The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-04
Ed BlDDLE HAD A PILL
sTRYCHNINE IN HIS CLOTHING
Mrs. Soffel Relates More Details of
the Escape From the Pitts
burg Jail.

/ Butler, Pa. Feb 4.-Had Ed Biddie
failed in his plans to escape from the
Pittsburg Jail he was prepared to cheat
the hangman, and most likely would have
done so. This discovery was made in a
purely accidental way by Mrs. Mary Redd,
of Butler and whose son. Thomas, was in
the Jail here at the time Ed Biddle's
clothing was packed for shipment to pitts
burg with the body. Young Redd man
aged to secure a piece OF the strap on the
back of Biddle's trousers which he car
ried home as souvenir and turned over
to his mother. Mrs. Redd thought she
would rip the strap apart and with pair
from the outside cloth. She found
stryohndne pill sewed in between the
outside cloth and lining. There was
enough poison to kill two or three men,
Mrs. Soffel is still lying in the hospital,
and though still sick woman. her case is
not considered really serious. She made a
statement In which she said: II had not
intended going with tine Biddle boys on
the night Of their escape, but Eds en-
treaties won me over"
She told OF how she remained in the
library on Thursday morning, awaiting the
signal for the outbreak It was her in
tention to let the boys go and she would
meet them later. While sitting in the
library she was almost paralyzed when
the two brothers came crashing through
the door. In their excitement they had
lost the key to this door and had to break
1T down.
Ed asked me to come with them. Come
with u.s." he said to me. I resisted and
told them to go. They told nue. they had not
an instant to lose and if the officers were
to get away would be discovered. 1 tried
to persuade them to CO. Then I felt myself
giving way to Eds persuasions and yielded
We all dashed out on Ross street. We then
passed along the courthouse to the alley Ed
and Jack went out Grant street. and, crossing
the river, We met in Allegheny at their
friends house. Well. we could not remain
there, and we were soon out on the road
again. The night in the schoolhouse was per-
ishing cold. The exposure affected me great
ly. We secured sleigh and drove through
the country all night. The night was bitter
cold. There was no robe in the sleigh and I
suffered terribly. When daylight came was
nearly persisted by the cold.
The next day brought US to the terrible
scene. The boys learned that the detectives
were after US and they consulted about de-
Tending themselves Ed said to Jack. nIt,s
a life for a life; let's shoot them down The
boys drove on. They were bewildered about
the whereabouts of the detectives. They
thought the Pittsburg detectives wene behind
them. When they saw them appear Ed told
Jack to get ready. He recognized Detective
Roach. Detective McGovern got out of the
sleigh and was followed by the other two.
saw Detective McGovern fire. The shots
were returned by Ed and Jack Then there
was fusillade Of bullets. saw Ed and
Jack fall out Of the sleigh was shot The
horse took fright and ran away We were
forced to leave the jail before our arrange
ments were complete. I learned on wednes-
day that the bars on the doors OF the cells
on the range were to be inspected on Thurs
day. knew the sawed bars on Ed and Jacks
cell would be discovered. gained admittance
to the Jail and conveyed this information to
the boys. We then agreed to go that night.