Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-03
FIGHTING LIKE DEMONS
MURDERERS CAPTURED
With Woman They Turn
Weapons On Them
selves When Hope
Is Gone.

PITTSBURG. Pa. January so.-Edward
and John BIddie. awaiting execution in
the county salI Tor the murder Of grocer
Thomas D Kahney, q. Mount Washing
ton. overpowered the guards at o'clock
this morning and escaped.
Both prisoners had been Frovided with
saws with which they cut the bars in
their cells and we're ready at any mo-
ment TO make an opening sufficiently
large TO pass through
Shortly before 4 O'Clock one OF the Bid
dies called to James McGeary, who had
charge OF the outside gates. and asked
for some cramp medicine in a hurry say
Tag his brother was dangerously sick.
ATcGeary FASTENED 20 the cell with the
medicine. when John Biddle sprang
through the opening in the cell end. seiz-
ing the guard around the waist, hurled
him over the railing TO the stone moor
beneath. a distance OF sixteen reet
Edward Biddle Joined his brother i'm
rnediateIy and both. with drawn revolvers
hurried to the first floor. where they met
Guard Reynolds and shot him.
49, There were but three men on duty and
the third was on one Of the upper ranges.
He Was ordered down at the point OF the
IN the dungeon
TIE keys we're taken from Keeper Nc
Geary and the two desperate prisoners
had 4 clear field. The only persons who
witnessed the escape were prisoners, VINO
could not interfere OF give an alarm,
The B1ddies went 20 the wardrobe where
the guards kept their clothing, and each
put en- a new suit They then unlocked
the outside gates and passed out into Ross
street
The escape OF The Biddies has been ex-
planned Warden Peter X SoEel has au-
thorized It's publication
II Is IDENTIFICATION that hts wife = re
.sponslbiel for the furnishing OF the revol-
yer and saws 20 the BiddieSn which en-
abied item TO escape
In her infatuation for the handsome
desperado. Edward sBiddIe. Il Is alleged
thsr she has left her husband and her
f1ur children. and Il Is supposed Is 20
meet shs escaped convicts at place
agreed upon
BUTLER. Pa. Feb. 1.-The fugitive
Biddle brothers ana Mrs soffel. wife OF
the Pittshurg taller. who aided the muir
Gerers 10 escape. were overtaker by p0-
lice and detectives near here yesterday
afternoon. and after a desperate battle
The trio were gaptured. frightfully iaeer-
ated With bullets
Both men and the woman turned their
weapons upon themselves when they SAN
:. eSrara rs haTnla - 4.
The Pirtsburg officers were met at But
ser yesterday afternoon 1y Deputy Sher-
IFS Rainey and Hoon and Odicers Frank
holiday and Aaron Thompson. the, latter
under command OF Chief OF Police Robert
RAY. OF Butler The officers were certain
that they were on the right trail. II was
only a question OF time when they would
catch up with the escaping condemned
murderers and tleir companion
when the detectives got within 90 yards
Of the fugitives they opened fire. The
Biddles promptly answered with shotguns
and revolvers- Mrs. Soffel. too. stood up
In the sleigh with a revolver in each hand
and blaZed away at her pJIrsuers. When
Ed Biddle fell and she saw she was about
70 Be captured she fired bullet into her
breast. An examination by physicians
shows that she VIII recover, as the bullet
was detected BY her corset and the
wound Is comparatively slight
Edward Biddle got a bullet in the breast
which penetrated his right lung. John
Biddle may recover. his wounds. though
numerous. failing 10 reach a vital spot
The escape OF the officers Is miraculous.
The BiddIes have demonstrated on several
occasions that they are good marksmen
and why they should have failed today
70 bring down their men Is a mystery.
The story OF the fight as told by one Of
the detectives is as follows:
The BiddIes were sitting on the right
side Of the cutter Mrs. SOffel was on the
left side.
Hold up your hands and surrender
cried Detective McGovern.
Ed Biddle jumped up from his seat and
raising a shot gun. fired az McGOvern.
He aimed badly and shot scattered on the
road alongside McGovern.
Detectives McGovern and Roach dis
CHARGED their Winchesters at Ed Biddie.
Both shots took effect. Jack Biddles raised
from his seat and discharged his revolver
a. the three officers.
Then the detectives opened fire on the
boys In rapid succession.
The shots knocked them out OF the
sleigh-
Ed fsl sprawling on the snow and Jack
fen on TOP Of him
His firearms fell alongside The Bid
dies horse then became frightened and
ran away across a field. IL was at this
time that Mrs. SOTel was seen TO collapse
IN the sleigh.
The detectives approached the wounded
men and Detective Swinehart was clos
Ing IN upon them. when Detective Nc
Govern called 20 him 20 stay back; that
the Biddles were only feigning
Detective Roach saw Ed BiddIe reach
IN his coat pocket as II for gun and the
detective shot him again. Then McGov-
srn ran up within five feet OF the boys and
emptied his winchester into them. The
Biddles then yielded.
After the Biddles yielded. Roach and
NcG0vern handcuffed the Biddles' hands
and feet an they were taken 10 Butler.
When the horse ran away Mrs. Soffel
fell from the sleigh and was picked up
and placed IN the detectives large sleigh
with her companions and taken 20 the
hospilai az Butler.
A. the jail tonight Ed Biddle called for
a priest and made the following state
ment:
Il have been accused Of a great many
serious crimes / admit that I could have
committed many. the opportunities for
them having presented themselves. I
want % say now that I did not kill De-
tective Fitzgerald. nor did I shoot Thorn
as kahney. nor was my brother imph-
Gated in the latter affair. Mrs. SOffel aid
ed US IN getting out Of the county jail
and had IL not been for her We would
have made our escape today. She gave up
everything for US and ] was bound TO
back ner. / told her I was guiltless OF
the crime for which L was about 10 be
executed ard she was impressed and
rfntEed 10 my suggestion. i planned IL.