Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-01-31
WARDEN'S wife AIDS
ESCAPE OF CONVICTS
Was infatuated With One of
the Criminals.
CAVE THEM SAWS AND PISTOL

GAVE THEM SAWS AND PISTOL
Edward and John BiddIe, Awaiting Ex-
ecution at Pittsbure for the Murder
of Grocer T. D. Rahney, OVerpower
Guards and Make Good Their Escape.
Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 30-Edward and
John Biddle, awaiting execution in the
county Jail for the murder of Grocer
Thomas d. Kahney, of Mount Wash
ington, overpowered the guards at
o'clock this morning and escaped
Both prisoners had been provided
with saws with which they cut the
bars in their cells and were ready at
any moment to make an opening sutfi-
ciently 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 revol-
vers.
Shortly before o'clock one of the
Biddles called to James McGeary, who
had charge of the outside gates, and
asked for some cramp ma$4cine in a
hurry, saying mis- brother was danger
ously sick.
McGeary hastened to the cell with
the medicine, when John Biddle sprang
through the opening in the cell, and
seizing the guard around the waist
hurled him over the railing to the
stone floor beneath, a distance of 1G
feet
Edward Biddle joined his brother
Immediately and both, with drawn re.
volvers, hurried to the first floor,
where they met Guard Reynolds and
shot him.
There were but three men on duty
and the third was on one of the up
per ranges. He was ordered down at
the point of the revolvers and the
three guards were put in the dungeon.
The keys were taken from Keeper
McGeary, and the two desperate pris
oners had a 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 Ross street
The escape was not discovered un-
til the daylight guards came on duty
at o'clock. They were informed by
prisoners where the night guards had
been put, and they were soon released
from the dungeon and sent to the
homeopathic hospital
For several months preceding the
Kahney murder daring burglaries were
of a>most nightly occurrence. The po-
lice seemed powerless to prevent them
and nervous citizens retired at night
in fear and trembling. On the morn
ing of April II last Mrs. Kahney was
awakened by burglars and called to
her husband cripple, who was sleep
ing in an adjoining room with one of
the children.
AS he entered the door of his wifes
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
home on Fulton street, but before
they were captured Fitzgerald was
killed, and Edward Biddle, who shot
him, was dangerously wounded. Wal
ter DOrman, another of the gang, turn.
ed states evidence and the two Bid
dies were convicted of Kahneys mur
der and sentenced to be hanged, John
on the 14th of this month, and Edward
on the 18th, but three days before the
date set for Johns execution they
were respited until Feb. 25 and 27 by
Governor Stone, so that their cases
could go before the pardon board at
its coming meeting.
The entire detective force is at work
on the case, but up to 10 o'clock there
was no clew as to the direction the
murderers had taken.
The escape of the Biddles has been
explained. Warden Peter K. Soffel
has authorized it's publication.
1t is the allegation that his wife is
responsible for the furnishing of the
revolver and saws to the Biddles
which enabled them to escape.
In her infatuation for the hand
some desperate, Edward Biddle, it Is
alleged that she has left her husband
and her four children, and it is sup
posed is to meet the escaped conVicts
at place agreed upon.
The story of the matter is brief
Mrs. Biddle was the only person admit
ted to the Jail since last Sunday. Yes
terday afternoon she visited them dur
ing the Warden's absence.
Last evening she retired at 8
o'clock. She told her husband she was
going to visit sister at Mcdonald
and that she would retire early so that
she could get an early start.
Warden Soffel was about the jail
until after IL o'clock. He retired to
his room, which is separated from
Mrs. Soffel's, shortly before 1 o'clock
When he awoke this morning he ask
ed for Mrs. Soffel and was informed
that she was absent. Later, when the
details of the escape became known
he telephoned to Mcdonald and was
informed that Mrs. Soffel was not
there.
uyor1o,o -