The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-01
THE RIDDLES BATTLE
 WITH LAW MINl0NS
When Mrs. SOffel Saw Her Lover Fall She Attempted Suicide --Sensa-
 tiOnal Sequel to Escape.

The escape of the officers Is miraculous.
 The Riddles have demonstrated on sev-
 eral occasions that they are good marks
 men, and why they should have failed to-
 day to bring down their men is a mys-
 tery. After the Riddles fell to the snow- covered grouni, the officers picked up the apparently lifeless bodies of Mrs.
 Soffel and the Riddles and came back to
 Butler. bringing the stolen sleigh. patch
 ed-up harness and worn out horse with which the trio had tried so strenuously to
 get away toward Canada and liberty.
 The story of the fight as told by one
 of the detectives is as follows:
 "The Riddles were sitting on the right
 side of the cutter. Mrs. Soffel was on
 the left side. Hold up your hands and
 surrender" cried Detective McGovern. Ed Riddle jumped up from his seat and
 raising a shot gun fired at McGovern.
 He aimed badly and shot scattered on the
 road alongside McGovern. Detectives
 McGoyern and Roach discharged their
 winchesters at Ed Riddle. Both shots
 took effect. Jack Riddle raised from his
 seat and discharged his revolver at the
 three officers Detective Swinehearr
 steaded himself and fired his forty-five
 Colts revolver at Jack. The ball took
 effect in Jacks arm. Then the detec-
 lives opened fire on the boys in rapid
 SuCCeSSlOL uC SllOto hiADShSN eASa@A SSS
 of the sleigh. Ed fell sprawling on the
 snow and Jack fell on top of him. His
 fire arms fell alongside. The Biddle's
 horse then became frightened and ran away across a field It was at this 6me
 that Mrs. Soffei was seen to collapse In the sleigh. The detectives approached the wounded men and Detective Swine heart was closing in upon them when Detective McGovern called to him to stay back. that the Riddles were only feigning.
 Detective Roach saw Ed Riddle reach in his coat pocket as if for pistol and the detective shot him again. Then Mo- Govern ran up within five feet of the boys and emptied his Winchester into them The Riddles then yielded.
 After the Riddles yielded, Roach and McGovern handcuffed the Biddles' hands
 and feet and they were taken to Butler When the horse ran away Mrs. Sonei fell from the sleigh and was picked up | and placed in the detectives large sleigh l with her companions and all were taken l to the hospital at Butler.
 :. At the jail tonight Ed Riddle called for a priest and made the following state ments 4i
 II have been accused of great many serious crimes. I admit that could have committed many. the opportunities for them having presented themselves. l want to say now that did not Kill | Detective Fitzgerald nor did I shoot Thomas Kahney, nor was by brother im- plicated in the latter affair. Mrs. Soffel aided us in getting out of the county Jail and had 1t not been for her we would have made our escape today. She gave up everything for us and I was bound to back her. I told her I was guiltless of the crime for which I was about to
 be executed and she was impressed and yielded to my suggestion. planned 1t. :" Riddle shows signs of collapse and made a feeble effort to signal the priest. Father Walsh administered the solemn last rites of the dying and Riddle rolled over on his face and sighed. He was asked if he wanted any word taken to his brother and he shook his head mo-"