The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-04

After this Ed. Biddle almost persuaded
Mrs. Soffel to fly with him and his
brother. The contents Of the letter show
it was originally agreed that Mrs. Sof-
fel was to leave the city for Canada on
the eve Of the boys escape
The Letter in part follows: When I
first started writing you I did not love
you. Now 7 have learned to love you
better than my very life. What 1 want
to say is this: We were searched Dret-
ty close today and those fellows would
swear on a stack of bibles ten feet high
that we could not nave had this stuff
on US since Saturday. So that you : e',r
yourself OF all susp- cion, without the FL
low where you bought the saws would
come to the surface, They never could
convict you. but some people might sus-
pect YOU That would cut no figure.
They never could prove it to save their
lives.
"It would be. Of course. darling. for
you to stay at home until I could come
and get you. OF course. it would be
risking my freedom and life again to
do so. but I would risk more than that
for you. if possible. You musc not
any reason. as I know you lave, you
must not fail to see that have risked
all that you have given me right back
for you. to screen and protect you. Yes,
darling, if I did not love You as dear as
life. I would have left this place last
Friday night.
1T would be easier for us 20 get away
if you stayed at home on account Of
the warden, you Know. In case you
shall not want to go, go to the post
office at Homestead about March 18th
and call for mail under the name Of
Mrs. Charles Mcdonald. You will get
letter telling you where am and how
I am TO get you. 1 want you to suit
yourself in this matter. my own darling,
but would rather you would go tomor-
row just as 1 have direere1.
Watch the papers close. and if you
see they have traced us ny part of thz.
way, leave Toronto on the quiet and go
to Montreal. Leave letter in the To-
ronto office for me and as soon as you
get the letter in Montreal write me a
letter to the postoffice there, all in signs,
where you are. Montreal is about 25O
miles further north. Keep low until /
reach YOU.
"OhI my darling, if could only hold
you in my arms, once, press yuu
to my heart, kiss your dear eyes, then
YOU are mine forever, or until death
claims us both together. if you 20 and
say to yourself. I want Ed. or none on
this earth Hide your morphine in the
lining of your dress somewhere. so If
you are searched none could find it. and
in case the worst comes to the worst,
wait until you are alone, because if any
one knew you took it the doctors would
pump it out with a stomach pump.
Now. pet, if you go Monday. let me
| know as early as you can. Come elise
to the window and say I will GO. for
can't see half you say If it Is very light
| outside. If you go tomorrow Will then
| now, dear. be sure and don't keep ire
| any longer, pet.
| If you were to let me go ahead and
then get me caught I would kill every
| copper in the place and Dorman with
them; and then myself. I'll tell you
I'm not to be betrayed. I don't say, my
| dear. that you would try to do me
wrong. but you're a woman, and %, as
| Caangable as one, ami so I thought
would remind you. knowing that a wo-
| nan don't look very deep into things
Let a woman know that you love hel
and the jig is up.
Yours. ED"
From the statement made this morn.
ing by Jack" Biddle in his cell it i:
evident that the escaped convicts anC
their accomplice had arranged to com.
init suicide in case their capture be-
came imminent.
Doctors Greer and Bicker. who have
Keen attending the two Biddles mad,
a report today that apparently confirm.
Jack Bodies story that the fugitive:
had tried to. kill themselves. They haC
come to this conclusion after a com
| r1ete examination and a partial prob.
ing Of the wounds OF both Of the men
Ed. Biddle had several powder mark.
! on his left breast. which would go Il
show that he attempted to kill himself
In Jacks mouth are three bulle
hounds, which would be prima faci.
| evidence that he wanted to rid tn,
world OF himself. One of the bullets
which evidently came from a revolver
carried away a portion Of his tonsil
which the doctors say could only hap
pen by the holding OF revolver to hi,
own mouth.
When you want a physic that Is mild
and gentle. easy to take and pleasant