Evening star., 1902-02-01
soFrEL WAS cHLoRoFoRMED.
Jail Warden Makes New Charge
Against His Wife.

Jail Warden Makes New Charge
Against His Wife.
PITTSBURG, February 1.-District Attor-
ney John C. Haymaker left for Butler at
1915 o'clock this morning over the Pitts
burg and Western railroad. He stated that
he did not think he would have any diff
Guilty in Strengthening out the tangle at
Butler in connection with the arrest of the
Biddles, and also said he was of the opin-
ion that if it was at all feasible the Biddles
would be removed to this city at the earliest
possible moment. Much depended, he
stated on what condition the prisoners
were in, and that he could not say definitely
as to what action he could take until he
had investigated for himself.
The declaration by Edward Biddle that he
did not shoot Detective Fitzgerald and was
not implicated in the Kahney murder Is
given no credence by Superintendent of
Police Demmel and Detective Kelly.
AS to the Biddes' declaration that neither
of them was at the kahney house the
night of the murder, Detective Kelly said:
THAT is absurd. Fred Ohlinger positively
identified them, as did several others. The
SeeberS woman was accounted for that
night. The Biddles' statement in this re-
gard is absurd, as a preponderance of evil
dence shows"
Warden SOfel Was ChlOrOfOrmed.
Former Warden Soffel made the startling
fiuence of chloroform during the night
when the Biddles broke jail. Mr.. soffel
believes the anesthetic was administered
by his wife.
The Butler officers demand half the re-
ward of 5000, and in order to hold the
prisoners warrants were sworn out for the
Biddles charging them with felonious
shooting in attempting to kill Mrs Soffel.
District Attorney Haymaker says the po-
sition taken by the Butler officials is wholly
untenable, and steps will be taken at once
to compel them to relinquish their claims.
as a prisoner. Mr. Haymaker will prefer
charges against her of felonious assault and
battery and aiding and assisting prisoner
to escape from a place of confinement.
BIDDLEs SAID TO BE DYING.
Mrs. soHers Condition is. Also Precar-
iOus-Suffers Keen Remorse.
BUTLER, Pa, February 1, 1:20 pm
The Biddles are believed to be dying and,
contrary to expectations, Jack may pass
away first.
Inflammation has set in in his bowels
which were torn to pieces with bullet
wounds, and 1t Is said he cannot live long.
Ed. Biddle is in dying condition. He is
in convulsions, and the death rattle has
been detected in his throat.
Mrs. Soffel has developed pneumonia. and
her condition is more serious than ever.
The change In Mrs Soffel's condition Is
due to her long, wild ride through the win
try air and the exposure resulting from in
sufficient clothing and lack of good food,
and also from the intense excitement and
strain under which she has la4ored ever
since she fed with the murdererA
Her condition is precarious.
Mrs. Dietrich, her mother, visited her tos
day, and in response to the question as to
whether there was anything she wanted
done, she replied:
There IS nothing to do; moth to do"
Tossing on her bed, she said:
"Oh, do not know how / could have
done it, don't know; 1 don't know l am
a wicked woman, but hope God will spare
thing"