The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-01

Butler, Pa, Feb. 1.-The Biddle broth
ers, who escaped from the Allegheny
County jail in Pittsburg Thursday morn
ing, and Mrs. Kate DIETRICH soffel, wife
OF Warden Peter soffel. were captured
yesterday afternoon at Prospect, about
nine miles west. after a bloody conflict
between Detectives Charles McGovern.
John Roach and Albert III. swInehart
Ed Biddle is lying in the Butler County
Jail in dying condition; Jack Biddie.
hi. brother, is in the adjoining cell, rid,
died with buckshot. His condition is not
considered serious.
Mrs soffel shot herself in the battle.
She placed revolver 10 her left breast
and drove the bali clear to the back
but her condition Is not serious. She is
now In the Butler County General hos
pital.
The detectives are uninjured. There
were about % shots exchanged I'm the
fray The capture was completed about
one and a half miles from Prospect.
The Riddle brothers who were under
sentence OF death for the murder or
Thomas kahney, escaped from the Ala
ghanAy County Jail in Pittsburg Thursday
morning. after saving their way through
the bars OF their cell and throwing one
guard over the railing To the stone heor
1s feet below.
Mrs sorel the wife Of the warden.
had furnished them with the saws and
the revolvers and the men escaped
through the warden's house, which ad-
ioins the Jail Mrs. sorel left with the
Riddles. the three remaining hidden In
Allegheny. and left In the evening. walk
ing on the plank road toward Butler.
foh
sleigh from a farmer near Perrysvilie.
The fact that a sleigh had been stolen
was telephoncd 20 Pittsburg. and tho Of
ficers were thus put on their track. Yes
terday word was telephoned 10 Pittsburs
that sleigh containing two men ard
woman. the latter half frozen had passed
along the road near Prospect.
Detectives Jonn Roach, Albert Swine
heart and Charles McGovern were ordered
out from Pittshurg to Butler. Here they
got telephone message saving that the
party of fugitlves had been At Cooper
town. Il miles from, Butler. The detec-
tiv-s took a two-horse sleigh driven nv
James snyder and started out on the road
toward ihe Newcastle pike, ard st
farm, house they learned In an hour that
IN. sleigh containing the men and woman
had passed.
They got the same information at q
crist mill farther on. At Mount chest
nut they learned that the sleigh had gons
through. Here they received = telephone
message that the party had taken dinner
az a hotel and were hitchirg NO to depart.
The detectives hurried on and were Joined
by a sleigh containing number of But
Ter citis~re. among them the chief 81
police of Butler.
Half way between Mount Chestnut and
Prospect the detectives saw their quarry
on little rise IN the road coming to-
ward them McGoverr and Roach got
their Winchesters ready and Swinehart
rulled his revolver McGovern recognized
the Riddles when the two sleishs were lco
wards apart ard at the same moment
the desperate fugitives saw that they
were cornered and prepared for a bat
tie - the death.
FIERCE BATTLE.
The detectives sprang from their sleigh
snd called on the Biddles TO surrender.
Ed Ridde rose in his seat and taking
careful and deliberate aim with HIS shot
gun, fred at McGovern--but the load
scattered harnnlessiy On the road siong-
side the detective. McGcvern and Roach
fred ar the men. who sat together. while
Mrs. Sofrel sat on one side. Jack Biddle
spranc to an upright position and fired
three shots az the detectives; but Swine
hart. steadyins himself and aiming. fired
bullet from a AZ Colts revolver that
disa hled Jacks arm. er
McGovern rushed forward and literally
shot the two men out of the sleigh. I'D.
Ri6dle stumbled out on the road ana
Jack. who had been trying 10 protect thc
woman by interposing his body between
her and7he rain of bullets iron, the Of
fcers guns. fell on tor OF his orothcr.
Their weapons fell alongside OF them.
Mrs sofYe collapsed IN the sleigh. and
the horse ran away but was caught by
the men IN ths other sleigh VI pursuers.
who had come up At the last moment, In
time to fre a volley at the Blddles that
went wild.
YIELDED At LAST.
The detectives approached the wound
ed men cautiously Roach saw Ed. Bid
die reach into his coat pocket. where a
revolver was afterwards found. and shot
him again. Then Detective McGovern
ran up within five feet and hred his Win
chester at the brothers.
The Riddles Yielded, and the detectives
Handwriting them and Stacking their
legs, brought them 20 Butler. Mrs. SoHel
was made as comfortable as possible In
| the sleigh and was brought 20 the hos
pitai here. None OF the detectives we're
hurt.
The shotgun which Jack Diddle bad
was stolen from the hotel at which the
party had eaten dinner
brought into the jail Il was thought I'D
was dying He asked for priest and
Father Walsh was summoned. before
talking privately 10 the priest Ed spoke
10 the detectives.
II have been accused of great many
serious crimes" he said. II adnh; that
could have committed many. The oppor-
tunities presented themselves. 7 want 90
say now that did not XIII Detective Fitz-
gerald nor did 7 shoot Thomas kehney'
nor was my brother implicated n me at
fair. Mrs Sofre sided us IN getting out
Of the county Jail Had u NOT been for
her We would have made our escape. She
gave up everythlnp FOR us srd 4 was
bound 10 hack her. did not shoot her
"Oh Father" ne exclsimcd to me
priest bless me and tell mo that int
sins are forgiven
Although have been pictured to you
s a desperate man" Piddlr continued
II still have some heart and gratitud'
for the woman Who helped us 10 escap'
She merely did n out Of good feeiin'