The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-04

Escape OF Two Men Under Sentence
OF Death by Aid OF the Jasier's
Wife who Elopes with one of
Them. |

aCbn
Pittsburg. January 3o.-Edward and
John Biddle, awaiting execution IN the
county Jail for the murder OF grocer
Thomas D. Kahney. OF Mount Wasting
ton. overpowered the guards "a 81
o'clock this morning and escaped
Both prisoners had been provided
with saws with which they cut the bars
in their cells and were ready at any
moment TO make an opening sufficient
~ large to pass through. The prison
ers occupied adjoining cells on the Sec
ond range. They had evidently been
preparing for their escape for sometime
and had assistance from the outside, as
both were armed with revolvers-
Shortly before 4 O'Clock one OF the
Biddles called to James McGeary. wno
had charge of the outside gates, and
asked for some cramp medicine in 4
hurry. saying his brother was danger
ouSly sick.
McGeary FASTENED to the cell with the
medicine when John Biddle sprung
trough the opening in the cell ana.
seizing the guard around the woisS.
hurled him over the railing TO the stone
floor beneath. a distance OF sixteen feet.
Edward Biddle Joined his brother i'm
mediately and both. with drawn revolt
vers hurried to the first floor wnerc
they met guard Reynolds and shoI
him.
There were but three men on Cuty
and the third was on one of the ppe
ranges. He was ordered down at the
| point of the revolvers. and the three
guards were put in the dungeon.
The keys were taken from keeper
McGeary. and the two desperate pris-
oners had a clear field. The only per-
L CONS +Hn tho acnn A-.aN-N
prisoners who could not interfere OF
give an alarm.
The Biddles went to the wardrobe
| where the guards keep their clothing.
and ZACH put on a new suit. They then
unlocked the outside gates and passed
out into Ross street.
The escape was not discovered until
the daylight guards came on duty Ill S
o'clock They We're informed by prison.
ers where the night guards had been
put. and they were soon released from
the dungeon and sent to the honleo-
pathic hospital.
The escape of the Biddles was ex-
planned by Warden Peter X. Soffle. WHO
said he believed that his wife was re-
sponsible for the furnishing Of the re-
vOlver and saws to the Biddles, which
enabled them to escape. In her infatu-
alton for the handsome desperate. Ed
ward Biddle, it is alleged that she left
/ ner nuSDdnO ana neT TOUR CHlluEtu XIX
it is supposed was to meet the escdie1
convicts at a place agreed Upon.
The story of the matter is brief. Mrs.
Soffle was the only person admitted to
the Jail since last Sunday. Yesterday
| afternoon she visited the Biddles during
the warden's absence. Last evening she
retired at 9 o'clock. She told her hus-
hand that h was going to visit a sister
at Mcdonald, and that she would retire
early so that she could get an earlv.
| start.
Warden Soffle was about the Jail un-
til after II o'clock. He retired % his
room, which is eparate from Mrs. Sof-
fe's. shortly before l o'clock. When he
| awoke this morning he asked for Mrs.
Soffle and was informed that she vas
absent. Later, when the details Of The
| escape became known he ~telephonei to
| Mcdonald and was informed that Mrs.
Soffle was not there.
Warden Soffle Immediately made a
frank confession Of his suspicious
Warden Soffle. in discussing the es-
cape of the Biddles, said:
II believe my wife furnished the wea-
IONS to the Riddles and assisted them
to escape. This is an awful thing. but
L am only telling the whole truth. My
wife was not in bed when Z was aWak-
ened this morning and l have not seen
her since. She is gone-God only knows
where. I said 1 would lay everything
pare and 1 am doing it. This is the
worst blow of all, but 1 believe it is
true. I did not suspect her and hence
was off my guard; but she is gone and
the suspicion of assisting III the doliv-
cry by furnishing p rests upon
her"
He broke down when speaking of his
wife's actions.
The friends of Mrs. Soffle believe
that she could not have been IN her
right mind when she aided in the es-
cape of the Biddles. For some years
she has been an invalid and about one
year ago she was sent to a saDitnrium.
She came back very much imoroved,
but the long and painful illness Is be-
lieved to have weakened her mind. No
trace of her has yet been found.
Herb suband devote time n money
for the relief of the suffering OF his
wife. but it is said that she has never
fully her health and at times
was melancholy.
The prison board began an investiga-
ton and announced tonight that War
den Soffle, at his own request had been
relieved from duty pending the result of
the investigation. Deputy "ardea
Marshall was placed in charge ternpo-
rarily. Nothing else was given out.
Up to a late hour tonight not the
slightest clue as to the whereabouts of
any of the fugitives has been discover
ed. A reward of IS, 900 has been offered
for their capture.