The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31
STORY TOLD BY THE WARDEN
HIS WIFE WAS INFATUATED WITH
ONE OF THE CRIMINALS.
Both Condemned for Killing Pitts
burg Suburban GrOcer-One Form
erIy at Michigan City.

PITTsBURG. Jan. 9O.-Two notorious
burglars and murderers. under sentence
of death. escaped from the county Jail at
4 o'clock this morning. with the aid of
Mrs. Soffel. wife Of the prison warden.
The murderers now at large Edward
and John Biddle. who killed Grocer Thorn
as l.. Kahney at Mount Washington. They
have not been apprehended.
The Biddles had been provided with saws,
with which they cut the bars in their cells.
and were ready at any moment TO make an
opening sufficiently large TO pass through.
The prisoners occupied adjoining cells on
the second range They had evidently been
preparing for escape for some time. and
had assistance from the outside, both
were armed with revolvers.
Shortly before o'clock one of the Biddles
called to James McGeary. who had charge
of the outside gates. and asked for some
cramp medicine in a hurry, saying his
brother was dangerously sick. McGeary
FASTENED TO the cell with the medicine,
when John Biddle sprang through the
opening in the CELL and seizing the guard
around the waist hurled him the rail
ing 10 the one floor beneath a distance
OF sixteen feet Edward Bddle joined his
brother Immediately and both. with drawn
revolvers. hurried TO the first floor where
they met Guard Reynolds and shot him.
There were but three men on duty and the
third was on one of the upper ranges. He
was ordered down at the muzzles of r.
vOi~ers and the three guards were put in
the dungeon. The keys were taken from
Keeper McGCary and the two desperate
prisoners had a clear field. The only per-
sons who Witnessed the escape were pris-
oaers. who could not interfere or give the
alarm.
The Biddles went 10 the wardrobe where
the guards keep their clothing and each
put on a new suit. They then unlocked the
outside gates and passed out into Ross
street The escape was not discovered
I'll the daylight guards came on duty at
o'clock. 1hey were informed by pris-
oners where the night guards had been
put and they were soon released from the
dungeon and sent 20 the homeopathic Hos
pital.
Warden Peter X. Soffel has authorized
the publication OF the allegation that. his
wife Is responsible for the furnishing OF
the revolver and saws to the Biddles. which
enabled them TO escape. In her infatua-
tion for the handsome desperado. Edward
Blddle. II is alleged that she has left her
husband and her four children. and is sup
posed 10 have met the escaped convicts al
place agreed upon The story of the
matter is brief Mrs. Soffel was the only
person admitted 10 the jail since last Sun
day. Yesterday afternoon she visited them
during the wardens absence. Last even
ing she retired at O'Clock. She told her
husband that she was going TO visit a sis
ter at Mcdonald, and that she would re-
tire early so she could get an early start
Warden Soffel about the jail until
about u O'Clock He retired to his room
xxrhf p fg r4f - FRI Hrs Snff al -hs
ly before l O'Clock When he awoke this
morning he asked for Mrs. Soffel and was
Informed that she was absent. Later. when
the details OF the escape became known,
he telephoned to Mcdonald and was in
formed that Mrs. SofTel was not there
District Attorney John e. Haymaker had
a conference with Warden Sofel at noon,
and the warden told him of his suspicion
concerning Mrs Sofel. The warden has
made inquiries at the homes of all OF his
wife's relatives, and he has been unable
20 find any trace OF her An investigation
disclosed the fact that she had taken all
OF her best clothes with her. The warden's
overcOat is also missing. IL is reported
that the Biddles took train al the Fourth
avenue Station Of the Panhandle Railroad
which is within a block of the jail and
left for the West. Warden SoneI is broken
hearted. He is completely unnerved and
with difficulty could repress his tears. II
has been known for several weeks that
Mrs. SOnel was taking an interest in the
Biddles. and IL Is said that she frequently
furnished them with dainties outside the
usual prison fare.
HIS WIFE rs GONE.
In discussing the escape later in the day
Warden Soffel said: Il believe my wife
furnished the weapons TO the BiddIes and
assisted them 10 escape. This is an awful
thing. but / only telling the whole
truth. My wife was not in bed when / was
awakened this morning and have not seen
her since. She is gOne-God only knows
where. ! said l would lay everything bare
and I am doing Il. This is the worst blow
OF all. but / believe IL IS true / did not
suspect her and hence was of my guard
But she Il gone and the suspicion OF as
sisting in the delivery by furnishing Wea-
pons rests upon her
He broke down and wept when speaking
or his wife's actions: Think OF my chill
dren." he said. Their future Will be blight
ed. / would rather have died than 10 come
Z tilis- - elLllH tiat my VIE, the last per
son IN the Worid whom ] would suspect
should act So Mr.. Soffel has two girls
fifteen and thirteen years OF age. and two
boys. ten and seven years old
The ruse OF the Biddes was a clever one
1h ana vas c carried a,,1 out out yith great success
John cutting out three In his Edward be-
ing the larger man. found IL necessary TO
cut out four Nothing suspicious was no.
uCed IN the actions OF the two prisoners
nor was anything wrons discovered when
the day guards went or duty yesterday
afternoon. The murders evidently sawed
the bars during the night using what ap-
noise and reduce friction
The escape Is as unparalleled as Is their
record FOR crime throughout this vicinity
The police all over the city are searching
for the fugitves. While 4; Is not Thought
they have gone far. the shrewdness OF the
two criminals Is such that the police have
a hard problem 10 solve Ia their recap
tUTe.
The two guards injured will probably
recover. The bullet wound sustained BY
Reynolds Is not regarded dangerous.