Allegheny County PA Archives- Obituaries: Rachet, Lizzie, Jan 1921 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Victoria Valentine, , Mar 2009 Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ ________________________________________________ Taken from McDonald Pa Outlook 27 Jan 1921 The Noblestown community was greatly shocked on Friday evening as the news circulated that Mrs. Lizzie RACHET, aged 68 years; living on the South Side of town had been murdered. Upon investigation it was discovered that robbery had probably been the motive of her assailants and conditions indicated that the crime had been committed probably 24 hours before the discovery was made. The officers were notified and an investigation was begun under direction of detective MCMILLAN. After running down several clues the detectives arrested Michael BISTARKEY, a grandson of Mrs. RACHET's who after being closely questioned by the officers, broke down and confessed that he and George MILLER, who had formerly occupied a part of Mrs. RACHET's house had committed the deed on Thursday evening. About a week previous to the crime Mr. MILLER had moved from the RACHET home to Sherrill, Ohio. The BISTARKEY boy testified that they left Sherrill in an automobile owned by MILLER's father, coming to Noblestown Thursday evening and going to the RACHET home early in the evening he waited outside while MILLER entered the home assaulted and bound the old lady and took what money could be found, probably about $800. They then left and later in the night BISTARKEY being anxious about his grandmother's condition, they are supposed to have returned to the RACHET home where they discovered that Mrs. RACHET was dead. After which they returned that same night apparently to Sherrill, Ohio. From there BISTARKEY was summoned home by his family and the discovery of the death of Mrs. RACHET and subsequently arrested. Both of the young men implicated in the crime had been employed in Noblestown for a number of years and it came as quite a shock to the community that they should be associated with such a crime. They are now in jail awaiting further developments. Mr. RACHET, the husband, was employed away from home, only returning occasionally, thus making it easy for the crime to be committed. The body of Mrs. RACHET was buried in the St. Patrick's cemetery at Noblestown on Monday morning. *From the Feb. 3, 1921 McDonald PA Outlook--Noblestown column---We are glad to say that Messrs. George MILLER and Mike BISTARKEY, both of whom were said to have been implicated in the murder of Mrs. Elizabeth ROCHET (sic), are both freed, the detectives being unable to prove anything against them.