Davison County, SD News.....Imelli's return February 9 1886
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Kathleen Grace kgrace@vbe.com June 2, 2004, 12:06 am

Mitchell Daily Republican
Sheriff Alterton arrests him in Washington Territoy
  Sheriff Alterton returned last night from Washington Territory with R.S. 
Imelli, a German jeweller, who has been under indictment here for a year past 
for alleged riot and assault.  In March 1884, it well be remembered, a party 
named John Smith, living on a claim near Enemy Creek, about  miles south of 
Mitchell disappeared suddenly, and no trace ever found of him.  His children 
were transferred to the neighbors and his property sold.  One of his neighbors 
named Mike Bechtel was suspected of the murder and several weeks after 
Bechtel's body badly mutilated and bound to heavy stones was discovered in 
what was known as the "deep hole" in the James river, several miles east of 
Smith's home.  It afterward transpired that a mob of Smith's neighbors had 
gotten together and partially hung Bechtel several times, stabbed him with 
bayonets and otherwise tortured him to make him confess that he had murdered 
Smith.  This he did not do and the mob afterward hung him and threw his body 
in the river.
  It was alleged that Imelli, who had a grudge against Bechtel, had led this 
mob.  sufficient information leaked out upon which the grand jury indicted Max 
Geidal, Chas. Smith, Joseph Scheick, Geo. King, Fred Esser, Frank Young, Chas. 
Kelley and R.S. Imelli.  Those men except the last, gave bail in $500, and are 
now awaiting trial.  Imelli hearing a warrant was out against him left town.  
The Sheriff has been long searching for him, and at last found him about two 
weeks since in a small town in Washington territory, carrying on the jewelry 
business under a slight change in his name.  He gave bail last night in the 
sum of $500.  He has engaged Dillon & Preston, of this city, to defend him.  
The case will be tried at the March term of court.  There has always been 
considerable doubt expressed regarding Smith's death.

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