The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-04

GERS started westward and met the
B:ddles and Mrs. SUffel at McClure's
barn, two miles from Mount Prospect,
The Biddles having learned that they
were almost overtaken. and taking
what they considered the only chance
they had. drove eastward and met their
doom.
aimed with Winchester rifles and re-
voIvers of large calibre. They shot to
EIll and their aim was perfect. The
Biddles tried to Kill to the last of their
sizing. but not one of the eight off,
GERS has q wound as The result of the
battle.
When the detectives got within about
SIXTY yards of the fusltives they OPEN
Ell fire. The Biddles PROMPTLY answer
ed with shotguns and .evolvers.
Mrs. Soffel too. stood up in the sleigh
with a revolver in each hand and
oiazed away at her pursueTs. When
Ed. Biddle fell and she saw she was
.lpout to be captured she fired a bullet
into he- breast.
An examination by physicians shows
h a she will recover, as the bullet was
DETECTED by her corset and the wound
S comparatively slight.
Ed. Biddle got a bullet in the breast.
which penetrated his right lung and
will probably end his Life before mor1I-
ing.
John Biddle may recover, his wounds.
though numerous, failing to reach d
vital spot. The escape of the officers
- miraculous. The BiGdIes have demon
Strated on several occasions that they
are good marksmen and why they
should hav failed today to bring down
their men is q mystery.
After the Biddles fell to the snow
covered ground the officers picked up
EA~
Soffel and the Biddles and came back
t. Butler, bringing tic stolen sleigh,
PATCHED up harness and worn out horse
Tat the trio had tried so strenuously
to get away with toward Canada and
Liberty.
The story of the fight as told by one
of the detectives is as follows:
The Biddles were sitting on the right
side of the cutter. Mrs. Soffel was on
the left side. Hold up YOU hands and
surrender" cried detective McGoveru.
Ed. Biddle jumped up from his seat and
raising a shotgun. fired it at McGoverr.
He aimed badly and the shot ScaLteIed
on the road alongside of McGovern.
Detectives McGovern ana Roach it's
charged their Winchesters at I'll. Bid
die. Both shots took effect. Jack Bid
die raised from the seat and discharged
his revolver at the three officers.
Detective Swinehart steadleL himself
and fired his forty-five Colts revolver
at Jack. The ball took effect in Jacks
arm. Then the detectives opened ire on
the boys in rapid succession. The shots
knocked them out Of the sleigh, Ed.
fell sprawling on the snow and Jack
falling on top Of him.. Their fire arms
fell alongside Of them. The BiddleS'
horse then became frightened and ran
away across a Held. 1t was this time
hat Mrs. Soffel was seen to collapse in
the sleigh. The detectives approached
the wounded men and Detective Swine
hart was rushing In on them when de-
tective McGovern called to him to stay
back: that the Biddles were only .e:gn-
ing. Detective Roach saw Ed. Biddle
reach into his coat poke as II tor q
gun and the detective shot him again
Then detective McGovern ran up within
five feet of the boys and emptiei his
Winchester into them. The Riddles
then yielded.
After the Biddles yielded detective,
Roach and McGovern handcufed tht
Biddles' hands n feet and they were
taken to Butter.
Mrs. Soffel who had fallen from tint
sleigh when the horse ran away was
picked up and placed in the detectives
large sleigh with her companions and
taken to the hospital at Butler.
At the Jail tonight Ed. Biddle called
for a priest and made the followin.
statement:
"T have been accused OF a great many
| serious crimes. / admit .hls / could
| have committed many the oppUrtuIi-
| ties for them having presented tbru'.
selves. I want to say now that 1 die
not kill Detective Fitzgerald, nor did
shoot Thomas Mahney, nor was M
| brother implicated in the latter affair
Mrs. Soffel aided US in getting out o.
the county Jail. and had 1t not been for
| her we would have mace our escdpe to
day. She gave up everything for u.
and I was bound to back hs.. 1 tols
her I was guiltless OF the crime
for which I was about to be executed
and she was impressed and yielded t.
my suggestion. / planned It"
Biddle showed signs OF collapse an
made a feeble effort to signal tn
priest. Father Walsh administs red tn
solemn last rites of the dying n Bid
die rolled over on his face and sighed
He was asked If he wanted any wor'
taken to his brother. and he shook N
head mo"