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

Soffel Found, Showing the schemes
for Escape.
Butler, Pa, February 1.-At the close
OF a day Of intense excitement and
many conflicting stories concerning the
chances for life Of the wounded Biddle
brothers and Mrs. Kate Soffei, the un-
expected has happened. John Biddle,
who until late this afternoon was
thought the more likely brother to es-
cape present death succumbed the first
ahd dice at 1855 o'clock p. m. His
brother Ed, who had been unconscious
practically all day and who was con-
sidered n dying matt last night sur
viyed until IL o'clock when he. too.
went over to the great divide. Both
mon died without any apparent suffer-
iI,g at the close. Mrs. Soffel, who de-
veIoped symptoms of pneumonia this
afternoon has a chance for life and un-
less some unforeseen complication sets
in. will recover.
The death of Jack Biddle was caused
by the bullet wounds in his abdomen
and bladder. Early in the day the ply
slcians thought peritonitis was the
principal danger in his case, but to-
night internal hemorrhages set in and
the man bled to death in a short while
As long as he was able Jack was eX-
tregnely talkative and was at times
boastful; but as soon as the shadow OF
death began to fall uron him and he
recognize it, he became repentant.
IT know" said he, that my time here
in short and YOU can say for me that
I am a Christian and viii die a sim
eere believer in God and hope 1 have
strength to say so at the last. / know
have taken part in may wrong deeds
but 1 have never killed any man an[
was never implicated with any one
VINO did. I wish could see Mrs. Kah.
new. I would tell her the truth about
the killing of her husband. This life
has been pretty tough to me and the
end cannot come toe quick and I dom
care how soon"
A sister of the Biddles arrived II
town this evening ano was admitted
to the Jail. but Edward was unable tc
recognize her.
After consultation at the hospita
In the case OF Mrs. Sofel. this evening
District Attorney Havmaker decided
to allow the woman TO remain here. a:
her condition is such that the trip t.
Pittsburg tonight might be ATTENDED
with fatal results She IS suffering con
siderably from her wound and the at
tending physicians fear that her re
mova1 now would cause gangrene t,
set in.
The excitement was unabated toda!
and dense crowd of people hun:
about the Jail doors ali day, trying t,
get in to see the two criminals. Tn
most persistent of the crowd were wo
men, manv of whom expressed tn
deepest concern and sympathy for Ed
Biddfe and declared their belief in hi
innocence. This belief seemed {
deepen when it became known that E6
Bidd1e made a death-bed confession t
Rev. Father Walsh. Of this place. las
night declaring his Innocence of tn
aad detective Fitzgerald.
One of the sensational development
Of the day which the authorities hav
decided to keep secret was the. findin
on the person of Mrs. Soffel. when sh
arrived at the hospital long lette
from Ed. Biddle. setting forth in deta
the plan for the escape Of the brother
from Jail.
A lost love letter from Biddle to hi
prison sweetheart. Mrs Kate So1'e
found in the snow near The bloody sen
of their capture. reveals the long, CO re
full plot for tier escape from the Allie
geheny county jail. The letter clearl
shows the hazardous Undert kings o
the infatuated woman tc secure the es
cape OF the BI0dies. Since oet-sn;b'
2. 1901. they had been making prer.sr;,
tons to escape. The discovered fristl
tells how Mrs. Soffel carried the saw
to the cells OF the Biddles. It .''earl
shows the wonderful influence Ed. Bid
die had over Mrs. Soffel.
Mrs. Soffel fell in love with Ed. Biddi
IN November. Tb. burgla- soon realize
his power over her. His affection wa
reciprocated. Mrs Soffel feil madly Il
lave with Ed. Bid5le and about the ear
Iy part OF December he proposed piai
to escape. She consented to lend hir
her aid. Betwe,1 December 14th an
18th they had complereed all arrange
nents to escape from the fail. The
fhev learned of the governors respite