The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-01
Her Lover Pals and Sho Turns Her
Weapon Against Her Own
Breast.
EDWARD BlDDLE is IN JAIL DYING
Joha Biddle is Desperately Wounded. Mrs
SctfeI Shot Through the Breast, Will Re-
cover. The Trio Brought 10 Bay
by Eight Officers.
by Eight Officers.
(By The Associated Press

Pittsburg, Jan. 31.-Edward Biddle is in
jail dying, John Biddle, riddled with
buckshot and in a Drecarious condition,
and Mrs. Peter K Soffel lying in the
hospital with self-infiieted bullet
wound in the breast is the SEQUEL of the
sensational escape of the Biddle broth
ers from the Allegheny county Jail, aided
by Mrs. Soffel. the wife of the Jail war
den, on Thursday morning. The story of
the close OF the Biddle tragedy, which
came 10 an end at 5:45 O'Clock this af-
ternoon is q thrilling one.
The scene was q snow covered road,
two miles east of Prospect, Butler coun-
ty near Mount Chestnut. and the exact
place was at McClures barn. where two
double team sleighs, filled with eight Off
GERS, three of them Pittsburg detectives
John Roach, Albert swinehart and
Charles McGovern. met the two Biddles
in a one horse SleiugL, stolen at Perrys-
Vile and at once opened fire on the
trio.
The Biddles returned the fire after
jumping out of the sleigh. Mrs. Soffel
was shot through the breast.
Edward Biddle was shot in the left
arm in the breast and in one leg
John Bidde was riddled with buck
shot in the breast, and head.
The Pittsburg officers were met at
Butler this afternoon by Deputy sheriffs
Rainey and Hoor, and Officers Frank
Holiday and Aaron Thompson, the latter
under command of Chief of Police Robert
Ray, OF Butler.
were ON the right trail 1t was only a
question of time when they would catch
up. to the escaping condemned murderers
and their companion.
The Biddles and Mrs Soffel ate dinner
at j. ]. Stephens, at Mount Chestnut, five
miles east of Butler They had made a
detour OF the town of Butler, and after
going several miles east turnead north
and then west. The Pittsburg officers,
only few miles in. the rear, took the
wrong road for about eight miles, but
when they found their mistake they
made up for lost time by telephoning and
telegraphing ahead for fresh horses.
They reached Mount Chestnut not less
than half an hour after the Biddles and
Mrs. Soffel. At this point William Wat
son. storekeeper, had fRsh horses await
ing them and the chase for life bega1
again.
The two sleiughs with the eight Off
GERS aboard, started westward, and met
the Blddles and Mrs. Soffel at McClure's
barn, Two miles from Mount Prospect,
the Blddles having learned that they
were almost overtaken. and taking what
they considered the only chance they had,
drove eastward and met their doom.
ha ftch,
armed with Winchester rifles and re-
Volvers OF large calibre. They shot to
kill and their aim was perfect The bid
dies tried to Kill to the last OF their
strength, but not one of the eight Off
GERS has a wound as the result of the
battle.
When the detectives got within about
sixty yards of the fugitives they opened
fire. The Biddles promptly answered
with shotgun and revolvers Mrs. Soffel
TOO, stood up in the sleigh with a re-
volver in each hand and blazed away at
her pursuers. When Ed Biddle fell and
ahe saw she was about TO be captured she
fired bullet into her breast. An exam
nation by physicians show that she will
recover, as the bullet was DETECTED by
her corset and the wound is comparative
~ slight.
Ed Biddle got bullet in the breast,
which penetrated his right lung and will
probably end his life before morning.
John Biddle may recover his wounds,
though numerous, falling to reach vital
spot The escape of the officers is
miraculous. The Biddles have demon
strated on several occasions that they
are good marksmen, and why they should
nave failed today to bring down their
men is mystery.
After the Biddles fell to the snow
covered ground the officers picked up
the apparently lifeless bodies of Mrs.
Soffel and the Biddles and came back to
Butler. bringing the stolen sleigh.
patched up harness and worn out horse
that the trio had tried so strenuously to
get away with toward Canada and lib
erty.
Don't count your chickens until they