The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-03
SHOOTING OF THE BIDDLES
CONDEMNED BY A PRIEST.

Butler Pa. Feb. at is probable that
the Allegheny county authorities will nor
nave the opportunity to Try Mrs. Kate
soael Tor aiding and abetting the Biia'e
brothers to escape from the county
pi ilson. Mrs sonel has been getting
weaker. and early yesterday morning she
took turn for the worse. The exposure
to the cold weather. which she sustained
during the night and two days that she
and the Blddles were evading pursuit,
has told on her system.
X is believed that pneumonia - about
70 set I'm, and that she can hardly live
more than a few days. The wound itself
Is not necessarily fatal or mortal.
The Piusburg detectives say they did
not shoot Mrs. sonei, az the only 70
caiibre revolver I'm their party was not
fred during the neht on Friday evening.
Mrs SofIel Is reported to have made two
statements. one that she had shot her
selC and one that Ed Biddle had, at her
request. put the bullet into her body.
Almost with his dying breath Ed Biddle
declared he had not harmed the woman.
although she had asked him TO shoot her
when capture was inevitable.
The pastors OF nearly all the churches
in Butler took up the sensation of the
capture OF Mrs Soffel and the Biddle
boys. who died here in the county jail
saturday night Rev Father Daniel ;.
Walsh. rector Of ST. Paurs Roman Catho-
Tic church, who mn;stered to the Biddles
I'm their dying hours, spoke touchlngly OF
them 10 the members OF his parish al
both masses. lie touched briefly on their
statements given out and said It was foi
every person to decide for themselves
as TO the innocence or guilt cf the men
MADE CONFESSIONS.
when seen I'm his residence I'm ArfSSut
street Father Walsh said: Besides th'
statements made by the Biddle boys &c
The reporters and the officers Of Butler
county. both Ed and Jack Blddle made
confessions TO me Eds was made or
Friday night OF course, there was NJ
one present but myself. Jack was lyini
IN the next cell Jack did not confess
until yesterday.
''rheir confessions were fun ana com
pIete in every particular, and they vii
never he revealed while ministering Z
them almost every hour after they wer
brought TO iail here, they often talked L
me of how they were wrongly accused
of crimes They denied positively tina
| they had killed Grocer kshney In Pitts
burg and I'd told me in the most EN-
phatic terms ne did not shoot Detectiv
| Patrick Fitzgerald.
| Jack also gave me a fun account o
| their movements from Perrysville throus
| 10 Butler county. on the spot they wer
captured He aid not. however, All In III
missing link and tell where they spen
! Thursday and the name of the fsmil
which protected them. The more | trie
to elicit this from him the more b
summed the subject.
.The poor boys died like dogs. literan
riddled with bullets. and someone shoul
be held responsible FOR inhumon actor
In shooting them when they were eutirel
helpless. unarmed and unable TO mal
the slightest defence or resistance.
"Accordins to their statements ! mu
Judge them both 10 be innocent. The'
were given without solicitation. and n
WAYS were the same IN general from csc
| one They had = sense of fear and we
nlly cognizant Of their condition. and
feel quite sure they did not pass IN
the great beyond With q lio on their lips
REV Mr.. MotNTZs STATEMENT.
Rev s NJ. Mounts. pastos of the Fir
English Lutheran church. did not ref
| 10 the tragedy m either ~ his sermon
re ssid iatssi a vlsitsa the nddiss