West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-01-31

flee, Changed Clothes and ESCAPED
Through Warden's Reodence.
Pittsburg, Jan. 3l.-JOhn and Ed
ward Biddle, the murdererS of Grocer
Thomas D. Kahney and Detective
Patrick Fitzgerald sawed the bars Of
their cells, overpowered and impris-
oned all the guards at the county Jail,
made their way to the open air
through the house of the warden and
disappeared.
With them went Mrs. Lucy Soffel,
wife of Jail Warden Peter K. Soffel,
who made the flight possible. For
the apprehension of the Biddles, dead
or alive, $4,000 is offered. Two who
opposed their leaving were hurt.
The Biddles were confined in cells
Nos. / and in B section, which Is
on the floor Of the prison cell depart.
ment, on a level with the Office of the
jail Three men were on night duIy
at the Jail. They were Night CLERK
James 'McGarey, cousin of Police
Magistrate David J. McGarey; Guard
George Kosslow, formerly of the cor.
oner's Office, where he was a deputy
coroner, and Charles D. Reynolds,
who was substitute, doing duty on
Wednesday night.
McGarey, the greater part of his
time, was in the front Office, the other
two men being on duty in the cell de.
partment.
John BiddIe Said He Was Sick.
John Biddle called to the guards
that he was sick. McGarey went to
the medicine chest and secured some
medicine for the complaining pris-
oner and took 1t to him. He carried
with him the keys of the Jail.
AS soon as McGarey came UP to
the cells John and Edward sprang out
and overpowered him, wrestling the
keys from him. They threw him over
the railing which is around an open.
ing above the tier Of cells underneath
the ones occupied by the Biddles.
The distance is 16 feet, and Judging
from McGarey's injuries, he must
have struck on his head. At the
Homeopathic hospital it was said that
his skull was crushed and that he is
otherwise seriously injured. Hearing
the scuff1e. the two guards at once
rushed to where the three men were
engaged. They did not succeed in
saving McGarey from going over the
railing. Reynolds tackled Edward,
who pulled a gun and shot him I'm the
right hip, after which he covered him
with THE revolver. Kosslow tried to Sc
cure John Biddle, but several shots
were fired at him. # The remaining
guard was marched at the muzzle CT
a gun to the jail dungeon below
Reynolds, who was shot, was next
placed In the dungeon with Kosslow
and McGarey was placed in a dungeon
cell adjoining. Ftef
Stopped TO Change Their Clothes.
Then. having the keys In their DOS
session. the Biddles went to the
guards wardrobe and took suits OF
their clothes. They left one suit Of
the prison uniform lying ON the floor
Of the ONCE sssrl
The day force comes on at 6:3A
O'Clock. About 10 minutes before
that time Deputy Warden James Mar.
shall and Guard Samuel Miller ar,
rived at the Jail and saw q patrol
wagon waiting to get into the Jail 20
deposit some prisoners. The police.
men could not get In, and after IN.
locking the outside door, Deputy
Marshall and Miller went inside. onlvI
to find the iron barred door. which Ia
at all times locked. ajar. and also the
one leading TO the reception room and
the one leading to the residence Of
Warden Peter K. Soffel. This latter
door leads through a hallway to the
Gtreet exit of the warden's residence.
the door Of which was unlocked
IL is presumed that the Biddles, ar.
ter having secured the KEYS. came ousI
Z 1erh -.