The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1902-02-05
.MURDERERS ESCAPE.
They Shot Down Two Guards and Fled
From Pittsburg I1il.
ASSISTED BY THE wARrnws WIFE.
Fugitives are the Bidd,e Brothers
Who Killed Grocer Whom They
Attempted to Rob and an Of
ficer Who, Pursued Them.

Pittsburg, Jan 20.-Edward and
John Biddle. awaiting execution in.the
county Jail Tor the murder of Thomas !
d. Kahney, Mount Washington gro
Ger, overpowered the guards and es-
capped. Both prisoners had been pro- |
vided with saws with which they cut |
the bars in their cells and were ready |
at any moment to make an opening |
sufficiently large to pass through. The |
prisoners occupied adjoining cells on |
the second range. They had evidently |
been preparing for escape for some
time and had assistance from the out
side, as both were armed with revolv-
ers. One of the Biddles called to
James McCreary, who had charge of
the outside gates, and asked for some
cramp medicine in hurry. saying his
brother was dangerously sick. Nc
Geery FASTENED to the cell with the
medicine, when John Biddle sprang
through the opening in the cell and
ssizing the guard around the waist,
hurled him over the railing to the
stone floor beneath, a distance of 16
feet Edward BiCdIe Joined his broth
er Immediately and both with drawn
revolvers, hurried to the first floor,
where they met Guard Reynolds and
shot him. There were but three men
on duty. The third was on one of the
upper ranges. He was ordered down
at point of revolvers, and the three
guards were put in the dungeon. The
keys were taken from Keeper Nc
Geary. and the two desperate prison
ers had clear field. The only per-
sons who witnessed the escape were
prisoners who could not interfere or
give an alarm. The Biddles went to
the wardrobe, where the guards kept
their clothing. and each put on a new
suit They then unlocked the outside
gates and passed out into the street.
The two guards injured will prob
ably recover. The bullet wound sus-
tanned by Reynolds is not revEarded
as dangerous. The physicians have
been unable to ascertain as yet the
full extent of McGeary's wounds. His
head is badly confused. but there are
by his 16-foot fall.
Crime the Biddles COMMITTEES.
Several months preceding the Kah-
ney murder, daring burglaries were of
almost nightly occurrence. The po-
lice seemed powerlsss to prevent them
and nervous citizens retired at night
In fear and trembling. The morning
OF April II. Mrs. Kahney was awaken
ed by burglars and called to her hus-
band, cripple. who was sleeping In
an adjoining room. AS he entered
the door of his wife's room he was
shot dead. The burglars then fed. A
few hours later Detective Patrick
Fitzgerald and two officers surprised
the Biddle brothers at their homo on
Fulton street, but before they were
captured Fitzgerald was killed and
Edward Biddle, who shot him, was
dangerously wounded. Walter Dor
man. another of the gang and two wo-
men, Jessie Bodine and Jennie See
bers, were also arrested Dorman
turned states evidence and the two
Biddles were convicted of Kahney's
murder and sentenced to hang Feb.
16. Three days before the date sct
for Johns execution, they were re.
spited until Feb. rs and 27 by Gov
ernor Stone. 50 that their cases could
&c before the pardon board at its reg.
ular meeting. Dorman is still in jail
awaiting sentene. The women were
released from custody.
Edward Biddle has served time in
the Ohio penitentiary and at the In
diana penitentiary at Michigan City.
Infatuatfon Of Warden's Wife.
The escape of the Biddles has been
explained. Warden Peter X. Soffel
authorized its publication It is the
allegation that his wife is responsible
for furnishing the revolvers and saws
to the Biddles which enabled them to
escape. In her infatuation for the
handsome desperado, Edward Biddle,
it is alleged. she has left her husband
and four children presumably to meet
the escaped convicts at a place agreed
upon. The story Of the matter is
brief. Mrs. Scoffel was the only per-
son admitted to the Jail since last
Sunday. Wednesday afternoon she
visited them during the warder's ABB
sence. Wednesday night she retired
ut o'clock. She told her husband
that she was going to visit sister at
Mcdonald and that she would retire
early that she could get an early start,
Warden Soffel was about the jail until
about IL o'clock, then retired to his
room which is separate from Mrs.
Soffels room. When he awoke he ask
ed for Mrs. Soffel and was informed
that she was absent. Later, when the
details OF the escape became known
he telephoned Mcdonald and was in
formed that Mrs. Scofrel was not
there. Warden Soffel Immediately
made a confession of his suspicious.
District Attorney John c. Haymak-
er had conference with Warden Sof-
Eel and to him the warden told his sus-
pieions concerning Mrs soffel. War
den Soffel made inquiries at the homss
OF all of his wite's relatives, but was
unable to find any trace OF her. An
investigation disclosed that she had
taken all of her best clothes with her.
The warden's overcoat is also missing.
Warden snrel is hroken-h arted. He
Is completely unnerved and with diff
nculty could repress his tears. It has
been known for several weeks that
Mrs. Soffel was taking an interest in
the Biddles and It is said that she fire.