The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-01-31

pittsburg, Pa, Jan. b. Edward
and John Biddle, awaiting execution
in the county Jail for the murder Of
Thomas d. Kahney, grocer Of Mount
Washington, oyerpowered guards at
four o'clock Thursday morning and
escaped. Both prisoners had been pro-
vidcd with saws with which they cut
the barg IN their cells and were ready
at amy moment 10 make an opening
sufficiently large to pass through The
prisoners oepupied adjoining cells on
the second range.
a few minutes before four o'clock
one Of the Eiddies called 70 James
MeGeary who Aed cihrge Of the OUT
sies eates, and askcdfor some cramp
medicine n q hurry saying his
brother was dangerously sick. Me-
Gcary FASTENED to ihc cell with the
medicine when John Biddle sprang
through the opening in the cell and
scizing the guard around the waist,
hurled him over the railing to the
stone floor beneath. q distance Of l6
feet. Edward Biddle joined his
brother Immediately and both, with
drawn rcvolvers. hurried TO the first
floor, where they met Guard Rey-
nolds and shot him. There were but
three men on duty. Nnd the third was
on one Of the upper ranges. lie was
ordered down at the point Of re-
yolvers and the three guards were
put in the dungeon The keys were
taken from Keeper McGeary. and the
two desperate prisoners had clear
feld. The only persons who witnessed
the escape We're prisoners who could
not interfere or give an alarm. The
Biddles went to the wardrobe. where
The guards keep their clothes. and
each put on q new suit. They then
unlocked the outside gates ana
passed out into Ross street.
The escape of the Riddles has been
explained. Warden Peter X. scfiel
has authorized its publication Il is
The allegation that his wife is re-
sponsible fer the furnishing Of the
revol,ers and saws 10 the Bid1ies
which enabled them TO escape In
her infaiuafion for the handsome
desperndo. Edward Biddle. it It al
legged that she has left her husband
and her four children, and il is sup
posed to meet the escaped convicts
at 9 place agreed upon.
Tho escape is as unparalleled as is
the record OF the Biddles f5r crime
throughout this vicinity. The police
all over the city are searching for
the fugiiires. While it is not thought
they have gone iar. the shrewdness
Of the two criminals is such thar ihc
police have a herd problem 10 solve
IN their rccapture. The two guards
injured win probably recover. The
bullet wound sustained bv Reynolds
is not regarded as dangerous. The
physicians have been unable 10 ascer-
tain as yet the FUN extent of Mo-
Geary's wounds Ills head IS badly
confused. but there are no signs that
his skull was fractured by his l6-foot
fall
An Investigation dieclosed the fact
that Mrs. soffel had taken an Of her
best clothes with her. The warden's
orercoat IS also missing Warden Sof- /
fel is broken-hearted. Tie IS COM
pleiely unnerfed aud with difficulty
could rcpress his tears. It has bren
known for several weeks that Mrs.
Soifel was taking an interest in the
Biddies and il said that She frequently
furnished them with dainties outside
their usual prison fare. The county I
commissioners met at once and of \
fered reward Of 5000 for the re-
capture Of the 1nurderers