Edward Bechly

Edward Bechly (March 3, 1874 – August 31, 1945) was an American editor, publisher, and proprietor of the Iroquois County Times-Democrat.

Family

Edward Bechly (sometimes spelled Beckly or Bechley) was the second son of Freiderich August Bechly (1835–1916) and Lydia Marie Weesner (1850–1899). His older brother Franklin Bechly was appointed 6th District Judge in 1927 by Iowa Governor Hammill. Edward married Ferne Smiley (1887–1968) in 1912 and they had three children while living in Watseka, Illinois.

Adventurer

"Captain" Bechly rafted the homemade houseboat "Ruin No. 13" down the Missouri and Mississippi River systems. Starting point in November 1907 with his first mate, Charles Bateman, was Sioux City, Iowa. The journey continued past St. Louis onto the Mississippi. The original destination was New Orleans, but the voyage ended in March 1908 near Memphis when Bechly learned via forwarded mail that a reporter job was waiting for him in Chicago. The sale of the boat generated funds sufficient to cover transportation expenses back to Chicago. The trip lasted four months and extended nearly 900 miles.

Career

After graduating with a Bachelor of Philosophy from Iowa State University, Bechly worked as a reporter for several local Midwest newspapers including The Muscatine Journal, the St. Joseph Gazette, the Des Moines Capital, the Des Moines Daily News, the Sioux City Tribune; and Chicago newspapers the Inter-Ocean, the Record-Herald, and the Chicago Tribune.

The following Thursday (January 13, 1910), the St. Louis Post-Dispatch issued a feature story regarding the Gunness Farm murders, and offered speculation regarding the confession of Ray Lamphere. City Editor Howey sent reporter Beckly back to Mount Pleasant to try again with President Schell. In the president's office, Schell was more receptive to using the confession as a way to clear the nationwide speculation that was causing strain for the family members of the victims, but he still feared bringing discredit to the Methodist Church. Schell asked Beckly to meet him later in the day at his residence. At that meeting, reporter Beckly was presented with two envelopes. The first contained the signed and sealed confession of Ray Lamphere. The second contained a statement from Edwin Schell as to why the confession was being released, which was to be published at the same time. Beckly wired the story to the Tribune at his first opportunity, and the return telegram came from Chicago Tribune legend, James Keeley, with the simple message "Good work".

The Chicago Tribune subsequently published the feature story about Lamphere's confession, including President Schell's statement, on January 15, 1910.

Notability

Edward Bechly gained notability early in his career as the Chicago Tribune reporter that broke the story of Ray Lamphere's confession in the famous Belle Gunness case.

He gained regional notability as owner and publisher of the Iroquois County Times-Democrat from 1912 to about 1923.

He was also appointed representative of the 10th District of Indiana for the 1924 Presidential Electoral College.