1931.
“Kidnapped autoist tells story of bandits' escape,” Reading Times, July 16, 1923.
“No hexers involved in Bechtel case,” Shamokin Dispatch, January 22, 1932.
“Man found stabbed to death in Philadelphia,” Cumberland (MD) Evening Times, January 20, 1932.
“Murdered man loved to play game of poker,” Bradford Daily Record, January 23, 1932.
“Phila. sleuth's slayer caught,” Reading Times, December 12, 1932.
“Philadelphia mayor fires safety chief,” Scranton Republican, February 25, 1933.
“Police quiz suspect in Bechtel slaying,” Reading Eagle, July 28, 1936.
“Police seek 3X link in murder of churchman,” Marshall (TX) News-Messenger, February 5, 1932.
“Police still far from solving hex murder,” Franklin News-Herald, January 22, 1932.
“Police think old homicide case solved,” Utica (NY) Observer, April 16, 1937.
“Quiz convict in slaying of church worker,” Pottstown Mercury, July 27, 1936.
“Quiz Lew Edwards, ex-Berks convict, in Bechtel murder,” Reading Times, July 30, 1936.
“Rev. D.J. Unruh accepts pastorate at Lansdale, Pa.,” Mennonite Weekly Review (Newton, KS), December 11, 1929.
“Seek foreigner in the baffling Bechtel crime,” Bristol Daily Courier, January 22, 1932.
“Seek suspect in Croskey case,” Altoona Tribune, December 9, 1932.
“Slaying of N. Bechtel believed hex murder,” Lebanon Daily News, January 22, 1932.
“Stabbing of Mennonite believed another of state's hex murders,” Franklin News-Herald, January 21, 1932.
“This way breeds Communism,” Reading Times, November 28, 1931.
“Woman killed Bechtel, Phila. police believe,” Reading Times, January 26, 1932.
Opening music by Fesilyan Studios, https://www.fesliyanstudios.com
Closing music by Soma.
Statement of Eleanor Temple read by Mindi Gable.
A church worker is slain in 1932 Philadelphia. A lengthy investigation ensues, and a notorious inmate is questioned and a dramatic jailbreak he took part in is described.
“$60,000 life insurance carried by Norman Bechtel, murdered man,” Lebanon Daily News, January 22, 1932.
“4-year-old murder case claimed near solution,” Sayre Evening Times, July 27, 1936.
Bechtel, Norman R. (d. 1932), https://mla.bethelks.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Bechtel,_Norman_R._(d._1932)
“Bechtel slain in shake-down, police believe,” Reading Times, April 16, 1937.
“Bechtel slayer given ten years,” Pottstown Mercury, August 27, 1937.
Boyd's Blue Book of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: C.E. Howe, 1906.
“Convict freed as 'reformed' held as bandit,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 1933.
“Cult sacrifice clues sought in Bechtel murder,” Reading Times, January 22, 1932.
“Detective victim of suspected slayer,” Tyrone Daily Herald, December 8, 1932.
“Four of convicts believed at sea,” Altoona Tribune, July 17, 1923.
“Gang sails,” Reading Times, July 17, 1923.
“Hold negro as suspect in detective's murder,” Franklin News-Herald, December 10, 1932.
“Judge gives bail for anti-Fascist,” Scranton Republican, December 19, 1931.
“Judge posts youth's bail,” Mount Carmel Item, December 18, 1931.
“Kidnapped autoist tells story of bandits' escape,” Reading Times, July 16, 1923.
“No hexers involved in Bechtel case,” Shamokin Dispatch, January 22, 1932.
“Man found stabbed to death in Philadelphia,” Cumberland (MD) Evening Times, January 20, 1932.
“Murdered man loved to play game of poker,” Bradford Daily Record, January 23, 1932.
“Phila. sleuth's slayer caught,” Reading Times, December 12, 1932.
“Philadelphia mayor fires safety chief,” Scranton Republican, February 25, 1933.
“Police quiz suspect in Bechtel slaying,” Reading Eagle, July 28, 1936.
“Police seek 3X link in murder of churchman,” Marshall (TX) News-Messenger, February 5, 1932.
“Police still far from solving hex murder,” Franklin News-Herald, January 22, 1932.
