The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-03
SEVERELY CONDEMNED.
Officer Who Shot Jack Biddle
When He Was Down.

Butler. Pa, Feb 3.-The terrible fate
of the Biddles is the sole topic of con-
versation here, and a curious throng
of people have been defying the storm,
hanging about the Jail entrance in vain
attempts to get in to see the bodies of
the dead murderers. A great deal of
sympathy for the boys is expressed on
all sides. and not a few of the female
portion of the crowd expressed a desire
to see what manner of a man Ed Biddie
was, that he should exert such wonder
full influence over men and, particularly,
women. The Jail doors were closed all
day yesterday, and no one got in but
the doctors, who attended the autopsy
and the coroner's jury, which organized
at 3 O'Clock this morning. Even the re-
porterS We're excluded from the inquest,
which was held in the Jail
The testimony of all the officers con-
cerned in the capture was taken ex-
cept Robert Ray, the Butler policeman,
VINO IS SICK abed. The testimony of DR..
Greer, who was one of the doctors who
attended the Biddles, and of Sheriff
Hoon, was also taken.
The verdict is that Ed Riddle came to
his death by a revolver shot, fired from
a 32-caliber revolver by himself, and
that Jack Biddle met his death from a
gunshot wound inflicted by the officers
in discharge of their lawful duty.
The testimony taken at the inquest
was voluminous, making about IL 900
words and some parts of it quite sensa.
tional. The testimony given by Deputy
Sheriff Ra1ney Hoon reflected severely
on McGovern, one fthe Pittsburg de-
tectives
The latter part of section 5, of the
Jack B1ddle verdict, reads as follows:
THAT said posse returned the fire and
a battle ensued, in which said John Bid
die received the wound which caused
his death.
1--WE hereby e&onerate the officers
from a and
for their brave conduct and the faithful
performance of their duty"
Deputy Hoon, after describing the
hunt for the fugitives and the final
sighting of them coming over the hill,
said:
I'VE put our two teams in charge Of
Mr.. j. a. Snyder. We then got in line
and they came down the hill and the
first thing L saw Ed Biddle pulled a re-
volver. When he pulled the gun all be-
gan to shoot. 1 could not tell who fired
judge we were $50 feet from them"
Did they fall out of the sled ?''
"They both fell OUT
How many shots had been fired be
fore they felI?'
Il have not much idea; suppose 40 or
so Shots
The Biddles fell out of the sled?" =
YES sir; both boys fell out and the
woman fell forward. She stayed in the
sleigh and the horse off with her
and passed into the field"
Describe your approaching the Bid
die boys
''McGovern and I walked up to them.
They were both lying on their faces. I
walked up first and McGovern swore at
me for it. had a revolver in my hand
and had it loaded l walked up to them
and he walked up and hit Jack ON the
back of the head with the butt end of
his Winchester when he was on his face
Then I turned Ed over on his back. l
was the first to touch either of the men
and he was going to shoot them again.
He stepped back and shot Jack again
after he was on the ground. 1 turned Ed
shoot again-let me die Mr.. Holiday
turned Jack over and he coaxed him not
to abuse him. to let him die"
1.-The slugs that entered the arms and
side of Jack Biddle were from the shot |
fired by McGoyern, after he was lying
face downward on the snow at close |
Yes, sir I am sure of that I was |
within a few feet" |
do you think the striking of Jack on |
the head with a gun had anything to do |
with the Fastening of his death?''
II could not say. He could still speak
Did he strike with considerable |
force?"
HE HIT him good. hard biff with the |
butt of the gun"
Under instructions of Coroner Jones. |
an autopsy was held on the Biddles. The |
evidence secured by the autopsy bears |
out the statements that the Biddles in |
taken alive, and that Ed succeeded in |
his attempt, while Jack failed, though |
his life was forfeited.
DR.. Bricker gave the followfn8- state |
ment after the autopsy:
Jack Biddle was the worst wounded |
of the two men, although he was in bet |
ter condition than Ed when the men |
were brought to the jail Friday night. |
He had two gunshot wounds on the |
right side in the region of the liver, the |
bullets passing up and around the body |
and did no damage. They were removed |
on Saturday. A bullet wound was found |
in the roof of the mouth. but it was |
slight and would not have caused his |
death. This wound was inflicted by |
himself, with the evident intention of |
suicide.
I'm all, Jack was suffering from nine /
but excepting the one that PEN
etrated the kidney. none OF them would |
have been fatal. Eds terrible sufferings /
were caused by a bullet wound that