The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-04
MRS. SOFFEL'S
THRILLING TALE
RECITES INCIDENTS OFF THE GET
AWAY FROM THE JAIL
And Tells of the Meeting With the
Detectives and the Shooting
Match That Ended in
Death of BiddIes.

PITTSBURG, Feb S.-The only matter
now Of anything like absorbing interest
in connection with the Biddles is the fate
of Mrs Soffel and anything she may say
concerning the escape and subsequent
capture of the trio. She is lying in the
Butler hospital, and though still a sick
woman, her case is not considered really
serious.
She made statement tonight to some
newspaper men In the presence Of DR..
Bricker, in which she said:
Il had not intended going with the
Biddle boys on the night of their escape,
but Eds entreatieS won me over.
She told of how she remained in the
library on Thursday morning awaiting
the signal for the outbreak. It was her
intention 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 it down.
Ed Made Her Go.
ED asked me to come with them.
Come with u.s. he said to me. I resisted
and told them to go. They told ne they
had not an instant to lose. and If the Of
dcers were to get away I would be dis
covered, they insisted. Ed and Jack
went to Allegheny, where we met at
their friends house Well, we could not
remain there, and we were soon out on
the road again.
1.-THE night in the schoolhouse was per-
fishing cold. The exposure affected me
greatly. Now, 1 want to say the state
ments that I was intoxicated are untrue
Ed and Jack bought half pint CT
whisky, and l drank some Of 1t. 1t SEEM
ed to stimulate me. Now, that was the
only time 1 drank on the trip
ED and Jack took several drinks and
1 told them to go sparingly on it as they
woSld not be able to get any more with
out detection. We secured a sleigh and
drove through the country. The night
was bitter cold. There was no robe in
the sleigh and I suffered terribly. When
daylight came had nearly persisted from
the cold
well, the next day brought us to the
terrible s%ne. We drove through Butler
and knew that we had been suspected.
story of the Battle.
Then we soon reached Mount Chest
nut and getting something to eat started
again. I was feeling Ill and frightened.
The boys learned that the detectives
were after us and they consulted aobut
defending themselves. Ed said to Jack:
It's a life for a life; let's shoot them
told Jack to get ready. He recognized
Detective Roach.
Detective McGovern got out of the
sleigh and was followed by the other two.
I saw Detective McGovern fire. The
shots were returned by Ed and Jack.
Then there was a fusillade Of bullets. l
saw Ed and Jack fall out of the sleigh.
l was shot The horse took fright and
ran away.
id rascals, and pointed his gun at me.
Detective Swnehart called to him to
have mercy on me, that it was only a
woman, and not to shoot me- The horse
turned into the field and made circle
into the road again.
Mrs. soNeI Jumped.
ST did not fall out Of the sleigh; I
jumped out. I now remainder setting my
foot or the step and then In jumping /
fell. That was all / remember. Detec-
tives SWinehart ran to me and calling to
me he asked me IL I was hurt and l said
I was shot. He raised me up and held my
head on his knees. Then 1 felt myself
fainting, and the next thing 1 knew l
was in the sleigh. We arrived at the Jail
and the rest is all known.
1--WE were forced to leave the Jail be-
fore our arrangements were complete.
learned on Wednesday that the bars on
the doors of the cells on the range were
to be inspected on Thursday. l knew the
sawed bars on Ed and Jacks cell would
be discovered I gained admittance to the
Jail and conveyed this information to the
boys. We then agreed to go that night.
I did not intend to go with them. They
were to make their flight alone. in
tended to go to the country for a few
days ard then meet them.
Il will say nothing about my future
plans until have consulted a lawyer"
To prevent the demolition of the cof-
fms and the mutilation Of the bodies of
Edward and John Bi6dle. which, in all
probability would follow their burial if
the spot We're known generally, Harry
Biddle has arranged a secret plan to dis
pose of his brothers remains without let
ting the public know where or when the
irternaent will take Mace.