“Police think old homicide case solved,” Utica (NY) Observer, April 16, 1937.
“Quiz convict in slaying of church worker,” Pottstown Mercury, July 27, 1936.
“Quiz Lew Edwards, ex-Berks convict, in Bechtel murder,” Reading Times, July 30, 1936.
“Rev. D.J. Unruh accepts pastorate at Lansdale, Pa.,” Mennonite Weekly Review (Newton, KS), December 11, 1929.
“Seek foreigner in the baffling Bechtel crime,” Bristol Daily Courier, January 22, 1932.
“Seek suspect in Croskey case,” Altoona Tribune, December 9, 1932.
“Slaying of N. Bechtel believed hex murder,” Lebanon Daily News, January 22, 1932.
“Stabbing of Mennonite believed another of state's hex murders,” Franklin News-Herald, January 21, 1932.
“This way breeds Communism,” Reading Times, November 28, 1931.
“Woman killed Bechtel, Phila. police believe,” Reading Times, January 26, 1932.
Opening music by Fesilyan Studios, https://www.fesliyanstudios.com
Closing music by Soma.
Statement of Eleanor Temple read by Mindi Gable.
Previous Episode
Halloween 2018
Extra-long Halloween episode. A club for people who tell ghost stories, Jesse James and the headless horseman, a faked poltergeist, a cursed saw-mill, a plague of heart attacks, and New Orleans voodoo by way of a beef tongue.
“A hoodoo saw-mill in Brown County,” Indianapolis News, August 13, 1902.
“Followed by a ghost,” Wood County (WI) Reporter, October 11, 1888.
“Remarkable imposture,” New York Times, February 28, 1874.
“Strange sickness,” Sacramento Record-Union, August 1, 1894.
“The ghost club,” Sacramento Record-Union, October 31, 1891.
“Tombs' hoodoos,” Topeka Daily Herald, August 12, 1905.
Opening music by Kevin MacLeod.
Ending music by Soma.
Next Episode
15 - 3X, The Man Behind the Gun
Queens, 1930. A serial killer shoots two men and sends bizarre coded messages to the press, nearly 40 years before the infamous Zodiac.
“3d parked car shooting laid to holdup man,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 20, 1930.
“Another victim for New York's mystery slayer Thursday night,” Albuquerque Journal, June 20, 1930.
“Deny harming balky witness in Nassau jail,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 10, 1933.
“End of murders promised in new note by maniac,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 21, 1930.
“Escaped L.I. inmate arrested in Phila. as maniac suspect,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 20, 1930.
“First arrest made in hunt for crazy killer as third man is dying,” Canonsburg (PA) Daily Notes, June 20, 1930.
“Girl is jailed as witness to grocer murder,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 16, 1930.
“Gives final warning to seven more,” Belvidere (IL) Daily Republican, June 19, 1930.
“Hunt killer as he looks for third victim,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 18, 1930.
“Innocent man slain in robbery joke,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 11, 1930.
McQueen, Kevin. New England Nightmares. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2018.
“Mad slayer keeps Gotham police agog; 2 more dead,” Dubois (PA) Courier-Express, June 20, 1930.
“Madman sought as chief pirate in yacht attack,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 14, 1931.
“Make new arrest in 3X case, then let prisoner go,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 10, 1930.
Morrow, Jason. Famous Crimes the World Forgot. Tulsa, OK: Historical Crime Detective, 2015.
“Murderer tells cops he will strike again,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 10, 1937.
“Necker killer eludes metropolitan police,” Kane (PA) Republican, June 21, 1930.
“New York police fear red circle killer will return,” Eau Claire (WI) Leader-Telegram, October 6, 1937.
Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. New York: Facts on File, 2009.
“Police suspect radio maniac as 3X slayer,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 23, 1931.
“Sister of mad killer's victim ignores threat,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 22, 1930.
“Suspect is held in recent murders near New York,” Corsicana (TX) Daiy Sun, July 9, 1930.
“Suspect named by girl as Whitestone killer,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 14, 1930.
“Youth admits he may be red circle killer,” San Mateo (CA) Times, October 11, 1937.
Opening music by Soundeyet and Kevin MacLeod.
Closing music by Soma.
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