West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-02-01
BIDDLES SHOT;
MRS. S0FFBL
TRIED SUICIDE,


Continued from 1st rage.
The horse that the Biddle brothers
drove showed signs of rough use.
No sleigh bells were used, AMI
there was nothing about the outfit to
indicate anything wrong.
Detective McGovern In Command.
Detective McGovern was the gen.
eral of the party of officers. He rec
ognized Ed Biddle's features first, the
other two occupants Of the sleigh
being slightly hidden by the folds of
big robe.
Get ready" said McGoyern.
Then there was a click of rifles and
tevOlvers.
The Officers and the Biddles were
hearing each other.
Drive slowly" said McGovern to
Snyder.
BE careful and spread out. When
l begin firing, everybody shoot" con.
tinued McGovern.
Gradually the two parties came to.
gether.
Snyder was Instructed not to stop
until told to do so.
McGovern was told the horses
would stand the shooting.
Then, when about 100 feet from the
Biddles' sleigh. McGovern saw Ell
Biddle reach around to his side.
eiddIes eeosnized the Officers.
At that moment both Biddles rec
ognized the Pittsburg officers.
Then tne battle began.
NOW" said McGo yern to his fell
low officers.
Scarcely had he uttered these
words when Ed Biddle stood up in the
sleigh, and, rising q shot gun which
had been stolen from a farmer, fret
at the officers.
His aim was poor. tHEd7 III
Nobody was hit. ~
Then McGovern, Roach and Swine
hart jNzaped out of the sleigh and, as
they did so, each began firing at the
Biddles.
McGovern and Roach were on one
side and Sweinhart on the other, and
in this way they covered each side
of the Biddles' sleigh.
Ed Biddle loaded and. reloaded his
shotgun several times and kept firing
continually.
Jack Biddle was armed with re.
volvers and fired several rounds al
the officers.
Mrs. Sonel had a revolver, but the
dete ctivCs say she did not shoot at
them.
Detectives McGovern and Roach
each aimed at Ed Biddle.
Detective Swinehart aimed at Jack.
Ed Pitched Forward Onto Ground.
During the first exchange of shots
Ed Biddle threw up his arms, his
pitched headlong from the sleigh into
the snow on the road.
There was no letup in the firing,
however, and in another minute JACK
Biddle fell almost on top Of his
brother.
Mrs. Soffel had been leaning be-
hind Jack Biddle as though he were
trying to shield her from the terrific
fusilade CT the officers, all Of whom
were firing as fast as they could work
the triggers of their weapons.
When Jack Biddle fell from the
sleigh upon his brother, the horse Of
the Biddles took hight and dashed
forward toward Detective Swinehart,
who was straight ahead.
The horse made a circle of about
800 or 400 yards and came back on
| the road again almost at the same
place where it had first stopped.
Then Mrs. Soffel fell over on one
side Of the sleigh, her arm hanging
over the edge.
II guess Mrs. Soffel is shot," sad
Detective Roach.
Get the woman, but look out for
the men," said McGoyern.
The Biddles were lying, bleeding
in the snow, but because Of their
desperate character the officers would
not risk any opportunity Of the!l
trickery and fired again at them.
- Mrs. soffet Jumped or Fell Out.
Mrs. Sofel jumped or fell ont oil
the sleigh and the entire party CT
officers closed in on the gang.
Ed Biddle madeaa move as though
to reach for q pistol. but was GOV
cred with q Winchester and told Il
surrender.
Then the officers, aided. by Dcput:
Sheriff's Hoon's party, who came III
later. picked up the wounded men ans
woman and placing them in sledge:
started back to Butler.
Upon arrived there medical atten
ton was at once given the Biddl;
brothers and Mrs. Soffel.
| AS soon as Ed Biddle realized
where he was he requested the pres
ence Of priest. and the officers sen
for ev. Daniel Walsh, pastor of tn
Catholic church here, to whom Il
Biddle mace the following comics
| sion.