New-York tribune., 1902-02-02
BOTH BIDLLES ARE DEAD
MRS. SOFFEL HAS A SLIM
CHANCE FOR LIFE.
LETTER FROM ED" DETAILING PLAN
OF ESCAPE. FOUND on WOMAN
AT THE HOSPITAL.

Butler Penn. Feb. i.-At the close OF a day
OF intense excitement and after many conflicting
stories had been told concerning the chances for
life Of the wounded Biddle brothers and Mrs.
Kate Suffel. the unexpected has happened. John
B.ddle, who until late this afternoon, con-
sidered the more likely of the brothers to escape
present death the first to go. He died at
"a o'clock. Edward Biddle died at IL O'Clock
Mrs Sonel developed symptoms OF pneumonia
this afternoon. after having come safely through
an operation this morning for the extraction OF
bullet The death Of Jack Biddle was
caused by the bullet wound in his abdomen and
bladder. Early in the day the physicians
thought peritontis was the principal danger in
his case but tonight internal hemorrhage set
in and he bed to death IN a short while
So long he able Jack extremely
talkative and was at times boastful But when
the shadow of death began to fall upon him and
he recognized t he became repeutant.
Il know" said he, that my time here Is
short and YOU say for me that l am
Christian and will die sincere believer in God.
l hope l will have strength enough TO say so
at the last. ] know 1 have taken part I'm many
wrongdoings, but I have never killed any man
and never implicated with any one who did.
7 wish I could see Mrs. Kahney. l would tell
her the truth about the killing of her husband.
This life has been pretty tough to me, and the
end cannot come to auckland l don't care
how"
A sister OF the R.ddles arrived in town this
evening and admitted to the jail. but
Ed" unable to recognize her
After consultation with the physicians at
the hospital District Attorney Haymaker de-
cided to allow Mrs Soffel to remain here. since
her condition is such that the trip to PittsburS
tonight might result fatally. Mrs. SoneI is
suffering much from her wound, and the at
tending physicians fear that her removal now
would cause gangrene to set in. Attorney Hay
maker said there would he decision made
upon the award Of the prize money until the
claims of the Butler people had been heard.
and the latter will take steps TO notify the
commissioners Of Allegheny County of their
claim
great crowd of people hung about the jail
doors all day. trying to get in to the two
criminals. The most persistent of the crowd
were women. many Of whom expressed the deep
est concern and sympathy for Ed" Biddle and
declared their belief in his innocence. This be-
lief seemed to deepen when it became known
that Ed" Biddle made a deathbed confession
TO the Rev. Father Walsh OF this place. last
night, declaring his innocence of the crime OF
shooting Kahney and Fitzgerald
One Of the sensational developments OF the
day which the authorities have tried to keep
Soffel when she searched at the hospital OF
a long letter from Ed" Biddle setting forth in
detail the plan for the escape of the brothers
from jail, naming their destination afterward,
etc
The letter clearly shows the hazardous under
takings of the infatuated woman to secure the
escape of the Biddles Since December . 1901,
they had been making preparations to escape.
The letter tells how Mrs. Sohe carried the
saws 10 the cells of the Biddles. 1t manifests
the extreme enumeration of Mrs. Soffel for the
convict and shows the wonderful influence Ed"
Biddle had Mrs. Soffel
Mrs Soffel fell in love with Ed" Biddle in
November. The burglar soon realized his power
over her. 1t as not long before he started TO
write love letters to her His affection was
reciprocated. About the early part of Decem-
ber he proposed a plan of escape TO her. She
consented 10 lend him her aid. Between De-
cember IA and Ii they had completed all ar
rangements TO escape from the jail. Then they
learned of the Governors respite. After this
Ed" Bidde almost persuaded Mrs. SoffeI to
fee with him and his brother. The contents of
the letter show II originally agreed that
Mrs Soffel was to leave the city for Canada on
the of the escape.