Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-03
DRAMATIC
FEATURES
Connected With the Flight and
Capture of the BiddIe
Outfit.
Loyalty to Mrs. SoffeI Pre-
vented Them From
Escaping.


lure OF the Biddle murderers and Mrs
Sofel, wife of the prison warden
which occurred last night near But
Ter. has about it many dramatic fea-
lures. The reports in the morning
papers are in many respects untrue
The officers did not shoot the pris-
oners. They shot themselves when
they found that escape was impossi-
Bile. It. was decided between the
three fugitives that rather than be
captured they would commit suicide
The Biddles could easily have es-
capped. had they been willing to leave
the woman behind them. They
stood loyalty by her, however, and
she unwittingly proved their undo
ing.
When the officers with fresh horses
came upon the sleigh OF the flying
prisoners and there was no way of
escape. the three deliberately took
out their guns and commenced the
work of self-slaughter Edward Bid
die put his pistol inside his mouth
and attempted to blow his brains out
The ball penetrated his cheek and
neck but failed to kill him at once.
He will die. however Mrs SofYel
put her pistol to her heart and fired.
but corset steel detected the bullet,
-whtcn entered the abdomen inflict-
ing flesh wound. She will recov-
er. The other Biddle shot himself
in the breast and the wound will not
prove fatal.
nirx INh t.l.l
the flight of the three. They did not
fire upon the officers. and the entire
tragedy was one OF the most remark.
able in the history of he state.
Mrs. Soffel became infatuated with
the men while they were prisoners
in her husbands charge. Edward is
strikingly handsome and always had
way that was Irresistible with wo-
men.
BUTLER. Pa, Feb. Edward
Biddle lay unconscious this morning,
his life blood ebbing slowly away.
Jack Biddle was talkative and boast
full, and he may live some days.
Mrs. Soffel will likely recover.
Jack said this morning that all OF
the three had arranged to commit su-
icide In case of capture being immi-
nent. When we saw the bunch of
officers approaching" he said I'VE
knew 1t was all up with us. We did
not fire upon the officers. shot my
self in the mouth. Edward shot
himself over the heart and the wo-
man fired a bullet into her breast
We knew that capture simply meant
death on the scaffold"
Biddle said the bars of the cell in
which they were confined had been
sawed two weeks ago, but no good
chance of escape occurred After
leaving the jail they secreted them
selves in house near the railroad
tracks, They took n trolley car in
to the country at night. stole horse
and continued their flight.
Edward Biddle was carried into a
cell here this morning. The stamp
OF death seemed imprinted on his
face. The two brothers embraced
each other. Shortly afterwards Ed
ward became delirious.
Mrs. Soffel this morning said Il
i'it my my uuSDdHU
purpose | thought just stood
before the cell OF the Biddles while
they sawed the bars am bad
woman and love only my children.
have had domestic trouble such AZ
only woman can understand. | feel
sorry for my children. expect to
go to jail"
At l O'Clock this afternoon Jack
and Edward Biddle are both in ex.
tremis, according to the opinion of
attending physicians. Jack. contrary
to expectations, may die first. In
fiamation having set in as a result OF
the shot In the bowels.
Mrs. Soffel has developed pneumo-
mia. and her case Is extremely seri.
Gus.
Two priests are at the bedside of
the Biddles.
Mrs. Soffel Is now repentant. Sh,
says she does not understand how
she came to do the act