The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-01
BiddIe Brothers Both Shot and
One May Die.
WOMAN WAS WOUNDED ALSO
She Shot Herself When She Saw Capture
Vas Certain, but Wound Was Not
s.rious-Biddles Returned the
Fire Of the Officers. bat
for Once Their Aim
Wss Bad.
{By Associated Prc,s.)

(By Associated Prcss.)
PITTSBuRG, PA. Jan. a1--Edwar1
Biddle in Jail. dying; John Biddle, riddle,t
with buckshot and in a precarious conoi-
ton, and Mrs. Peter x Soffel. lying in
the hospital with sclf-inuicted bullet
wound in the breast, Is the sequel OF the
sensational escape of the Biidle brothers.
from the Allegheny county Jail, aided by.
Mrs. Soffel. the wife of the jail warden.
on Thursday morning
The story OF the close oc the Biddle
tragedy. which came at 5:45 this after
noon. was a thrilling one The scene was
a snow-covered road two miles east or
Prospect, Butler county, near Mount
Chestnut, and the exact place was at
McClures barn. where two double team
slelShs, nlled with eight officers three OF
them Pttsburg detecrves-John Roach.
Albert Swinehart and Charles Mctiovern--
met the two Biddles in a one-horse sleigh.
stolen at PerrysviIle, and at once opened
T fire on the trio.
Z The Biddles returned the FIRE after
jumping out of the sleigh.
Edward Biddle was shot in the left urri,-
in the breast and in one leg.
John Bido1e was riddled with buckshot
in the breast and head
The Pittsburs officers were met at But
ler this afternoon by Deputy Sheriffs
Rainey and Hoon an0 Officers Frank Hol-.
iiday and Aaron Thompson, the latter
under command of Chief OF Police Robert
Ray, of Butler.
ON THEIR TRAIL.
The officers We're certain that they were
on the right trail. 1t was only question
of time when they would catch ur to tho
as n fy,
companion.
Tho Bfddles ana Mrs. Soffel ate dinner
at J. ]. Stephens. at Mt. Chestnut i've
miles east Of Butler. They had made a
detour OF the town of Butler. and after
going several miles east turned north and
then west The Pittsburg officers, only d
few miles in, the rear, took the wrong
road for about eight miles. but when they
found their mistake they made UP for lost
time by telephoning and telegrap aphins
ahead for fresh horses.
They reached Mount Chestnut not less
than half an hour after the Biddles andt
Mrs. Soffel. At this point William Wat
son, storekeeper. had fresh horses await
ing them, and the chase for life began
anow.
The two sleighs with the eight officers
aboard started westward and met the
Biddles and Mrs. Sonel at McC1ure's
Biddles having learned that they were
almost overtaken, and taking what they
considered the only chance they had.
drove eastward and met their doom.
The Pittsburg and other officers were
armed with Winchester rifles and revol-
vers of large calibre. They shot to kilt
and their aim was perfect. The Biddies
tried to kill to the last Of their string,
but not one OF the eight officers has
wound as the result of the battle.
OPENED FIRE
When the detectives got within about
sixty yards of the fugitives they opened
fire. The Biddles promptly answered
with shot and rvoIver. When Ed Bid {
die fell, and she saw she was about to-
be captured, Mrs. Soffel fired a bullet into
her breast. An examination by physi-
clans shows that she will recover, as
the bullet was detected by her coret and
the wound is comparatively slight.
Ed. Biddle got bullet in the breast,
which penetrated his right lung. and
will probably end his life before morn:
ing. John Biddle may recover, his
wounds. though numerous, falling to
reach Il vital spot. The escape OF the
officers is miraculous The Biddles have
demonstrated on several occasions that
they are good marksmen. and why they
should have failed to-day to bring down
their men is a mystery.
After the Biodles fell to the snow-cov-
cred ground. the officers picked up the
apparently lfeless bodies of Mrs Soffsl
and the Biddies and came back to But
ler, bringing the stolen sleigh, patched
up harness and worn-out horse that the.
trio had tried so strenuously to get
away with toward Canada and liberty.
STORY OF THE FIGHT.
The story of the fight as told by one %
the detectives is as follows:
The Biddfes were sitting on the right
side of the cutter; Mrs. Soffel was on ths
left side.
..Hold up your hands and surrender
cried Detective McGoveru.
Ed Biddfes jumped from him seat ana
raising a shotgun, free! it at IcGovern,
He aimed badly and the shot scattereo
ON the road alongside Of McGovern.
Detectives NcGovern and Roach dt1.
charged their Winchesters at Ed Bitdte.
Both shots took effect. Jack Biddlo
raised from the seat and discharged his
revolver at the three officers. Detectivo
Swinehars steadied himself and tired MIS-
revolver at Jack. The ball took effect in,
Jacks arm. Then the detectives opened
fire on the boys in rapid succession. Th0
shots knocked them out of the sleigh. Ed
fell sprawling or the snow and Jack ten
on top OF him. Their firearms fell along
sid, of them The BidcAes' horse then
Z became frightened away cross q field.
TT was at this time that Mrs.
Scffel was seen to collapse In the sleigh
The detectives approached the woundeo
r,en and Detective Swinehart was rush.
inc. il. on them when Detective AIcGoyern
called to him to stay back that the Btd-.
+ s1les,. were only feigniug. Detective Roach
saw Ed Biddle reach in his coat pocker
AS il for a gun and the detective shor
{ him again Then Detective MeGoEern
ran up within tive feet Of the boys ana